Posted by Annierose on October 3, 2005, at 15:54:47
In reply to Re: The gifts of therapy » Annierose, posted by fairywings on October 3, 2005, at 10:17:51
Hi FW -
My relationship with this therapist goes back to 1983 when I first began seeing her after I graduated from college. She was a new T, just out of school, still working on her Ph.D. I saw her back then for, I think, about 5 years, twice a week. I quit mid-session, after she awkwardly disclosed she was pregnant. I never spoke to her again (although I think she called once to try to talk about why I walked out & schedule one more appt).
Obviously we had a history, and I always felt fondly towards her. My life moved on, I got divorced, opened my own business, re-married, had children ... blah, blah, blah. Around 3 years ago, my husband and I were experiencing multiple stressors: his job situation was shakey, his father had a brain tumor, then kidney tumor, my accountant for my business made some mistakes, and worse of all, my oldest child at the time was experiencing depression. I wanted to get professional help throughout the year, but didn't want to start the process all over again. I had seen 2 other therapists since, but it wasn't the same.
Anyway, that Christmas (2003), I had sent my previous T a Holiday card. I didn't write anything in the card, just sent it. She wrote back a very short note, wishing me well. I flipped out. I didn't know what I was feeling, or what I wanted to do with the feelings, so after a month, I called to make an appointment. We started with once a week, but I kept adding second sessions all the time. Then by Fall (of last year) I asked if I could come three times a week. So to finally answer your question, I just asked. Knowing she was psychodynamic in theory, I was comfortable with asking (i.e. the more you come, the more you get out of it).
To answer how am I able to be so open? ... I owe a great deal of my openness to Babble ... so many posters helped give me the courage to just say what I really want to say (although I fall short all the time too). Dinah, GG, Daisy, Pfinstegg, Fallsfall, Tamar (I'm sure I'm leaving people out) their stories, their relationship with their T's, are such a source of inspiration. Plus, I am fairly open by nature. I'm not shy. But it's quite different to be so vulnerable in therapy.
Anyway, after almost 2 years working with my very first T again, I am doing so much better. My T has more experience in being a T, and I have more maturity.
Didn't think my reply would get so long. Thanks for asking and reading!!
poster:Annierose
thread:562009
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20051001/msgs/562374.html