Well kind of. But then according to them:
- I deserve to be beaten up because I'm reserved
- I am "bad" for being an atheist and that doing things most don't is "wrong"
- I am wrong to like casual sex, and it's something "not done"
(and, in response, Lark posted the following)
You're posting in this thread alone leads me to suspect there's more to this than meets the eye.
I think there's grounds to believe, from this thread alone, that you're rationalising your behaviour, behaviour you admittedly dont want to give up or refrain from and which are being challenged by your therapist rather than validated.
If you are supposed to be working with a therapist to overcome or change this behaviour and you are unwilling to have it challenged I'm really not sure what you will achieve. There's too much resistance for analysis, if its a depth psychologist, if its cognitive behaviour therapy, rational emotive behaviour therapy or any of the variations on those themes then there's really has to be a desire to change in the client.
Like I say you're finding fault in the therapeutic process and your therapist but you should be looking to your self instead.
Wow. Just wow. Both of these posts are beyond the pale, though for different reasons.
First of all, danseen, what you are describing from your therapist is
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. It's unprofessional, it's unethical, it's unhelpful, it's fractally wrong! And yes, that's a clear case of patient abuse.
If a licensed therapist said that to you, that is grounds for them to lose their license. If, as the content of the therapist's statements makes me think, this is some kind of church-associated intervention, someone needs to investigate them and shut them down (and take away their license if they even have one).
Lark, whatever you may think of danseen based on his (her?) posts, assuming he is truthfully and accurately reporting his experience with the therapist, you have no room to turn your criticism to his reaction to said therapist.
Which behavior are you referring to when you say "that you're rationalising your behaviour, behaviour you admittedly dont want to give up or refrain from and which are being challenged by your therapist rather than validated"? Are you speaking of being reserved, being an atheist, casual sex or "doing things most don't" (which is not specified and could apply to ANY unconventional behavior).
For the time being, I'll just assume that "doing things most don't" doesn't refer to violent or criminal behavior (which the therapist might be obligated to report to authorities), in which case, the therapist has no business passing value judgements. Their job is to help the client function within themselves and within society. Labelling nonconformity as "wrong" is not the way to do it. Furthermore, a client's religious beliefs are none of the therapist's business, let alone grounds for criticism or ridicule. Being reserved MAY be a problem for the client and their relationships... and suggesting that this could or should be corrected through physical violence is not only NOT an acceptable treatment technique, it's advocating abuse, and could even constitute a threat. And as far as liking casual sex is concerned, the therapist is not there to pass moral judgment on the client, and the only way the client's sex life is their business is if it's causing the client distress or making them unable to function in their personal/professional life. The bar for "casual sex" being a problem is so high that either the client is unable to stop long enough to go to work or get their chores done or the client is engaging in behavior that could constitute rape.
From the description danseen gives, he is completely justified to sever all ties with the therapist immediately, and,
at the very least call that what it was, abuse. He may also have grounds for legal action. This has nothing to do with deflection, not want to change, or anything of the sort. Suggesting anyone put up with this treatment for any amount of time is advocating abuse and blaming the victim. That's not cool, whatever you may think of danseen personally.