Power Dynamics

I particularly struggle with feeling like the T is the authority. But most of my T's have said something along the lines of "you are the expert on you." But it still *feels* like they have more power than me, but maybe that's because I know they could have me hospitalized--which I am terrified of. Kit

Just because a therapist doesnt use their power outwardly or you don’t feel their power doesn’t mean they dont have it.

There are abusive therapists who clearly demonstrate the power their job gives them inherently.

Therapists can threaten to get clients hospitalized involuntarily. They can call the police on you and give their expert opinion on your mental health and say you are a danger to yourself or others. Even if you are not held, this is still a scary and traumatic experience.

Therapists who want to control or hurt you can put diagnoses in your file that affect your life moving forward. They can say you have BPD, psychoses. They can officially submit that to insurance.

Clients can’t consent to sex bc of the power dynamic the same way kids can’t consent to sex with older people. This illegal in my state and in many, it is considered rape because it is an uneven power dynamic by definition.

Therapists know all your vulnerabilities, secrets, and traumas and then tell you nothing about themselves. Incidentally this is how narcissistic abusers gain power in abusive relationships.

This is power built into the job. Why is this even a question.

My Therapy, I get to do much of what I please. T has ethical and legal boundaries they must adhere to. My boundaries they must adhere to. If I want to talk I talk, if I don't I dont. I can draw, or write or take a nap. Touch isn't a thing in our dynamic so I can't comment on that.
I can never get my head around feeling powerless around someone I can just fire, after all they are being paid to remain in my company.

I understand people do though and that's a very serious thing tht needs handled with diplomacy, as is undoubtedly related to deeper issues, sadly often times It doesn't. I have witnessed the damage done by T's who don't recognise the power dynamic between themselves and a client.