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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by curtm on June 6, 2006, at 21:06:51
Monday 8AM
I don't know what else to say... Um....I finally quit procrastinating...Um...It will be my first appt...Um... I hope he can handle it...poor guy
His name is Curt too!
That is such a cool name, huh?
Posted by Racer on June 6, 2006, at 21:15:50
In reply to My first T appt, posted by curtm on June 6, 2006, at 21:06:51
>
>
> His name is Curt too!
>
> That is such a cool name, huh?Just be sure you don't get the two of you confused, right? You're the one with the bow tie and the twinkle in your eye -- or whatever you do have. HE'S the one who says things like, "And how did that make you feel?"
Just trying to be helpful...
Posted by curtm on June 6, 2006, at 21:24:50
In reply to Re: My first T appt » curtm, posted by Racer on June 6, 2006, at 21:15:50
Any tips on "How to prepare four your first T appt." The bookstore was out of that one.
Posted by curtm on June 6, 2006, at 21:26:27
In reply to Re: My first T appt » curtm, posted by Racer on June 6, 2006, at 21:15:50
Posted by annierose on June 7, 2006, at 6:38:13
In reply to Re: My first T appt » Racer, posted by curtm on June 6, 2006, at 21:24:50
Be open, be honest and more than anything, be yourself.
It's his job to help you feel comfortable. He will have his own style and own way of organizing that first appointment. Every T is so different in that first "interview" (I've been to many first appointments over the years). You may be asked to fill out several forms, or not. He may ask for a general history of why you are there.
The T I have stuck with had the least amount of structure to that initial appointment. She told me the lay out of her office, where the bathroom is in the building and directed me where to sit (believe me, that can be helpful). Then simply said, "So tell me why you are here." Or something similar to that. And then we struck a rapport.
Good Luck! And remember, if you don't think he is the one T for you, try another. But, with a name like Curt, maybe it's fate.
Posted by llrrrpp on June 7, 2006, at 8:05:36
In reply to Re: My first T appt » curtm, posted by annierose on June 7, 2006, at 6:38:13
The first appt. is also a good chance to ask about things like
1) What approach they use with clients (Cognitive Behavioral, etc)
2) Whether they are comfortable using a different approach if their primary approach isn't working well for a client (i.e. how flexible are they?)
3) How many times a week you should go
4) Whether they are planning on moving out of the area in the next yearI'm sure there are others. This first meeting is the best chance for you to get answers to these questions. You are a consumer, and you have certain powers. In later sessions, you may find yourself asking these questions, and the answers may not be so easy to come by
i.e. 4) Whether they are planning on moving out of the area in the next year
"Why do you ask that"
umm, because I need to know
"If I tell you that I'm going to be around, how does it make you feel?"
umm, it makes me feel like you never answered my question...and so on.
I'm so impressed that you're taking this step. Remember that the T is there for you to unload anything and everything that you've ever wanted to say. Stuff that might rock the boat in your other relationships. Stuff that you'd never say to your friends and family because you didn't want them to think you were ____. It's a rare and special opportunity.
It's taken me a couple of months to get into a groove with my T. We didn't click so well at the beginning, because I found him so intimidating. I found the whole therapy process incredibly frightening and he acquired Hannibal Lecter-like characteristics in my mind. But now things are getting to a point where I know what he's going to throw at me, and I know why he's asking the questions he does.
Anyways, be honest with Curt, and the other Curt too. :)
Be honest about when something is working for you, and also honest when something is not working for you. When have you ever had the opportunity to be completely, 100% honest with no consequences (except psychological discomfort, that is...)?
Good luck,
I'll be thinking of you :)
-llrrrpp
Posted by curtm on June 7, 2006, at 10:06:59
In reply to Re: My first T appt, posted by llrrrpp on June 7, 2006, at 8:05:36
I'm not nervous about it...I just *****HATE***** being unprepared!! I am anal about having everything ready beforehand. I also like to have a good knowledge of what it is about.
When I spoke to him last night, I told him I was my pdoc gave me his name. He asked if I knew what my diagnosis might be and I said bipolar. I said I'm not sure where at on the "spectrum" yet, but I'm not concerned too much about it. I just want to feel better.
He asked if I had counseling before. I wanted to kill him. I *****HATE***** that word!!!!!!!! I said that I have done some research on my own about therapy, though. Grrr!! I will tell him not to say that. ok? :)
I said I think I might be more suitable for DBT than CBT because I am very resistant. I am also impatient. He said "You must have had some sort of therapy before if you know about that." What a fkn moron! I just said I didn't!!! I told him I do a lot of reading and writing on psych sites on the internet.
I don't mean to be negative, but I have a habit of being overbearing and analytical, even on professionals, and I don't really try to be. On the other hand I don't know if I can keep from playing games either. You guys know me. I don't stay on one path. I am avoidant. I am cynical and sarcastic. Then on the other hand (how many hands do I have) I can be so smooth and cooperative. You never know which one youre going to get smacked with. Most likely all of them in one session.
I hope he can handle it. I assure you he will be in for a treat.
Posted by llrrrpp on June 7, 2006, at 11:36:48
In reply to Trouble?, posted by curtm on June 7, 2006, at 10:06:59
> I'm not nervous about it...I just *****HATE***** being unprepared!! I am anal about having everything ready beforehand. I also like to have a good knowledge of what it is about.
