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Old Mar 20, 2015, 07:09 PM
llleeelllaaannneee's Avatar
llleeelllaaannneee llleeelllaaannneee is offline
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Member Since: Mar 2015
Location: seattle
Posts: 112
Hmmm, I think you're actually reading a lot into what I've said.
I specifically told the therapist that I brought the notebook in to doodle and why (how it helped me keep a better flow talking and listening. I even explained how I used this technique in college to maintain an attention span).

Also, I made a great effort to explain that I had these issues and how they played out with my psychiatrist. My psychiatrist is the one that referred me to the t in the first place as has my prior medical records that should illustrate I struggle with this issue but commit to appointments and trying to work on them.
I even suggested to the psychiatrist that perhaps I should see an art therapist because talk therapy may be too distressing.

I spent an entire session with therapist talking about how talking can be difficult for me and how I try to cope with it. I'm sure this also came up in our initial meeting since it is such a prominent issue.

I never once thought the therapist should read my mind. I reacted to her comment negatively and I came on here to explore that negative reaction. If you re read my initial post I think you may also see that I asked for suggestions/alternatives to 'you can leave if you want to' in dealing with me. I asked for what to look for in a therapist, ask from a therapist in order to better deal with this.

It's funny, your replies felt like an attack but now that I'm writing this I find myself laughing because it it's really obvious to me that you are waaay off the mark and maybe even trying to read my mind!

I came back here now to say I have emailed therapist. I went out of my way to express that I believed she had good intentions to be helpful, offer me an 'out' if I felt trapped and so on. I also told her how the statement made me feel while fully acknowledging the difference between what I may think she was meaning to say and how it felt to hear it. I even made a point of telling her that my comfort in writing her was, in a way, a compliment from me. And, I apologized if I was taking too much liberty in sending such a detailed email (tho she did seem to encourage a response earlier).

I don't chose not to speak, it happens and it sucks and I'm doing everything I can to stay. She said it was ok for me to leave. If that is the case WTF is not an appropriate response and it's too bad you have that take on it.

I came here to process what has been a difficult situation for me. In doing so I was able to work through things in likely not just a more healthy manner but a more timely manner and I THANK everyone on here for being so supportive because it has really made a difference.

So, uh, get off of my cloud.
I'm feeling pretty good about handling this situation differently then I would have in the past, changing, growing in this moment.

Quote:
Originally Posted by InRealLife45 View Post
sorry, but if you go to therapy sit down and say nothing then get offended when told its okay to leave- you are asking for mind reading. therapy is a talking kind of interaction. if youre having trouble doing that, you need to be able to ask for specific help. we dont even know how long this t has been practicing, if shes an intern or if shes licensed, or what. so generalizing what she should or should not be "used to" is pointless. But I bet she's used to clients who talk vs clients who sit and look at her.

I myself have spent MANY MANY sessions sitting and looking at my therapist, playing with a teddy bear or drawing. I have also been invited to leave when I've done these things. I told her I didn't want to leave, but thanks for the offer. I would bring in letters for her to read, if I still couldn't talk she would do some kind of activity that didnt require me to speak -sand tray, mindfulness, relaxation, whatever -sometimes she'd sit by me and we'd write each other notes on a piece of paper or a whiteboard- but I did talk a bit, most times. The times when I would say absolutely nothing she would either sit with me in silence or she would talk to me, but I didnt blame her for asking if I wanted to leave when clearly I wasn't interested in having a conversation.

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OP didnt say the T told her to leave and not come back until she felt like talking (which would be rude).

OP stated T simply let her know it was okay to leave if she wanted to. That to me doesnt say "I'm uncomfortable with your silence." It would point more towards -if you are too uncomfortable to speak, please know I wont be offended if you are overwhelmed and want to leave."

But none of us can know OP's therapists intent with the comment, all of us are guessing. OP has to ask her. OP has to engage in some sort of conversation with her.

In my opinion the T has at this point done nothing wrong and behaved completely appropriately in regards to having an uncommunicative client.
Thanks for this!
Firecracker89, LonesomeTonight, ragsnfeathers