Oh wow, thanks. I'm really surprised that so many other people deal with a similar situation. I've seen a lot of Ts in the past, and I can't ever remember noticing anything like this. It just seems *nuts* to me... like, a cornerstone of the therapeutic experience is privacy, and it feels very "not private" when you can hear other people in the room!

He has tried to work with me. We used another office once, but he said that he doesn't want to get into the habit of doing that, b/c he's actually renting out that office to another therapist who hasn't started coming in yet. It's kind of awful, b/c I really liked that office SO much better than the one my T picked (even though it's much smaller)... my T sold some of his furniture from his old waiting room to this other-T, and it's all in there! It's so much more comfortable and cozy, and the big fluffy couch is right next to a window! We walked in, and I was like... "OMG! The couch! Why is your couch here!"

I think that the noises bug me in part b/c I don't tune out background noise very well. I work from home now, so it's not a problem, but it was a huge stressor for me when I worked in an office. And, the other part is, it just feels "not private". It's hard for me to process my own thoughts and feelings when there's this stream of oohs and aahs and sounds from so nearby.

I also think, as I mentioned, that my T should have dealt with this. He said he was going to talk to the person from that office... then didn't. He had expected her to be at some sort of social thing the building was having, I think, and she didn't show up. But, seriously, he could have gone on knocked on her door. It sucks. I hate the new office, and I feel rotten for hating it, when I know my T is excited and happy about having his own space. I feel like a brat, but it's really... much less comfortable than his previous office.

Thanks... again, I'm surprised this is such a common thing!