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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by speaker on December 16, 2003, at 16:20:03
I have shared before I got terminated (not due to me) and am starting with a new therapist. It takes me a while to settle in when I get to therapy so my old therapist met with me for a double session instead of two sessions in one week. It seemed to be better...I didn't feel rushed or if it was intense I didn't feel like I was left to deal with the intensity alone but we had enough time to work it out together. I like the new T but I suggested double sessions and he stated he can't listen for two hours...whatever! I don't understand because he books patients back to back...or am I just to intense to work with for two hours (actually 1hr 40min.). I am really thinking about making Friday the last session...its just not worth getting all worked up and not feeling like I am getting any help. I know this is probably unfair due to the fact I haven't been able to cover all that has happened and he only has a few pieces of the puzzle, but I don't see any flexiblility...What do you guys think?
Posted by Dinah on December 16, 2003, at 16:24:26
In reply to What to do? New Therapist, posted by speaker on December 16, 2003, at 16:20:03
Other than the double session issue, how do you like the new therapist. Does he have a style you're comfortable with? Is he respectful? Does he practice a type of therapy you find helpful? Do you think there's any chemistry?
My third session with biofeedback guy was two sessions too many, so I'm not in favor of giving too much time to an obviously bad match. But if it is only the double session, you might want to give a bit more time to try to get used to the new format.
Posted by speaker on December 16, 2003, at 16:30:25
In reply to Re: What to do? New Therapist » speaker, posted by Dinah on December 16, 2003, at 16:24:26
I do like the new T but I don't really feel a connection but I don't feel a disconnect either...he is kind, respectful and even has a sense of humor witch is very important. He seems very intelligent and that is great...nothing worse than feeling like I've lived more than he has read :). I just don't feel like the new format is for me...I have given it 5 weeks, do you think thats long enough?
Posted by Dinah on December 16, 2003, at 16:45:37
In reply to Re: What to do? New Therapist » Dinah, posted by speaker on December 16, 2003, at 16:30:25
Wow. Five weeks already? Time sure flies and it seems like I'm just sitting still. :)
Well, let's see. It might be difficult to find a therapist who you like and does double sessions. Unless maybe you live in an area with a whole lot of therapists? And going through that whole interview thing is annoying.
How about trying to problem solve first? What are the major difficulties with the fifty minute session? Are there ways you can mitigate them?
One thing I do to keep continuity is to write down things after session. Sometimes even continue the conversation on my own. If something caught my attention in session, I'll think about it between sessions in my free moments, sometimes also in the form of mentally talking to my therapist, sometimes right here with posts. :) Then before I go in, I try to take at least fifteen minutes to mentally prepare myself, perhaps read the notes from the prior session, and get ready to dive immediately into the session. I like to use the last ten minutes of the session to wind down if it was an emotional session, and I've asked him to help me with this if he can see I'm upset. I never introduce emotional stuff during the last ten minutes.
I kind of like having the break of a few days between sessions because it lets me think better about things than if I had to do it all at once.
Can you think of things you or your therapist can do to make the fifty minute session meet your needs better?
Posted by lookdownfish on December 17, 2003, at 3:42:33
In reply to What to do? New Therapist, posted by speaker on December 16, 2003, at 16:20:03
Maybe because you're relatively new to each other and there's a lot of new information for him to take in, he feels that 1hr 40 is too long for him to concentrate. At least he's being honest.
I agree with Dinah: maybe think about why the 50 minutes isn't working out. If you like the therapist in all other respects, then I would stick with him. But also, maybe you could ask him to do just one double session with you and you can both review how it went, and if he still has reservations then you can discuss if further. If he refuses to try it even once, then I guess he is inflexible. But maybe inflexible's not so bad. My therapist is very inflexible and I find her consistency quite reassuring.
This is the end of the thread.
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