ABSTRACT
An extreme content can have an aura of sensationalism in which the therapist can unwittingly become a voyeur to content, at the detriment of the therapeutic process. The couple’s content was similar to what the therapist, Tara, had faced in her own family-of-origin, and both families had avoided discussing their losses. Learning the art of therapy is both exciting and scary. Laurie and Rob, a couple in their early sixties, had been referred to our family therapy center by a psychiatrist who recommended couples therapy. Laurie and Rob navigated life with multiple rigid protective strategies that felt like armor. Rob would perceive Laurie’s retreat as rejection and frequently became critical and verbally attacking. The intensity of his protest would leave Laurie experiencing overwhelming feelings of anxiety and, thus, she would pull away further to protect herself.
