|
In Reply to: My Cousin Kristi posted by John Jr. on October 05, 2005 at 02:26:26:
I thought the show was great. I realize now that you mention it that there was a good deal of time between the Dr. Phil show and the San Diego report which explains why your uncle said he hoped that Kristi got the counseling promised by Dr. Phil. It was easy to watch that on the heels of the show and think he had not heard a thing Dr. Phil said to him. It is clear that this was not the case. I too had that same misunderstanding and am glad you clarified it.
One thing about Dr. Phil is that his show usually works on a few levels. It addressed the issues with the family and then it addressed the interpersonal relationships of your cousin and her father. I think that was great too, even though it had to have been painful.
I am very glad your uncle is getting that therapy and that your cousin can too. You are right in saying there are many therapists that don't know what they are working with when it comes to people who have survived the trauma of a cult.
I think it was great that Kristi could talk, without fearing she might say the wrong thing and then as hard as it was for your uncle Dr. Phil made the show a safe place for Kristi to air some of her personal feelings. That was no mistake. It was great. Something people could not do in the family. That trust issue is something that takes time to build. I hope your uncle can post about it. Not about Kristi, but about what he is learning from his side to develop that trust.
It is good that he did fight to get his children out of the cult way back in 81 and I wish the show could have said something about that. I can't imagine how painful that would be, to leave and lose contact with your children and at the same time be smeared by the family and told bad things about your own father.
That is something many people learn in divorce that get help, not to put the kids in between and belittle the other parent. Except in this case it wasn't about belittling the mother, I suppose, it was about exposing an abusive and unsafe cult.
Thanks for your update and a greater understanding. I wish you and your wife and family the best as well.
