Author Topic: My New Counselor  (Read 5953 times)

Leah

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2008, 10:50:33 AM »
Thank you, Laura, for your clear explanation.  I don't have any questions.  With consideration, I don't want to hijack or sidetrack Ami's important personal thread.

Very much appreciated.

Leah x
« Last Edit: February 11, 2008, 10:53:17 AM by LeahsRainbow »
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Gaining Strength

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2008, 11:23:12 AM »
Quote
She told me that I "disengaged " from Scott ,at that point and that layed the foundation for his death. What a freaking grief counselor she is (lol)  I felt like she slapped me across the face and she did ,knowingly or unknowingly.
  THEN, we did not go up and get Scott at school that day b/c he had said the same things many,many times.
  She told me that I did not have a Mother's heart.

I don't see anything positive in what she said and I don't see that what she said was necessarily the truth.  I think she is WRONG in saying that you "did not have a Mother's heart."  I see that you have nothing but a mother's heart.  I also don't see how she could possibly know that your disengaging lay the foundation for his death.  Noone can be in his mind or his heart at the time of his death.  Many things, many events, many people's actions could have led Scott to react in dispair. 

Ami, allowing your husband to groom Scott to be a golden boy could have possibly been a good thing.  You were not raising Scott or his brother in isolation.  You were raising them in the context of your family, your community and the world.  You and the counselor are looking at what happened to Scott by looking back.  Hindsight shows things with more clarity.  I find it harsh and judgmental to lay responsibility for his death at your feet.  Had you had any clue what would you have done differently?  Are you certain that if you could do them differently that he would be alive today?  I don't believe that you can say so.

In every 12 step program I have read anything about and every intervention strategy I am familiar with it is made CLEAR that family, friends and others are NOT responsible for the addicts actions only the addict is.  If Scott had been an addict and had died of an overdose he would have been held responsible. I think it is wrong to lay ANY responsibility at your feet. 

Not only is it wrong but there is no good that can come of it.  I am adamant that YOU are not responsible for Scott's death.  Your actions did not lead to his death.  If you could have done anything to help him you would have.  If you knew anything would have been harmful to him you would have given anything to keep him from harm.

I will not give up my determination to fight against the message that you in any way caused him to commit suicide.  I don't believe it and I see only profound damage that can come from such a supposition.  Enough damage has already happened.  Do not take this on Ami - it does not belong to you.

You must take care of yourself.  You must find support and caring kindness.  Let the verse "perfect love cast out fear" be the test.  Is the message being sent to you from love or from fear?  Love does not necessarily come in the form of softness and gentleness but even straight forward love when tested does not engender dark fear based emotions.  Her words yesterday were shaming and demeaning and those are not based in love. 

That doesn't mean that some of the things she said are not helpful and useful but these particular things are simply wrong.

Gabben

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #17 on: February 11, 2008, 11:32:50 AM »
Ami-

I agree with Laura on this thread. As important as it is for us to face the truth about ourselves it is also important for us to be embraced with compassion and empathy. Before I make the assumption could you feel her compassion or love?

You can't transmit something that you have not got.

There might be a pattern here that fits something with your mom? You might have unconsciously picked or selected this woman.

God uses everything to draw us closer to him and he will use this woman to draw you closer to him even if she is harsh and triggers some pain.


To blame you for Scott's death because you wanted him to only speak "whatsoever things are good, noble of a good report, etc"  well that was not YOUR fault.

Ami -- Scott's death was not your fault. God does not hold you accountable for his death, just the wounds that we inflict on each other. You did not inflict his death upon him, he made that choice.

Your willingness to face yourself and grow is tremendous but know that you deserve compassion, gentleness and great care at this time in your life.

Lise ((((((((((((((((AMI)))))))))))))))))

Gabben

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #18 on: February 11, 2008, 11:36:47 AM »
  I think she is WRONG in saying that you "did not have a Mother's heart."  I see that you have nothing but a mother's heart. 

GS is correct, I second this.

Lise

Hermes

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2008, 04:33:38 PM »
Dear Ami:

Just to ask how you are.  I hope your day is a peaceful one.  You will find the way that is most appropriate for you, and the support you consider most suitable for yourself at this particular moment.

All the best.

