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Originally Posted by ScarletPimpernel
1. How do you be more open?
* Is it talking about sensitive things? Or allowing your T to push/challenge you? I'm honest, so I know it's not that.
2. How do you lead therapy?
* My T told me it's my therapy and I need to lead (pick topics).
3. How do you convey emotions when you have the ability to smile even when you're sad?
* I can't read my T's expressions and she can't read mine  When I told her today I didn't know what to talk about, she thought I was playing around with her...
Please don't tell me to get a new T. I have enough I'm dealing with and I'm tryi g to figure this relationship out. As a recap, my ex-T abandoned me 16 weeks ago, so I'm pretty fragile and vulnerable. I also can't figure out whether I actually have issues with my new T or if those problem are a side effect of T abandoning me.
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1. I don't have a problem with sharing most intimate things in therapy. I kind of lack a filter so if something is up, I might over share.
2. I have never done well with therapy I don't have a specific reason or goal for being there. So I also struggle with leading a session. If I didn't have much to say in a session or if we were talking fluff, she would ask me what I wanted to work on. The direct approach works for me. It was when I didn't have an answer to that question more than a couple of times that I started seeing her much less.
3. People can never get a read on me either, I'm not the most emotive person. So I tell the person directly how I feel. I don't think it's uncommon for people to become very good at hiding their emotions and therapists know this. Sometimes they can read between the lines, but not if the client is an expert at covering up emotions. That's why it's so important to be honest with your T about how you feel, instead of hoping they can read between the lines. Like anyone else, they often can't tell just by body language and facial expressions.
Some Ts use the poker face on purpose with clients so as not to appear to be passing judgement on what's being said. if you are trying to interpret warmth or caring, they might convey it by leaning in closer to you, eye contact, a softer voice. I find the eyes say a lot.