Therapy and The Half-Said
Therapy Can Help You Complete What’s Only Half-Said
When people think of ‘repression,’ they often imagine something buried deep within themselves—something that might take years of therapy to unearth and bring to the surface.
Yet, as this article suggests—using a couple of examples from talk shows—what is repressed is often hiding in plain sight, speaking in ways that go unheard or are dismissed as nonsense.
At Therapy in Manchester, we can help you hear what is particular to you—to complete what has only ever been half-said in your life.
We also support you in bearing the consequences of your full speech and in coming to terms with what you want.
Talking Therapy with The Graham Norton Show
Outside of our awareness, much of our time and energy is spent editing and censoring ourselves.
For example, how often have we heard someone say, I don’t wish to criticise you, but…?
We might wonder why they raised the matter only to deny it.
Their denial seems to reveal that they are not entirely in agreement with what they are saying—they are, so to speak, of two minds.
what we deny can be telling
Of course, despite this routine censorship, our speech sometimes frees itself, though it often goes unnoticed or appears as nonsense.
In the video clip below, Orlando Bloom lets slip something about his father.
He immediately edits himself, only for Tamsin Greig to draw attention to what he originally said.
Bloom then engages in a comic exaggeration, one effect of which is to minimise or distract from his initial comment.
The comment about his father that slipped out may not necessarily be true—it may not reflect reality.
We don’t know, because what Orlando Bloom said was only half-said.
Closer Encounters
In the clip below, while discussing unfulfilled ambitions, filmmaker Steven Spielberg denies criticising his parents, only to then acknowledge that he is.
His speech suddenly becomes disjointed and fragmented, contrasting sharply with his earlier clarity and simplicity. It’s as though he’s compressing or concertinaing parts of sentences into one another.
Although, after the verbal wreckage, he ends on an emphatic and clear tone, can we decide whether his unfulfilled ambition has been fulfilled—or remains unfulfilled?
Therapy and Freeing Speech
At Therapy in Manchester, we can help you hear what is particular to you—to complete what has only ever been half-said in your life.
We can also support you in bearing the consequences of your full speech and in coming to terms with what you—or part of you—wants.
… and complete what you’ve only ever half-said
Therapy begins with your first appointment, and booking is simple – just message or call our therapist, Paul Melia
📩 Email paul.melia@therapyinmanchester.co.uk
📞 SMS Message or call 07592 340 211