Hermes

teartracks

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #20 on: February 11, 2008, 06:31:56 PM »



Dear Ami,

I hear every word you wrote in reply to my post.  My heart cries for you.  Please be careful though about those you embrace as guides through your grief.  In the case of Ann, I think I would want to know who she is accountable to where her work as counselor is concerned.  I would want her to identify those people to me and I would want to know them and trust them as well as her. 

You know that I am a Christian, but churches can become magnets for quacks.  I'm not saying Ann is.  I just want you to be very careful. 

Sitting in a church doesn't make you a Christian any sooner than sitting in a Castle makes you a king. 

I'm so glad Gaining Strength has provided refuge for you.     

Much love,

tt



Leah

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #21 on: February 11, 2008, 07:51:30 PM »

Dear TT

Sound astute wisdom and advice for dear Ami.

Indeed, for one and all.

Resonate with accord.

Leah x
Jun 2006 voiceless seeking

April 2008 - "The Gaslight Effect" How to Spot & Survive by Dr. Robin Stern - freedom of understanding!

The Truth About Abuse VIDEO

Ami

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #22 on: February 11, 2008, 08:24:25 PM »
Dear Laura, Leah, GS, Hermes and Lise,
 Yesterday, I felt like Ann ran me over with a truck,,but today I feel peace about it b/c I decided to be real with her and let the chips fall where they may.
  She called me and when she calls back ,I will tell her how I feel. If it ends,it ends and it will be OK.
  My goal is to get "real" and  be whole. I need to honor my feelings  and "core",in order to get there.
  So, it will be a step in growth no matter what happens with her.
   I feel at peace that I survived a slap in the face without disintergrating. That was big,in itself.Thank you so much for your help. I am never alone, as long as I have my friends on the board.
             Love,        Ami
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

Gabben

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #23 on: February 11, 2008, 08:30:19 PM »
Wow Ami! you amaze me, your growth, humility, fight and courage.


Ami

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #24 on: February 11, 2008, 08:36:38 PM »
Thank you,Lise.
 I am seeing, with my heart, that we who had N M's(or any N)  ARE worth s/thing. We are worth having a core, a self, a value. We were not taught to value ourselves, but that was a lie.
   I have AS much value as any person I "admire". I have the same worth.
   I had a revelation of that,today.
  I need to keep building up my core,until one day, I will be fairly comfortable in it. That is my goal.        Love   Ami


PS  However,when you are in a desperate  hole(like Ann ,yesterday) you have to have people to call who will help pull you out when you are too weak.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

Gabben

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #25 on: February 11, 2008, 08:43:39 PM »

PS  However,when you are in a desperate hole(like Ann ,yesterday) you have to have people to call who will help pull you out when you are too weak.

Exactly, yes. I was sooo weak yesterday. The entire day was spent obsessing over my pain and distress. It was as if my brain was attacking itself...I could not function.

After I finally called a friend of mine, who is real MFCC and a warm heart, I was able to get a grip, I was able to sleep last night, the first time in a long time.

Yes, friends - make all the difference.

(((((AMI)))))

Gaining Strength

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #26 on: February 11, 2008, 08:49:45 PM »
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I have AS much value as any person I "admire". I have the same worth.

yes you do Ami.  yes you do!!!



(Gabben what is a MFCC? It sounds obscene?"

Ami

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #27 on: February 11, 2008, 08:50:30 PM »
I used to think it was weak to need people. Now, I KNOW  that I do and it is OK. We need each other and that is how we are made ,as humans. I am glad that you felt a little better,Lise. You ARE worth loving  and affirming yourself ,Lise.     Love   Ami
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

Gabben

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #28 on: February 11, 2008, 08:53:02 PM »

(Gabben what is a MFCC? It sounds obscene?"

LOL == Marriage Family Child Counselor.

Gaining Strength

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Re: My New Counselor
« Reply #29 on: February 11, 2008, 09:02:30 PM »
Oh Gabben - That's helpful.  I read into it Mother Fu**** CC.  Quite a far cry from Mother Child Counselor ......


Quote
I used to think it was weak to need people.

We cannot live without our need of others.  Clearly you got that philosophy from your N mother.  That breaks my heart that anyone would live believing that it is weak to need others.  We can't live without others.  And yet the more wounded we are the more rejected we are the more difficult it is to connect and be received by others the more rejected we are and round and round it goes. Doesn't it?