There are two couches in my T's office, opposite each other. They each could hold at least 3 people. He's a family therapist, so he needs room for the masses. He has his own "therapy chair", which is a lightweight office swivel chair on wheels. No matter where you sit, he can come to you in this chair.

I sit at one end of one of the couches, near the window, which as a gorgeous lake view. My first time, I sat on the at the opposite end of the same couch, nearer the door. But at our second session, we were doing EMDR, and T instructed me where to sit, near the EMDR equipment. And I've been there ever since. Sometimes by the time my early evening appointment rolls around, T is tired of being in his chair, so he will switch to the couch opposite me where he can unfurl himself a bit. I don't like this as well, because it puts him a bit further away from me, but it's OK. I don't think I'd like to lie on the couch as that would make it hard to look into my T's eyes. Lately, my husband has been coming to therapy, and he has chosen to sit on the couch opposite me in the spot T usually takes if he's not in his therapy chair. So that puts T back in his chair at right angles to both of us, equidistant from each of us. It works.

I like thinking about stuff like this. I think my T takes great care with how his office is set up, so I know it is important. I feel part of the "healing circle" of a quartet of sculptures that he has set up. It's cool. And healing.

With my former counselor, her room was sterile and boring with one chair for her and two chairs opposite her, both kind of uncomfortable and nothing special. I asked her once what chair her clients mostly chose, and she revealed that 90% of the people chose the other chair from the one I sat in. She also said that she always asks people if she can hang up their coat or sweater for them, and some people will never let her do this for them. I always let her take my coat and hang it.