Transcript of Therapy Session - Assignment Example

Transcript of Therapy Session Patient: 23 YO College Session 3- 0:30 minutes into the session Therapist: You’ve been talking about a lot of other things, but I get the feeling there’s s something that you’re avoiding discussing. So, how have you been doing since our last session? Patient: I’ve been OK. My boyfriend and I are still having major issues. Therapist: Do you care to elaborate? Patient: Well, my boyfriend and I had a huge fight and I don’t even know why. He keeps accusing me of things that I don’t do and we wind up getting into huge fights over nothing. He left right after the last fight, which was three days ago, and I haven’t seen him since. Therapist: I’m sorry to hear that. You mentioned in your last session that you thought the two of you needed some time apart. Perhaps his leaving can give you the space you’ve needed so that you can try and sort out your feelings for him without the pressures of his presence. Did you try to use the time that he’s been gone to see how you really feel about him? Patient: No! I’ve been too busy wondering where he is and who he’s with that I couldn’t even get my homework done or focus in class. I know he’s with another woman. Therapist: I know you’ve said he has a history of infidelity, but maybe you should give him the benefit of the doubt until you have proof. He could be a number of other places besides with another woman. Do you have any reason to think that he is with another woman? Patient: Other than the fact that he’s been gone for three days, no. Therapist: Then stop worrying about him. You’ll never be able to determine who you are and how you truly feel if you’re constantly focused on him. You need to use this time to get some distance and perspective so you can use objectivity in your decision-making process rather than raw emotion. You two have been together since you were 16. That’s a long time to be with one person, especially when you started dating him when you were still, basically, a child. Patient: He’s cheated on me before and it happened the same way. We had a fight, he left and stayed gone for a few days and I found out that he was with someone else while he was gone. Therapist: You’re still worrying about him. Whatever he’s out there doing, you have no control over. The only thing you have control over right now is you and you need to make use of this time to focus on yourself. Forget him for right now, what do you feel, think, and need? Patient: I don’t know how to do that. I’m so used to what he needs being what I need that I don’t know what I need. Therapist: Let’s start with what you feel. How do you feel about the fight you had with him? Tell me about that. Patient: Well, I don’t know why we even had the fight. He said I hadn’t told him I had an early class that day, but I had and the note I left him was still on the fridge, but he still got really upset and stormed out of our apartment. Therapist: How did that make you feel? Patient: Confused, angry, frustrated, and suspicious. He picked a lot of fights with me for no reason when he was cheating on me the last time. Therapist: And now he’s showing the same pattern and you think he’s back to his old ways, which makes you feel angry because you forgave him. Patient: Yes! I also feel stupid for trusting him again. He’s playing me for a fool. Therapist: It’s never stupid to trust someone you care about; it’s only stupid for them to betray that trust. Let’s talk some more about how you’re feeling about this infidelity you suspect. This would be the third time he’s cheated that you know of. Would this be a deal breaker for you this time or would you forgive him again? Patient: I don’t know! I’m scared to leave him. I’ve been with him since I was 16! That’s seven years! I don’t know what I would do without him! Therapist: Do you love him? Patient: I don’t know! I used to, but now I think I’m with him just because I’m too scared to leave him. Therapist: What are you afraid of? Patient: Being alone, having to make it on my own. What if I can’t do it? Therapist: You’ve never been on your own before and it’s natural to feel apprehensive. Everyone feels this way at first, but we all get over it and so will you. You’re a smart young woman and you will be just fine. You can make it on your own. Patient: I don’t know if I can. We’ve been together for so long… Therapist: It will seem difficult at first, like all changes do, but you will begin to feel like things are getting easier day by day. And you don’t have to make such a big decision right this minute. We’re just talking right now so you can get a handle on what you’re really feeling, OK? Patient: OK. Therapist: Let’s talk about the things you need. Do you think the two of you needed this break? Patient: I don’t know; I guess so. We were fighting a whole lot and I was feeling a bit smothered and definitely taken for granted. Unappreciated. Maybe we did need a break. Therapist: And have you been socializing during this break? You mentioned earlier that you haven’t been doing well in school the past few days. Have you been interacting with your friends? Remember I mentioned that you need the support of your friends right now. Patient: Talking to you about my personal problems is one thing because I know you won’t blab my business to everyone, but I don’t talk to people about my personal life. Therapist: I can appreciate that and you don’t have to tell people all your personal business in order to socialize with your friends. You don’t need to isolate yourself right now. Go to a movie or out to eat with some friends. It will do you good to be around supportive, encouraging people. Patient: I don’t exactly feel like being around a bunch of happy people right now. Therapist: I understand, but I still want you to spend some of your free time around your friends and focus on building positive, platonic relationships. Now let’s talk some about what you want. We’ll start with something simple. Tell me what you want from your scholastic experience. Why did you decide to go back to school? Patient: I wanted to get my degree so I could start my own business. ] Therapist: Is it still your goal to start your own business? Patient: Yes, and I will be finishing school soon, but I don’t know if I can do it anymore. I want to but I don’t know if I can Therapist: What do you see stopping you form pursuing your dream to start your own business? Patient: Well, my boyfriend was supposed to help me, but now I don’t even know if we’ll be together. Therapist: Was your dream contingent upon his presence in your life? Patient: I don’t know. Therapist: So let’s talk some more about your wants. Do you still want to be with him? Patient: Yes, I think so unless I find out he’s cheated on me again. If he has, I don’t think I’d be able to forgive him again. Therapist: So it would be a deal breaker? If these are your boundaries, you have to firmly establish them and you can’t cave later. Now let’s keep talking about your wants. Tell me what you want from your relationship with your boyfriend. Patient: I want him to love me, unconditionally, and support the things I want to do, like going to school. And I want him to be faithful. Therapist: Is that all you want from him? Patient: Yes, I think so. I just want a normal relationship. Therapist: We’re almost out of time for this week, so I’m going to end this session by giving you something to do during the week and I want you to bring it in with you when you come for your meeting next week. I want you to give a lot of serious thought to what you want, need, and feel. I want you to write everything down and be prepared to get into a serious discussion about how you plan on getting the things you want and need and expressing your feelings. Patient: OK, I will. Thank you, Dr. I’ll see you next week. Read More