Thank you all so much for your replies.
I kind of disappeared for a couple of days. I've been so busy with work and running around taking my kids to their activites, and tonight I had an appt with pdoc. So I'm just getting a chance to catch up on things.
But I've read what everyone said and I really appreciate your sharing and perspectives. I have some more thoughts and want to respond to some of the questions.....
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Originally Posted by Eileen2010
Ugh darkrunner, that is a difficult one. Does she do that often? how much disclosure does she do?
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My T does disclose quite a bit. I've been seeing her for about 1 1/2 years and she always has disclosed. She is very talkative and I am more quiet. There was a point that it was really bothering me because she was talking about herself so much. ANd of course there were times when I was glad she was talking so much because I didn't want to talk at all and it was a way of avoiding my stuff. Then we both realized there was some kind of 'transference' going on because her personality is A LOT like my moms. Since then, I've noticed her LISTENING more, and sitting in silence more, waiting for me to talk. I appreciate that, because it tells me that she cares, she wants to help me, and she is willing to learn what works and what doesn't work, and she is willing to change her approach.
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Originally Posted by Sannah
But wouldn't this make it her session and not yours?
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Yes, it would, and I think that's what made it feel awkward. I really wanted to focus on her, but I felt like I would be crossing a boundary. The situation felt strange, they way you would feel if you had a friend who was pouring out her heart to you and you just sat there watching, and not making any effort to BE THERE for her. Because I knew that was not my place to do so.
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Originally Posted by peaches100
Darkrunner,
Hmmm. To me, the self-disclosure wouldn't bother me unless my t had a pattern of doing that on a regular basis. In this case, your t didn't intend to cry in front of you. Once she realized she was getting teary, she asked for a moment to contain herself, right? Then did th=he two of you go on to discuss your issues?
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Thanks Peaches, yes you are right, she took a moment to compose herself and then we went on with my session. I don't remember much of the session after that - it was only 3 days ago but it all seems kind of foggy.
I really like some of the ideas you all gave of how to bring it up to her.
I also wondered if she would possibly bring it up to me...I doubt she will.
Another thing I noticed while reading through all the responses at once, is how different everyone's perspectives are. I like hearing such a wide range of opinions, even though some of them were harder to hear than others.
But it is helpful to me because I tend to think of things as black and white, so it has helped me to see more of the gray areas.
I still am not sure if I'm going to talk to her about it, although I can say that talking about it to all of you makes me much more likely to bring it up with her!!!!
Thanks again, everyone!