My therapist says my brain cannot process negative events, is this feasible?

Question

Hello everyone,

I've been having issues communicating properly and as such have made a fairly bad reputation for myself in school. I come across as condescending when I'm really not trying to, and alienate myself from my peers due to my abrasive personality.

That said, I have been seeing a therapist to help me through this. However, the therapist often tells me very interesting things, such as "your brain is incapable of processing negative events".

At first, it was a bit liberating to be able to say, "okay, I have a deficiency and that's why I act the way I do". However, I'm a bit worried as this implies that I don't have control over my actions or thoughts. It almost seems as though this (and other statements she has made) is just a scapegoat.

Other strange behavior includes calling my mother to fact-check me when I tell her something (I'm 15 -- this is perfectly legal, please don't get into the legalities of this as I have already checked). For example, she asks me to describe an event that my mother had previously relayed to her. Then, she'll call my mother (right in front of me), describe what I said, and then ask if that is accurate. My mother will of course say something like, "that's partially accurate" (sometimes flat out "no that's incorrect") and then divulge other details. I thought a therapist was supposed to gain my trust, are they not?

Does this sound realistic to you, or am I being given a free pass to act the way I do? Is this therapist lazily attributing my behavior to a made-up illness instead of working through these issues?

Is this behavior normal for a therapist? I don't seem to have made a bit of progress, and in fact I feel worse than before we started.

Answer

Unless you gave verbal permission for her to call your mother or you signed a release form stating you give her permission to disclose therapy session information that is at the least unethical or at the most illegal.

I would advise that you stop going if she doesn't stop and you call the state board who licenses her and report her.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a need to switch therapists.  If your mother didn't like her doctor she's switch no different if It's a therapist and it happens all the time.

As for whether your brain doesn't process negative stuff I have not a clue what she means.  As far as from what you describe I'd say you have very little common sense and blurt out things you should keep quiet about and don't learn a lesson.  Maybe you need to stop and think about what you are about to say and run it through your head before you open your mouth and blab stuff you shouldn't.  Try rephrasing it and keep in your head that old saying, "if you can't say something nice don't say it anything at all" until you can do a better job.  Good luck!

My therapist says my brain cannot process negative events, is this feasible?

Answers (1)