So last week T2 mentioned that her office used to be T1’s office when he was supervising her before but she worked in a different building. She said she hadn’t gotten around to changing anything yet other than covering the couch because it was “a distraction”. So... I couldn’t help imagining having met with T1 in that office the first few sessions we worked together. The office is much smaller and the couch is in the corner so I would have had a “safe spot”. The lack of available corners in his current office for hiding in has come up several times... he does NOT get it... anyway... the second session when he asked about emotions instead of freezing I would have pulled tight into the fetal position in the corner of the couch. I would have been mostly non-verbal and would have refused anything he offered to try and help me get out of the triggered space. I would have kept coming to see him but I would be curled into the corner and I’m not sure how he would have ever pulled me out of that triggered state. The best was would have been for him to move and sit near me on the couch perhaps casually touching the end of my foot. In the real second session I was standing and froze and he was able to easily pull me back out of the frozen state and it helped me feel safer.
So then T2... if I put T1 in her office then I have to play with putting her in his. The first session would have been OK. I am guessing that towards the end she would mention that next session we can go over to the studio side and pick out some art supplies. I would have then either ghosted her outright or spent the next session with T1 begging him to never ever make me go back to her.
Isn’t it strange how much of an impact the room can have?