I chose that my T gives advice, but I use that term quite loosely. I guess I would say that my T sometimes suggests things. For instance, she won’t say, “Content, you need to go to the store and buy a Gatorade right now!” She may say, “It seems like you may require hydration…have you considered going to the store to purchase a beverage, buying a Brita pitcher, taking a sip from the water fountain, carrying a water bottle around?” I guess she gives advice, but it is usually disguised in the form of several suggestions and/or homework. She may want me to read something specific so that I “come up with the idea” of potentially doing a specific thing…. One time, I did tell her about something that I had done, and she said, “ I NEVER say this…I never tell people ‘Don’t do x, y, or z or do do x, y, and z,’ but don’t do that again…I mean it!” Ha! She was right!

Also, I found that when I was seeing her in the beginning, she was far less likely to offer suggestions and more into walking alongside me, helping me navigate my past and circumstances. Now, she is more about challenging me…pushing me, as she knows that I am far more healthy mentally and can handle it. Just last session, she told me to let her know if she was being too challenging, and I told her that no she was not and that I could handle it. Still, phew, it was the toughest session I’ve had! She also probably offered more advice/suggestions than ever before in a session!

She never tells me outright to do something or that I need to do it or must do it, but she does throw things out there more for me to “chew” on nowadays…. Great poll!