If it works for you and you are comfortable doing it then forget what anyone else thinks. Is it harming you? Or is it helping you? If the latter then who cares, you're not a freak, we all work differently and if you've found something that works for you, then all power to you!

What difference does it make what others think if it is working for you? I don't in general find anything wrong with general touch if both parties are willing to engage in it. I don't like my hands held by anyone. I don't want the therapist to touch me because I cannot imagine why it would be useful for me for her to do so. But if a therapist touching someone else helps them, then great for them.

This is what worries me a lot about many people's therapists. No therapist can really guarantee they will be around until the "work" is done, whatever that means anyway. I don't think therapists should say things like this because no one knows what the future holds. She might mean well, but in reality anything could happen and she could leave or whatever and not be there anymore and then what? I don't know. Life is pain I guess and not much else.

I do think you seem to be doing much better and I am glad for that. She does seem to truly care.

What Hankster said. And StillIRise. Etc.
Humans are so unique, treatment plans must also be unique! Fab!
It's true about the neural pathways too, I've just been to some really interesting lectures and seminars on it. Though my ipad wants to say semi arse, and I think maybe it knows best. Xx

I hope you know I like you ( ) but this sounds very much like blaming the client when things go wrong.

I suggest not taking anything a therapist says as a promise. If a therapist says they are not leaving - the best it can be is that they have no active plans at the moment to do so.

This is one one the most "we adore therapist" sites I have ever read. Good lord, there is more therapist fawning going on here than possibly even in therapy school. And as for changing - no one has to do so, and from my experience a good number of the therapists should.

You and i are friends but now i feel kinda bad for saying "a certain person" instead of "my crazy-***** mother" cuz i feel like it coulda made a difference in your response? I felt like it was a no-win situation, but he saw a solution. I feel so much better, not waiting for that sword to swing back over my head. I dont see where you think he is blaming me?

I don't see a problem with your therapy at all. I've actually read about the whole developing new neural pathways theory, and also about how touch releases oxytocin. I think it's possible combining safe touch with processing bad memories could re-write them to be a little less bad over time.

My only concern with your therapist was the inconsistency. It bothered me she allowed the hand holding, then took it away, then allowed it again. It probably was just her figuring it out, but I felt for you because I would have been upset by that.

My therapist doesn't hold my hand, but I've never requested that either. We do hug, and I think it's been beneficial for me. A couple times he's let me cry on his shoulder when I was feeling very upset, it was really comforting for me. I would say I wanted him to hold my hand even if I wasn't so self-conscious about my hands and in general.

I by the way, completely agree with this. I don't get the comments about this being an anti-T or T bashing site at all. Sure some of us share bad experiences on here, but that doesn't make the whole forum therapist-bashing. IMHO when a therapist is bashed on here there is usually good reason for it.