Posted by Dinah on December 19, 2003, at 0:07:04
In reply to I'm angry - semi-long rant, posted by DaisyM on December 18, 2003, at 18:56:32
My therapist and I have a semi-ritual about leaving. He generally tells me to call him if I need to. (I think somewhere along the line he discovered that if he invited me to call him, I generally wouldn't need to.) And if it was a particularly upsetting session I ask him if everything is going to be all right, and he answers in the affirmative with as much confidence as he can muster.
Not too long ago he wanted to stop saying everything was going to be all right, but we worked out a compromise instead.
And I get oddly anxious if he forgets to tell me to call if I need him, even though I know I can. He reminds me that even if he doesn't tell me I can, I can anyway. And I can ask him, too.
There's something about an end of session ritual, however small, that helps seal up the wounds and face the real world.
I guess it's like a kid saying bye at preschool. I know my son always had a sequence of events and he would get very upset if we didn't follow them. It's the same way now at bedtime, and before he leaves for school in the morning.
I know we're not kids, but I often feel like one in therapy. Maybe therapists should give some thought to including some rituals in the leavetaking.
poster:Dinah
thread:291386
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031213/msgs/291501.html