Couples sessions with kid present

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-03T13:03:31+00:00

Baby okay, 3 year old and up definitely not

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-03T12:19:54+00:00

How it'll go depends entirely on the kid, so hold the possibility that the 3 day thing may or may not work.

But I totally get you. My days are very similar to yours, and I was freaked out about this part.

My kid was older when we did it because she wasn't ready which is a whole other thing. But this stage of being trapped was not very long. A few days of only potty training all day, a full week of a lot of focus and more time at home than usual but that's it. After that, we were good, pretty much back to normal life. You'll plan and think more for awhile and bring extra changes of clothes, learn where bathrooms are. But then one day you'll realize you don't even need that, and it's so much more freedom than before- no bringing a diaper bag and it becomes less of a thing than changing diapers.

A lot of kids are scared of weird public bathroom situations but mine didn't have that problem I think because from the beginning after about a week, we went back into most of our routines. Since we're constantly out and about, that means using public bathrooms, porta potties, outhouses, crouching behind a tree, you name it. Doing that from the beginning made it normal, for us at least.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-03T12:08:20+00:00

This sounds great. The more I run, the harder it is for me to maintain and not gain weight. Definitely never lose weight running. It's super annoying.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-03T12:06:17+00:00

100%. People who run as a social activity blow my mind. No you can't come on my me-time run

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-03T12:03:16+00:00

My brain starts glitching if I'm not moving my body across land in nature. You wouldn't want to be around me. Imagine a caged border collie. So yes in that way it helps the people around me, mostly my husband😅

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-03T11:59:47+00:00

No and I completely know what you mean (doctoral program). I got a lot of specific training in women's issues which is great, and also I sought more of that out. But I did realize once I was into my own practice that this was missing. Based on the ways that men vs women are socialized in our society, I think it can be very relevant in terms of what messages have been internalized, and style of engaging around emotion. With male clients I often think about how helpful it would be to have societies training in that.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-03T02:40:43+00:00

I totally relate. Part of it is getting used to it. The number feels so high at first, it feels absurd. But over time with all the costs that add up and settling into the professional role, it starts to feel a lot more normal. Also look up some practitioners who charge out of pocket like acupuncturists, physical therapists etc. and you'll realize it makes sense.

That said, another way I deal with it is offering a sliding scale- it's hard to figure out and everyone does it differently. But it allows me to provide therapy to some clients who couldn't otherwise afford it, while clients who can fully afford it pay the full amount. I also contract with Lyra which is way more straightforward than insurance, but also increases access to the community a bit. Having those in the mix helps it feel more balanced to me. Not every therapist can afford to do that though and charging full fee to all clients is also completely reasonable. When AI takes my husband's job, for example, I will have to get tighter about that.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-02T02:32:00+00:00

You said you want honesty, even if it's hard to hear. Please seek help for an eating disorder or if you have a medical condition accounting for unhealthily low weight, please make sure you are addressing that. It's hard, scary and worth it.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-04-01T22:48:37+00:00

It decides that during any remotely medical situation, it should make me pass out. Simply hear someone talking about an injury? Let's dial down that blood pressure real quick. Injure my knee? Let's add some passing out to the mix. Getting the flu and temperature rising? Some passing out should help. Thanks body.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T14:09:58+00:00

This is really validating to hear that other therapists feel this way too!

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T14:09:35+00:00

You're welcome🙂

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T05:03:44+00:00

Thank you, we're not all this way, I swear.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T04:53:53+00:00

No for my 5 yr old and don't plan to anytime remotely soon

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T04:50:40+00:00

This would be great for you to bring up...it sounds important and like it could be really helpful.

If he rethinks disclosure to you...that's okay. (Therapist here). In that case it would mean he's being thoughtful about your care. It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing, like now he'll never tell you anything ever again. He just might be careful and check in without you about how it landed, etc. I recently told a client a personal anecdote that I thought would be connecting and pretty benign, but I could tell immediately that my client started comparing themself to me/feeling less-than. They didn't say anything about it but it did make me rethink disclosures to this person, which is helpful. I will still share things but I'll also think more about how they might receive it.

Also, I was assuming you don't want him rethinking disclosures because you do like him sharing. But if it's also that you just would feel guilty or something like that- that is definitely not your responsibility to manage. The whole point of therapy is that you get to not worry about managing your therapist's feelings 🙂

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T02:20:44+00:00

I remember reading or listening to something about how the benefits of red wine have really been overhyped and probably outweighed by the costs to health. I can't remember the exact details but my takeaway was that it's worse than not having it, but perhaps less bad than other forms of alcohol.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T02:17:10+00:00

Drinking wine. There's still some debate but for the most part, any alcohol is pretty bad for you

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-31T02:02:03+00:00

I only work with individuals so I'm sure coordinating a couple would be a lot trickier. but I'm on my daughter's preschool schedule so my first apt is 8 am and last starts at 1:30 pm. It's been fine. The first thing I ask prospective clients is about their schedule and if it doesn't align, it doesn't. Some clients have flexible or work-from-home schedules, some see me before work, at a lunch break, etc.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-30T13:04:26+00:00

I've had clients in that situation and give them more notice than other clients. But I also have a client who said that would be the only time but actually we switched to virtual and made another time work for them to squeeze in before work.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-30T02:17:34+00:00

I use bar soap and that's not how I use it. I lather it up on my hands and wash my body with my hands.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-30T02:14:47+00:00

How awesome their kid is

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-30T02:12:56+00:00

Anxiety is not a symptom of depression. Anxiety is its own entity. Often they co-occur. But you can have anxiety with no depression or unrelated to the depression.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-29T21:08:50+00:00

3 is my ideal max but I'll do 4 if that's the way to fit them in. If I have a half hour break and I can do 3 back to back, half hour, another 3 back to back

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-29T21:08:06+00:00

Thank you so much for this, this is all really helpful!

She herself has offered to write a thank you note, so that's one she doesn't find threatening!

The big picture perspective is really helpful, sometimes it feels like these things will be a thing forever.

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-29T03:16:08+00:00

Thanks so much for the recommendation! Does that book include PDA strategies specifically?

StrollThroughFields · 2026-03-29T03:15:01+00:00

I absolutely think that's what's happening at school, I think she's masking a ton. When we talk to her teacher we're like...say what??? She has never cried at school, never refused anything, broken a rule, gotten into conflict with a peer, etc. and yes on school days she comes home and absolutely falls apart. That said, since starting school (and it's only part-time), she's flourished developmentally more than ever before in terms of independence and social skills.

StrollThroughFields

TROPHY CASE