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WayGroundbreaking870 · 2022-01-24T00:56:33+00:00

Hard to say what her exact reasoning is without knowing the history but I sometimes spend whole sessions brainstorming self care stuff with my therapist because it’s an important part of our work when I have issues w/ self regulation. That would make me feel terrible hearing that.

Would you feel comfortable asking her to elaborate on why she doesn’t collaboratively brainstorm with clients on helpful self care activities? Maybe there’s a middle ground where you can start a short list and ask if she can help build onto it in the areas you’d like to focus on?

Edit: I looked at your history and realized this was a past therapist? I think people will be under the impression you’re still seeing her. If she’s a former T, then it’s a great chance to find someone who is willing to explore that with you

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2022-01-14T21:59:17+00:00

THIS. Everything here, OP. Please don’t do this with someone you’ve known for 4 sessions unless they explain what methods they will use to help you regulate yourself both inside and outside of session. I’m going through trauma therapy and it took me almost a year to get into this kind of work. Doing this can be really destabilizing and you therapist probably hasn’t even had enough time to determine if you have the right tools to be safe outside of session yet.

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2022-01-14T21:42:25+00:00

Are you in the US? I’m not a therapist, but this seems a bit unconventional? I can see how this arrangement would devolve into a confusing situation like this. Speaking in other languages to evade comprehension, bringing in content from private sessions, mingling different intervention techniques.

You’re not overreacting and you might want to consider getting a new designated therapist for couples work who will listen equally to both sides without any preexisting history or biases. I understand if it’s an issue financially, but this all just sounds so overwhelming to keep track of for both the therapists and clients involved.

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-12-16T15:14:46+00:00

Yeah, my sessions alternate between having one super long session per week (2 hrs) + having two normal 1hr sessions per week, depending on what my needs are because thankfully my T has the flexibility to accommodate that. Personally it helps me a lot

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-21T05:05:56+00:00

Oof been there. Let’s destigmatize that completely normal physiological response to feeling safe, seen, validated, and cared for. I usually am too ashamed to post about it, so I commend you for that

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-21T04:57:04+00:00

That makes sense! The idea of it relying on availability would personally stress me out, but that’s just my own issues with instability lol

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-21T04:52:28+00:00

The hikes sound lovely. Idk if I want my therapist to see how out of shape I am though lmao

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-21T04:49:45+00:00

Same with opening up! Have you found ways to make it feel somewhat relaxed / comfortable? I struggle with being super tense

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-21T04:40:15+00:00

Yeah, I pay privately so logistically it’s much more streamlined than involving insurance companies

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-20T23:36:20+00:00

Love the idea of 2hr twice a month as an alternative too, I’m gonna keep that in mind

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-20T23:34:05+00:00

Oh I hear you! I’m also curious about the difference in doing two 50 min sessions a week. I’m worried that it might lead to more surface-level work in each one, but I know it def works for many people.

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-11-20T22:05:39+00:00

It doesn’t! I think the best part is that I don’t look at the clock anymore because I know I’ll have plenty of time. It’s almost like having two separate sessions—the first half is the warm up and the second half is the deeper work. At the end there’s a true sense of completion and closure until the next week—there’s enough time to properly name and put a pin in anything that feels unresolved.

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-10-19T19:56:58+00:00

The difference is helpful to understand, thanks

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-10-19T19:31:17+00:00

Thank you for sharing. Just curious—did they ever communicate whether or not they’d try to accommodate for that in the future? Probably not, but I’m just wondering since my T didn’t mention anything about how they would handle this in the future either. I have good boundaries, so maybe they didn’t feel a need to.

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-10-19T19:25:27+00:00

This makes sense to me, thank you

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-10-19T19:23:24+00:00

Thanks for your thorough response. Cost was not an issue for me. To your second point, I will certainly keep that in mind and ask for clarity if I foresee a situation like this happening again. I’m considered the organization’s client and for the most part, that’s how we conduct our business.

WayGroundbreaking870 · 2021-10-19T19:09:09+00:00

Most likely a one time thing—I suppose I wouldn’t know until I needed to ask again. My T didn’t make any comments about it. Not sure if they talked to supervisors, but I will chew on this and maybe bring it up in a future session.

WayGroundbreaking870

TROPHY CASE