It was an excellent conversation. I appreciate the humanity and integrity that comes through when MaryJo speaks of setting the stage for therapy,discussing boundaries,creating the safety and holding as well as the need for consultation and constant monitoring of the therapist's self. This is the essence of what it means to do the work, thank you, Mary Jo.

Thank you for a thought provoking discussion. I have two main questions:
1. How do we unpack the concept of class and identification. Indeed, if we know that class is the strongest predictor of mental illness, then what about class (is it poverty, stress, threats of violence, social insecurity, etc) that impacts development and to what extent? How do they impact each other in a causal model?
2. As a recent graduate student, I am struck by how little class figures as a concern in therapists' education. I believe I was taught about how to recognize my biases in an effort not to alienate a diverse clientele, and also to recognize biases in treatment. However, I do not believe that I have been taught about how to work on class issues -- and to understand what nodes/ issues are important in class experience. In fact I would say that the training undervalues the role of class -- in an effort perhaps to counteract inherent class bias in our culture.
Eliza Gomart, MA