I just wrote about this, but one T that I saw (for 2 sessions, dodged a bullet with her) noticed I was dissociating and said to me... "Are you dissociating now? STOP IT!". Ha - yeah - because that made me feel really safe and grounded (not!). Not a good technique!

There was another T that I had bounced in and out of his office a few times (saw him, liked him, didn't like him, tried some referrals he gave me, they didn't work out, landed back on his doorstep in sad shape). When I ended up back with him, he was leaving for a 2 week vacation... and decided I needed a transitional object. He gave me a rock to take home, keep during the vacation, and bring back. Oh heck no! I did not have ANY kind of attachment or alliance with him at that point, and the rock completely freaked me out. I took it home... WASHED IT (you know, b/c I didn't know how many other people people had touched it - lol!), wrapped it in paper towels so I didn't have to look at it, and stuck it in a corner somewhere.

The whole thought of bringing my T into my house was just... ICK. No, not good, not something I needed or wanted. We just didn't have a close enough relationship yet, it was weird and too much!

Oh the joys of attempted therapy.