At a Standstill?

Hi,

I've been in therapy with a LCSW for about 2 years now, dealing with issues involving depression, anxiety, PTSD, and childhood abuse. We combine talk therapy with EMDR. I've had probably 10-15 sessions already.

The first few sessions worked well, but now, more often than not, I seem to be at a standstill. I think the problem is that I try too hard to "make" the EMDR work. In other words, I know the goal is to reduce my anxiety, and I know my therapist works really hard toward that end. So I want to control the outcome and "force" it to work. I don't want her to be disappointed and think she is wasting her time on me. I keep reacting the way I think I am "supposed to," rather than just letting my natural reactions happen.

I've already told my therapist about this, and she says I'm concentrating too hard on trying to please her. But it's hard not to. Since childhood, I've always tried to "read" people and react accordingly. And this automatic way of responding is holding me back and keeping us stuck.

What should I do?

Replies:

Re:At a Standstill?, by emerging, 10/10/01 Re:At a Standstill?, by SOMEONE WHO IS LISTENING, 10/15/01 Sorry! , by SomeOne who is Listening, 10/15/01 Re:Sorry! , by Sandra Paulsen Inobe, PhD, 10/16/01

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