Episode 1 of In Treatment displays the two main ways patients test therapists. Viewers should be aware that the video contains some graphic language. @ControlMastery
@TrizMA1 that's exactly what I thought when I first saw the episode. But I have to say that for a layman like myself this video is quite revealing and insightful.
@ControlMastery Right. In Germany they broadcast season 1 now. They've interviewed german psychoanalist Margarete Mitscherlich recently if this series is realistic and she confirmed too.
This is very cool, thanks. But I wonder if Laura's test wasn't also about getting Paul to put some skin in the game. Maybe not the right choice of words, but what seemed to be one of Paul's assets as a therapist -- and maybe the point of the entire show -- was that he did cross the line at times, that he'd personally invest in his patients. So I wonder: In order to truly trust Paul, did Laura need to see him as human?
I could be wrong, but I think he failed in that he did not completely succeed at each of the tests she was putting him through, living her ambivalent if she could trust him, in him, and it confused and frustrated her. He needed to let her know that she could open up and that he would not respond to her sexual tests. His countertransference due to his own strong feelings which were being driven by his unconscious need to save his mother, left her ambivalent, unable to trust him completely. Something that I have experienced with a couple of therapists...ambivalence about trust.
@@totalcontrol4205 If I can remember, Laura was a type of person who was emotionally immature, stunted by the fact that she had an traumatic upbringing of having to take care both of her parents. She has a brillant mind, she is a medical doctor like Paul but through her medical training she learned about transference like Paul, she saw Paul's weakness. She told him that she sees a man who wants desire and not happy within his marriage. Laura sees her through having a relationship a man is by sex, all rotted by her foster father who slept with her she was underage teenager. She got through life, beliving that her access to man is through sex. She sees Paul bedding her as his reassurance. ILaura is unable to have emotional attachement to men, Paul's strong feelings for her were not equivalent to Laura's feelings.
Sorry ControlMastery I didn't have enough space to fully describe my opinion. What I basically meant to say was that I think Laura is suffering primarily from a Narcissistic problem. She is trying to implement 'merger transference' in an attempt to control Paul and in doing so is trying to re-establish her self object matrix. Something likely triggered a loss in her ability to emphasize with others, most likely an unsatisfied electra complex and therefore is reenacting her trauma.
Very Interesting sexualized transference. I think this is a reenactment of sexual trauma on Laura's part, as she is unable to mentalize her sexual problems thus leading her into a paranoid schizoid state. Thus I think she envy's Paul's seeming impartiality toward her promiscuous self, thus reinforcing more and more resistance. Paul should transmutably internalize her idealizing transference which basically arises from her 'false' narcissistic self, using Winnicott & Kohut.
ooo I can't wait to watch this..i think I've seen your ridiculous theories before, and ti was very entertaining. :) Just on the first part where you say Laura needs to be treated for "abnormal sexual behavior" I know this is going to be a great laugh :)
+WhisperofaGhost Have you actually watched the series? She was sexually exploited as a teen, victims usually re-enact this trauma by being overly sexual with men they like. They test them, of course. I can tell you that the only thing ridicilous about this is your childish comment.
That's the point, his own unconscious issues are blinding him to the fact that he is in a state of countertransference. Unless he becomes aware, there's no way for the therapeutic relationship to proceed successfully. He will continue to miss signs, patterns in both their behaviours and she will continue to test, be ambivalent and frustrated. It will and does end badly.
You're saying that Laura is testing Paul? Does she know she's doing it? Or is this coming out of an unconscious intent that she's not aware of on the surface? I never even imagined that she was testing him with all this stuff, but now that you point it out, I can sort of see it
She is testing him unconsciously. Since her unconscious has no self-awareness, she is not aware that she is doing it. She is testing to see whether it is safe to have a relationship with Paul. At issue is whether Paul will treat her as a person in need or as a sexual object to be exploited. She was probably sexually abused. so she is testing to see whether Paul will treat her as her abuser did or as someone who wants to help. Unfortunately, Paul's life is in a bad way so he is giving ambiguous signals about his intent.
Histrionic for sure, mixed Narc as well. So many variations on the theme, it's not easy to nail down.
Byrne is amazing
Transference can be intense but it's nothing compared to counter transference
That happened to me once with a therapist. Man, that was very difficult. She put me through hell.
