I have seen this in movies and read it in books, but this last session T and I did joke about mental illness. I've always taken offense to the term and concept of the things I deal with constituting as mental illness, so it was sort of a relief and yet shared ....bonding (for lack of a better word) to participate.

As I just moved into a very small apartment and have many challenges within this experience, T was saying I needed a way to cope. I said I talk to the cat a lot (and gave her some examples). Then she said (with this half playful look, half serious) "When the cat answers you back- (this is where I started laughing too, already anticipating the ending) CALL ME". And we both had a good laugh. Though, I'm not sure I like that she used the word "when".... I told her I am already singing children's songs with changed words; "This is the way we lose our minds, lose our minds, lose our minds..."

I've still been thinking about the joke 2 days later - still makes me grin inspite of myself. Felt like something right out of the books; "Girl, Interrupted" and "I never promised you a rose garden" - sharing this moment of half gift, half joke, and some seriousness, some connection. Therapy can be so weird sometimes.

Anyone else?