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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by friesandcoke on May 2, 2008, at 19:13:32
A long time ago a therapist told me "there was a reason for it". I did not ask what that reason was and would like to know if only that therapist had a reason or if there is some reason in the therapist world. I have often not wanted to walk in first because I feel rude or even in some cases I don't want my therapist to see that I have gained weight which can be seen from behind! I have at times felt she was looking at me from behind to see if I have gained weight. But back to the question. Is there a reason for therapists letting you go into the room first or not? Thanks.
Posted by Happyflower on May 2, 2008, at 22:52:14
In reply to Why do therapists let you walk into the room first, posted by friesandcoke on May 2, 2008, at 19:13:32
I think because they have to close the door after you walk in.
Posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2008, at 23:33:47
In reply to Re: Why do therapists let you walk into the room f, posted by Happyflower on May 2, 2008, at 22:52:14
Also it gives them a chance to size you up see your stance and if a new patient if you are a threat to them maybe besides closing the door. Love Phillipa
Posted by sunnydays on May 3, 2008, at 0:56:29
In reply to Why do therapists let you walk into the room first, posted by friesandcoke on May 2, 2008, at 19:13:32
Many do it when you're new so you can choose where to sit if they have multiple options. Otherwise, I think it's mostly so that they can close the door - it would feel really awkward to me to be the one closing the door. And so you can sit down first and don't have to feel awkward about them sitting there watching you sit down, adjust yourself, all that.
sunnydays
Posted by Cecilia on May 3, 2008, at 1:36:57
In reply to Why do therapists let you walk into the room first, posted by friesandcoke on May 2, 2008, at 19:13:32
They're specifically taught to do this in T school because we psych patients are assumed to be potentially dangerous. They want to be able to keep an eye on us. They're taught to always have the T sit in the chair closest to the door for the same reason. Doesn't matter if we're so depressed and terrified of them we can barely talk, they're still taught to assume we're all potential criminals. Cecilia
Posted by Dinah on May 3, 2008, at 10:45:31
In reply to Re: Why do therapists let you walk into the room f, posted by Cecilia on May 3, 2008, at 1:36:57
I think that my therapist must have been out of class when they read that lesson.
Recently, after that therapist was killed in her office, we discussed therapist safety a bit. I mentioned some things I had read about therapists sitting nearer the door and mentioned that I'd never noticed that about him. That it always seemed that I was nearer the door. My therapist's responses made clear that he in no way saw his clients as potential criminals. I imagine most of his clients are high functioning. But his personal safety isn't paramount in his mind when seeing me.
In trying to picture where my therapist is when I walk in, I don't think he necessarily has me walk in first. It depends. He walks ahead of me down the hall, and if we're close together he might let me walk in first while he puts the do not disturb sign up and closes the door. But other times he's far enough ahead that he walks in and fiddles with things on his desk, gets my file ready, make sure he has blank receipts, then walks back to close the door after I've already seated myself. He never studies me as I sit down. That would feel weird.
Although I sometimes laugh with him about pillow placement. I like the pillows where I like him, and sometimes they're in a different position. I laugh that adjusting the pillows must be like marking behavior, and asks if he notes which clients do it and which don't. For the record, he says he doesn't.
Posted by muffled on May 3, 2008, at 11:36:34
In reply to Why do therapists let you walk into the room first, posted by friesandcoke on May 2, 2008, at 19:13:32
I too beleive its a safety thing.
Its good for T's to keep safe. They just don't know necc what they dealing with.
I worry bout my T being way too trusting.
Anyhow, my T usu goes in first, cuz I don't like people walking behind me.
I scuttle in and sit down. Sometimes I close the door, sometimes she has to come over and close it.
Often she comes outside to find me, cuz there's no waiting room, its just a hall, and I don't want to make the person leaving uncomfortable, so I wait outside. I like to be outside.
Posted by Nadezda on May 3, 2008, at 23:06:02
In reply to Re: Why do therapists let you walk into the room first, posted by muffled on May 3, 2008, at 11:36:34
My T must have be awol when they gave that class, too.
Several of them, actually.
Doesn't sound at all likely, somehow, that anyone would insist on T's walking with Ps in any particular way. Seems much too much a personal choice, rather than anything rule-bound.
Nadezda
Posted by raisinb on May 4, 2008, at 10:54:06
In reply to Why do therapists let you walk into the room first, posted by friesandcoke on May 2, 2008, at 19:13:32
My therapist walked in and sat down first in our first couple of sessions until she noticed I never closed the door. Then she started letting me walk in first and closing it after me.
She never sat closer to the door. Good thing, because I am the one wanting to bolt!
I wish they'd tell them in their training programs that we are sizing them up as much, if not more, than they are us. And that it's so much more important to let us know that they are friendly, open, happy to see us, than it is to figure out exactly how we are when we walk in.
This is the end of the thread.
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