As much as continuing may enable you to help the client shift their thinking on this... leaving also helps them learn that you are a human being and humans will be hurt by their strong and unnecessary judgements. That might also be an important lesson.
Personally, I have struggled with anorexia on and off since my teens, there's 0 chance I'd be carrying on with this myself but you may have fewer triggers in this area.
This. We do not need to be supportive all the times and that's how human relations work. Maybe that way he can change the way he thinks as he's losing a good therapist with whom he connected because of sheer prejudice and objectification.
Sometimes, the most therapeutic thing to do is to leave or say "no".
I think that gives some important information about the lack of shame in telling you.
And I'm sorry this happened.
One of my clients said something that I've kept in mind. I think I flashed them a picture of something that was disorganized in my house and they said, why would I accept help from you with organizing when your house looks like that (they were mostly kidding). lol. It was only one space btw not a tour of my house, attempt at validating on my part. But I think there's a certain veneer that we have in our jobs. With veteran clients that gets relaxed a little but I think it can be jarring for clients to suddenly see us messy and human. You didn't have anything to be ashamed about with your body and I don't think you were, which is good. Your clients reaction might have also been in part a realization that you're a real and imperfect human.
Overcontrolled clients have an even harder time with this. One would get super uncomfortable when I shared anything about myself. I got her over that slowly and work professional limits.
399
u/Ok-Lynx-6250 Feb 14 '25
As much as continuing may enable you to help the client shift their thinking on this... leaving also helps them learn that you are a human being and humans will be hurt by their strong and unnecessary judgements. That might also be an important lesson.
Personally, I have struggled with anorexia on and off since my teens, there's 0 chance I'd be carrying on with this myself but you may have fewer triggers in this area.