Quote:
Originally Posted by skysblue
Okay - so I get 50 minutes for $80.00. I've almost always taken control of session. I guess I want to get my money's worth and utilize time to its best advantage.
I have made lists of 'topics' and just before session I prioritize. I tackle the issues that seem the most important at the time. I force myself to confide in T my most vulnerable feelings. I face my fears as much as I can.
BUT, does this 'taking control' have a downside? Am I missing out on some possibilities of insight?
I guess I fear wasting a session. I guess I fear T and I will stumble and just flounder and not get anywhere.
Today I have session and my mood is amorphous. Lots of stuff going on emotionally but I don't know what or how I should approach the issues. AND, T will be gone next week on vacation so it seems like a lot is riding on today's session - even though I'm not sure what.
How do any of you extract the best possible outcome with each session? I guess I want to do something different today but I have no idea what.
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I used to think the same way about my former T: $100 out-of-pocket and 50 minutes. I made lists too. It was never enough time. I'm sorry to be negative but the only solution for me was to switch to a T on my insurance so it now costs about $26 for 90 minutes. No worries about not getting anywhere because there's plenty of time (though it still flies by like a blink of the eye!).
Okay. I know the above is totally useless information for you unless you want to change Ts, which is always an option for everyone no matter how attached we may be to our Ts.
I wish there were an answer as to how to make the best use of a session. I know you've brought up in other threads about your planning your sessions and taking control. I used to do that too. I think, even though you want to be sure to cover the most important issues, and have a prioritized list, that can work against you. Or, has it worked for you in therapy? You don't complain about your therapy so if it works, why do you want to change it?
Throughout my years of therapy, I've found that the most productive sessions have come without planning. If I plan, I'm in my head, and intellectualizing. If I go with the flo, I'm more likely to let my feelings come out more fully. My current T likes to take the lead with her techniques such as the SE we just did. I was more mindful because I didn't know what to expect and had not planned to do it. Can your T take the lead in your session? Yesterday we spent a few minutes on meditation. I didn't want to open my eyes, and told T I was relaxed. Then I said "I'm wasting time." She emphatically said "no, you're not! This is not a waste if you feel calm and relaxed. Take your time!" So, who is to decide what is a waste of a session or not?
If you want something different, what about getting up and walking around? Doing an exercise with boundaries like I did? Drawing? Writing? Will your T do something other than straight talking?
Just some ideas. I hope it goes well for you. It's hard to get all you want from a session before your T goes away. Maybe try to think what you need to say before she goes, that you would regret if you don't say it. Or maybe there's a question you want to ask her.
