From Overwhelmed to Understood: How therapists "Shrink" the Unbearable

Have you ever wondered why therapists are sometimes referred to as 'Shrinks?’ While perhaps a simplistic term, it touches on a core aspect of the therapeutic process: helping individuals, by “shrinking” their overwhelming internal experiences.

Often, people present to therapy in a state of panic, confusion and despair with a great amount of undifferentiated traumatic history which overwhelms the individual. Think of it like trying to digest food that's too large or complex for our system. When these experiences are too much to process, they can become 'undigested,' like foreign bodies causing internal distress for the individual (Heimann, 1942).

Just as a caregiver might break down food for a child's developing digestive system ‘ego-strength’, psychotherapy can thus provide 'ego support' (Laplanche and Pontalis 1973). Therefore, therapists help individuals process and 'digest' these traumatic internalizations – the raw, undigested emotional experiences, according to each individual’s capacity. 

Similar to the child-caregiver relationship, clients rely on their therapist to break down those overwhelming experiences into understandable pieces so they can be processed and integrated, leading to greater emotional well-being and a more cohesive sense of self. Ultimately, therapy offers a supportive space to explore these dynamics, gain insight into the origins of our feelings, and develop stronger and healthier psychological boundaries.

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