@TrizMA1 that's exactly what I thought when I first saw the episode. But I have to say that for a layman like myself this video is quite revealing and insightful.
@ControlMastery Right. In Germany they broadcast season 1 now. They've interviewed german psychoanalist Margarete Mitscherlich recently if this series is realistic and she confirmed too.
This is very cool, thanks. But I wonder if Laura's test wasn't also about getting Paul to put some skin in the game. Maybe not the right choice of words, but what seemed to be one of Paul's assets as a therapist -- and maybe the point of the entire show -- was that he did cross the line at times, that he'd personally invest in his patients. So I wonder: In order to truly trust Paul, did Laura need to see him as human?
@ControlMastery well, i hope you do it well. my shrink drove me nuts
I don't understand how Paul failed.
Do you mean he failed later on in the season not in that exact moment?
When Paul fell in love with her?
I could be wrong, but I think he failed in that he did not completely succeed at each of the tests she was putting him through, living her ambivalent if she could trust him, in him, and it confused and frustrated her. He needed to let her know that she could open up and that he would not respond to her sexual tests. His countertransference due to his own strong feelings which were being driven by his unconscious need to save his mother, left her ambivalent, unable to trust him completely. Something that I have experienced with a couple of therapists...ambivalence about trust.
@@totalcontrol4205 If I can remember, Laura was a type of person who was emotionally immature, stunted by the fact that she had an traumatic upbringing of having to take care both of her parents. She has a brillant mind, she is a medical doctor like Paul but through her medical training she learned about transference like Paul, she saw Paul's weakness. She told him that she sees a man who wants desire and not happy within his marriage. Laura sees her through having a relationship a man is by sex, all rotted by her foster father who slept with her she was underage teenager. She got through life, beliving that her access to man is through sex. She sees Paul bedding her as his reassurance. ILaura is unable to have emotional attachement to men, Paul's strong feelings for her were not equivalent to Laura's feelings.
Sorry ControlMastery I didn't have enough space to fully describe my opinion. What I basically meant to say was that I think Laura is suffering primarily from a Narcissistic problem. She is trying to implement 'merger transference' in an attempt to control Paul and in doing so is trying to re-establish her self object matrix. Something likely triggered a loss in her ability to emphasize with others, most likely an unsatisfied electra complex and therefore is reenacting her trauma.
@ControlMastery not really. good friends hardly know what to say.
Very Interesting sexualized transference. I think this is a reenactment of sexual trauma on Laura's part, as she is unable to mentalize her sexual problems thus leading her into a paranoid schizoid state. Thus I think she envy's Paul's seeming impartiality toward her promiscuous self, thus reinforcing more and more resistance. Paul should transmutably internalize her idealizing transference which basically arises from her 'false' narcissistic self, using Winnicott & Kohut.
ooo I can't wait to watch this..i think I've seen your ridiculous theories before, and ti was very entertaining. :) Just on the first part where you say Laura needs to be treated for "abnormal sexual behavior" I know this is going to be a great laugh :)
WhisperofaGhost Hi WhisperofaGhost.. You deserve a house, for free.
+WhisperofaGhost Have you actually watched the series? She was sexually exploited as a teen, victims usually re-enact this trauma by being overly sexual with men they like. They test them, of course. I can tell you that the only thing ridicilous about this is your childish comment.
Haha :) Agreed in all points. xD
problem i always see: how do therapists actually get you out of the mud? ok, so he understands he is being tested and then...what?!
That's the point, his own unconscious issues are blinding him to the fact that he is in a state of countertransference. Unless he becomes aware, there's no way for the therapeutic relationship to proceed successfully. He will continue to miss signs, patterns in both their behaviours and she will continue to test, be ambivalent and frustrated. It will and does end badly.
You're saying that Laura is testing Paul? Does she know she's doing it? Or is this coming out of an unconscious intent that she's not aware of on the surface? I never even imagined that she was testing him with all this stuff, but now that you point it out, I can sort of see it
She is testing him unconsciously. Since her unconscious has no self-awareness, she is not aware that she is doing it. She is testing to see whether it is safe to have a relationship with Paul. At issue is whether Paul will treat her as a person in need or as a sexual object to be exploited. She was probably sexually abused. so she is testing to see whether Paul will treat her as her abuser did or as someone who wants to help. Unfortunately, Paul's life is in a bad way so he is giving ambiguous signals about his intent.
0:25 "Abnormal sexual behavior."