The frame is the therapy
- Fe Robinson
- Sep 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 3
Boundaries. A word that is used a lot, to mean many things, like any words its meaning depends on the user and the context.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a boundary as “a real or imagined line that marks the edge or limit of something.”
Boundaries matter, both psychologically and practically. When we know where the edges are, we know what is inside, and what is outside. In concrete terms, we know the boundaries of our homes and of property we do or do not own. In psychological terms, we know what is us ourself, and what is not us, what is other.
But what happens when we do not know these things? Let’s think about it in relational terms. If you are not sure what is and is not really you, you may be confused about who is responsible for what. You may think you are responsible for the feelings of other people, or that they are responsible for your feelings or wellbeing. This can induce all sorts of problems and conflicts, and make relating very tricky.
Psychotherapy is a setting where important healing work can be done with such relational issues. It is by its nature very boundaried. For example, sessions last a fixed amount of time, they focus on the client and not on the therapist, and the climate is one where responsibility for one’s own self and process is enabled consistently.
It is this boundedness that creates an environment for healing. Knowing that you are safely held, that the edges can be relied upon to be consistent, enables a relaxation into the space in which we can go further and faster relationally than we would without robust boundaries.
In this way, the frame is the therapy, without the boundaries healing work will not happen in the same way. This is an important thing for everyone engaged in therapeutic work to be continually mindful of.
If you would like boundaried, compassionate psychotherapy, or a clinical supervisor alive to these issues, then get in touch on fejrobinson@gmail.com.
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