I go through periods of jealously with other clients. I’m the first patient of the day, so I tell myself little lies, like that makes me more special or my therapist thinks of me on the way in. It’s a small office, so it’s awkward leaving and having to walk right past other clients waiting. For the most part I had been dealing with this other patients fine until about a month ago (I’ve been seeing my therapist for about 5 months now). At that time I saw another female in the waiting room, I had previously only ever seen male patients and liked to believe that maybe I was the only female patient my therapist sees. I totally had a flash of jealously over seeing this “other woman,” especially since it came right after a particularly meaningful session. (She was drinking the same flavor La Croix we drink at home, and I told my husband that flavor is tainted now! )

As of today, I’m ok with other patients. I had to spend some time thinking of myself in the grand scheme of things, I get that the man works by himself and needs to make a living, I’ve worked in the business world for a long time. But I still like to believe I work harder than other patients, or that I’m more interesting. Mostly what helps me when I go through these periods of jealously is to remember I’m the most interesting patient for that 60ish minutes (we usually run over a bit), and that the relationship I’ve built with my therapist is unique to us and no one can impede on that.