Psychotherapy as American Cheese Maker
by Traci Ruble, MFT
www.traciruble.com
Have you had a chance to see Cindy Sherman’s photography exhibit yet at the San Francisco Moma? Her work challenges what identity we are manufacturing or not. And for me, it begs the question, how does Psychotherapy get used to “cement” the identity by embarking on a “self improvement” project towards defining a more stable identity rather than growing the capacity to live a life, have experiences, feel what it feels to be sad, mad, happy, turned on…etc. As the title suggests, hard times can be used to reclaim one’s authenticity inside the therapy room or therapeutic work can become the same as that of American Cheese manufacturers – making plastic that behaves and melts well rather than tastes good! Psychotherapy can make plastic people who behave or psychotherapy can teach people how to fully embrace their experiences and live authentically.
Check out this 7 minute video for more.
