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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Roslynn on January 6, 2010, at 19:27:16
Hi everyone,
I saw my T earlier this week and she acted a bit strange...either like her heart wasn't in it or she was distracted, or something.
It was right from the beginning of the session. Almost like she was angry I was bringing up the same issues again.
I also brought up something very important that I am trying to cope with (anger toward self and all that goes along with that) and she was sort of vague about possible strategies for me to deal with this. She sort of jumped from idea to idea ("well, you could count to 10, or well, you could go online...well, but did you study the handout I gave you?") (I had but I was still in a very bad emotional state).
The whole session was sort of "off" and I left thinking "what the heck"?Now I'm wondering if she has the skills to deal with my issues. Is she overwhelmed? Maybe she is sick of me bringing in the same issues? But I am still having the same problems...
I've seen her a few months now but this is the first time she sort of "switched" on me.
Anyone dealt with this type of thing before?
Thank you,
Roslynn
Posted by Dinah on January 7, 2010, at 9:22:25
In reply to I'm unsure about my T now, posted by Roslynn on January 6, 2010, at 19:27:16
I think it's normal enough for even the best therapists to have an off day. If this is the first time, maybe you could use it as an example of trying to keep a stable sense of who she is over short periods of rupture and hopefully repair.
Even so, it might be good to mention your perceptions to her. I've gotten so that I bring up all my perceptions with my therapist more or less instantaneously. It took years to get there, but now it's sort of funny. I'll say "It felt like you didn't like it when I said that." or "I heard you not say something." Usually I am right although sometimes I can be both right and wrong, since it might have been a back twinge or something. But sometimes we figure out that my perceptions are actually more about something going on with me. I try to keep it nonconfrontational and more inquiry than accusation.
Posted by Roslynn on January 7, 2010, at 15:59:15
In reply to Re: I'm unsure about my T now » Roslynn, posted by Dinah on January 7, 2010, at 9:22:25
Hi Dinah,
Thank you for your helpful answer. Maybe it was just an off day for her. Something else might have been going on in her life.
I may bring it up next session, I'm not sure.
Thanks again,
Roslynn> I think it's normal enough for even the best therapists to have an off day. If this is the first time, maybe you could use it as an example of trying to keep a stable sense of who she is over short periods of rupture and hopefully repair.
>
> Even so, it might be good to mention your perceptions to her. I've gotten so that I bring up all my perceptions with my therapist more or less instantaneously. It took years to get there, but now it's sort of funny. I'll say "It felt like you didn't like it when I said that." or "I heard you not say something." Usually I am right although sometimes I can be both right and wrong, since it might have been a back twinge or something. But sometimes we figure out that my perceptions are actually more about something going on with me. I try to keep it nonconfrontational and more inquiry than accusation.
Posted by Verloren on January 7, 2010, at 17:16:28
In reply to I'm unsure about my T now, posted by Roslynn on January 6, 2010, at 19:27:16
I had a slightly similar situation with my T. She usually drinks coffee and admitted at the beginning of the session that she had not had any that day so she was a little less peppy.
She was also running late getting into the office once and appeared a bit flustered (and maybe just a tad distracted) that day.As long as she's not extravagantly different, like contradicting herself or completely shutting down, I would just bring it up with her.
Who knows what may have been going on with her, headache, cavity, pet problems, car troubles, etc.
She may not have been aware that she was acting any different than normal or that you were able to pick up on it.
-Verloren
Posted by Roslynn on January 8, 2010, at 18:57:19
In reply to Re: I'm unsure about my T now » Roslynn, posted by Verloren on January 7, 2010, at 17:16:28
Thank you for your feedback, Verloren! Hope you are well.
Roslynn
> I had a slightly similar situation with my T. She usually drinks coffee and admitted at the beginning of the session that she had not had any that day so she was a little less peppy.
> She was also running late getting into the office once and appeared a bit flustered (and maybe just a tad distracted) that day.
>
> As long as she's not extravagantly different, like contradicting herself or completely shutting down, I would just bring it up with her.
>
> Who knows what may have been going on with her, headache, cavity, pet problems, car troubles, etc.
>
> She may not have been aware that she was acting any different than normal or that you were able to pick up on it.
>
> -Verloren
Posted by rnny on January 14, 2010, at 13:11:42
In reply to Re: I'm unsure about my T now, posted by Roslynn on January 8, 2010, at 18:57:19
The T I am seeing right now is always like that and you put what I am experiencing into words. It is one reason I am looking for a new T. She is "always" like that, I swear!
This is the end of the thread.
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