Of course. The unknown can be very uncomfortable. But, rest assured that it will be okay. He will probably ask you some questions about what you do, how you're doing, whether there are specific things that you'd like to work on. etc. Just relax and go with the flow. relenquish a little control. it will be good for you.> When I spoke to him last night, I told him I was my pdoc gave me his name. He asked if I knew what my diagnosis might be and I said bipolar. I said I'm not sure where at on the "spectrum" yet, but I'm not concerned too much about it. I just want to feel better.
good attitude
> He asked if I had counseling before. I wanted to kill him. I *****HATE***** that word!!!!!!!! I said that I have done some research on my own about therapy, though. Grrr!! I will tell him not to say that. ok? :)
I hate it too. I hate the word "therapist" counselling, self-help. all of it. It makes me feel powerless and weak. I prefer to use the word "psychologist" or abbreviate and say T. It seems a lot more harmless, somehow.
> I said I think I might be more suitable for DBT than CBT because I am very resistant. I am also impatient. He said "You must have had some sort of therapy before if you know about that." What a fkn moron! I just said I didn't!!! I told him I do a lot of reading and writing on psych sites on the internet.He's not a moron, it's just that most people seeing the therapist for the first time are unprepared, as I was. I'm educated. I've taken a lot of psychology classes, and I didn't have a freaking clue what therapy was all about. It took me at least 5 sessions to figure out what was expected of me, and I'm about 3 months into it now, and finally getting to a place where I don't have severe anxiety waiting in the waiting room for my psyche to be picked apart. Also, a lot of people seeing the T for the first time are at their rock bottoms, they are like deer, caught in the headlights of life, and they are not coherent enough to know what they need, or ask questions about their treatment. I think you just surprised your T in a good way.
>
> I don't mean to be negative, but I have a habit of being overbearing and analytical, even on professionals, and I don't really try to be. On the other hand I don't know if I can keep from playing games either. You guys know me. I don't stay on one path. I am avoidant. I am cynical and sarcastic. Then on the other hand (how many hands do I have) I can be so smooth and cooperative. You never know which one youre going to get smacked with. Most likely all of them in one session.
>
yes, your T will be able to know when you're playing games, and he'll know when you're avoidant. If these are things you need to work on (habits, as you called them), seeing T is a great place to start working on them. It's kind of like a laboratory. you will start a new relationship on Monday, 8am. You can be yourself. All of you, and throw at him whatever you need to. He can take it. That's his job.> I hope he can handle it. I assure you he will be in for a treat.
>Sounds like you'll both be in for a treat!
Talking can be hard work. I had no idea that talking for 45 minutes once a week could change me so much. NO IDEA. well, I still have a lot of work to do. better get cracking.-llrrrpp
Posted by Poet on June 7, 2006, at 21:49:01
In reply to Trouble?, posted by curtm on June 7, 2006, at 10:06:59
Hi Curt,
You successfully survived a first visit to a pdoc, that gives you a lot of knowledge of what kind of questions to expect.
I've been in therapy for almost four years, so my first session was a long time ago, but I used to write down what happened and so I dug out the old floppy disk with session one on it. You think you're anal? I have proof I am.
Questions:
Why are you here?
What do you think I can do for you?
What makes you happy?
Are you happy in your marriage?
What do you want from marriage?
What do you get from marriage?
Tell me about your childhood.
Socially?
Friends?
If you could be a completely different person, what would you change first?Out of those innocent questions she managed to nail that I have social anxiety, dysthymia, fear failure and had what I will politely call an unusual childhood. Ha, ha, she didn't get that I'm bulimic. That took until session six. Damn, that woman is good.
It's perfectly okay to tell your T that you hate the word counseling. I hate the word "safe" and my T knows if she dares say it, she faces the wrath of Poet. NO WHERE IS SAFE! Thank you for letting me scream that; I feel much better now. Anyway, he'll eventually try to get you to tell him why you hate the word counseling, but that should be many sessions away. You can always invoke the wrath of Curt.
The first session is the hardest, because you really don't know if you can trust this person. It's okay not to answer. I still stare at my T and say nothing and I do trust her. Most of the time, anyway.
Let us know how it goes.
Poet
Posted by sleepygirl on June 7, 2006, at 22:32:56
In reply to Trouble?, posted by curtm on June 7, 2006, at 10:06:59
It took me like FOREVER to be more comfortable in therapy....holy freaking trust issues over here!
It's hard sometimes, but you can do it!! (that phrase -"You can do it!" reminds me of that fitness guy on television -Tony Little who says that on a commercial while he rides his weird gazelle fitness machine)
...but I digress,
you can start with the obvious perhaps, that you wish you could know how to be preparedgood luck curt
PS maybe you can throw him off and ask him his favorite movie quote
Posted by muffled on June 7, 2006, at 23:34:22
In reply to My first T appt, posted by curtm on June 6, 2006, at 21:06:51
I don't think I've posted to you b4 curt. I start to get overwhelmed when I try to post to too many people.
I have read some of your posts and I do think you'll keep your T on his toes!!!
Good luck to you.
Muffly
Posted by fairywings on June 8, 2006, at 2:53:42
In reply to Trouble?, posted by curtm on June 7, 2006, at 10:06:59
Hi Curt, it's 3:51 AM, just read your post, am very curious to know how it goes.
fw
Posted by curtm on June 8, 2006, at 9:24:05
In reply to Re: Trouble? » curtm, posted by fairywings on June 8, 2006, at 2:53:42
This is the end of the thread.
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