Posted by Dinah on November 6, 2006, at 17:43:54
In reply to T's Offices, posted by TherapyGirl on November 4, 2006, at 21:04:35
The office where I first started seeing him was in a large old building with off street parking. The light was fabulous, and the windows were the old poured glass sort, with bubbles and waves. When I was waiting for him, I'd sway back and forth in front of the window and watch the ripply effect on the landscape.
The walls were pinkish. The curtains enhanced the wonderful lighting, turning it rosy. The sofa and chairs were the same as now, but the ambience was totally different. His bric a brac were wonderfully eclectic, and decidedly odd, and I'd wonder why on earth he had this or that around. And sometimes when I was floating away and he was trying to ground me, he'd point out or hand me something and tell me the reason he chose it for his office.
His office is now in a large shiny office building in one of those executive suites. He "enhanced" the room with some shiny and angular art deco furniture. It is certainly intimate, as when he stretches his legs they practically touch my feet. I'm not crazy about it.
His soon to be office will be in another old building. I'm not sure about the glass in the windows, but he'll be able to paint it, so I'm hoping for rosy. If there was off street parking, it'd be worth the extra drive to get into another old building.
I've seen a lot of adjunct therapists, and a lot of offices, and I've come to some serious conclusions about them. The space and angle between therapist and client is the most important element. Too far away or an awkward angle and the mood is all wrong. And for heavens sake, if they have fabric upholstery they need to keep an eye on it. If it gets shabby and stained, their OCD clients will be instantly anxious about exactly what that stain might be.
Oh, and from my therapist's office. If you have a photo of family members in the office, face them towards your desk. Your daughter's bright shining eyes might be quite engaging, but not when your client is trying to talk about something private. "She's staring at me!!!"
poster:Dinah
thread:700438
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20061026/msgs/701007.html