metonymy4u

There is one thought that is often a harbinger of disaster in therapy: “This patient is too fragile for therapy.” Many variations are expressed: “too much resistance,” “too fixated,” “too much unconscious hostility,” “too manipulative,” “no motivation,” etc. I find it interesting that I can remember only 1 or 2 patients about whom I’ve had that thought, but countless colleagues and professional peers about whom I’ve had that thought. As if we reserve our special words only for the “other,” and never for ourselves.