Dear T,
I feel like I can't talk about it with you, but your tearing up--well, I mean, it seemed like you were actively crying--today affected me. In a positive way. It made me feel like you really get my struggles with D's, well, struggles on a personal and not just professional level. I do wish at times I could just talk to you like a fellow parent, that you could actually tell me if you've dealt with something similar without concerns about its potential effect on me clinically.

I admit that I wondered at first if the "family friend's son" you were talking about was actually your son. But then in saying you'd lost touch with them when he was 10--if it was in fact your son, why not share a positive ending? Unless it isn't positive...but I get the sense your son is in mainstream public school and doing OK. Maybe not?

Again, I wish we could really talk about it, like as friends. But I also know that could potentially have a negative effect on the therapeutic relationship for assorted reasons. I mean, what if it was a case where you thought he was on the spectrum, then spent, I don't know, $100,000 on special treatments, and now he's no longer considered on the spectrum? Then it would suggest that I would need to do something similar. Or maybe it was just, "he had celiac and once we took gluten out of his diet, he was all good" or "He had a speech delay, and it turned out that was it, he's all caught up now."

I know you're trying to be careful, and I appreciate that. I wonder if we need to talk about this again? You have to know I'm wondering. I just know it's a potentially touchy subject and don't want to end up in a minefield.

I suppose I could just say that last paragraph and see what you say? Maybe I just need to express it. Like "I wish we could talk about this. I know we can't. I get it. I'm not going to push you to talk about it. But I just need to express that it's in my mind."

Love,
LT