[writingwithink]

I’m getting very close to letting my T know that I’ve been previously diagnosed with DID and that I’m beginning to believe it’s true. However, in preparing for this, I find that T’s office is very uncomfortable for what I believe could be hard work that could potentially need comfortable surroundings. Example: I could definitely see needing to be on the floor at times, especially if one of the children comes out. Am I being overly high-maintenance here? Do I address this with T?

I’d like to hear your experiences regarding physical position in your T’s office.

[Monty_girl]

Hey ink, welcome to PC

I just recently went back to T after a few months of taking a time out. I spend I think maybe 90% of my T sessions sitting on the floor. My T doesn't care where I sit, stand or curl up in the office. T says as long as I'm comfortable. Even sat outside before. T's office is somewhat comfortable, as comfortable as I guess it can get, it's never easy in there. T does have a doll house that's pretty cool and a bookshelf that has toyes and paper and crayons we can always get to if wanted. There are lots of plants in there. Two plants we brought T since they were not cat safe to have at our house. So T keeps them for us in the office. The office has really tall ceiling with a skylight. the office is pretty cool. It used to be a house that the T's there made into offices. There is a garden in the back by where you park to come in. So you get to walk through flowers coming in and out. T lets me take some flowers home when I want too. That's my T office.

I don't think that T would care if you just sat on the floor. T might think something was up if you didn't make yourself comfortable. I always take my shoes off in T and I did ask if that was OK, T didn't care. T thought it was interesting why I couldn't wear my shoes. That lead T to ask questions and found out the why's around it. Do what you feel comfortable doing.

Does your T have your old records from where you where dx'ed ( diagnosed ) ?

[writingwithink]

Sounds like you have a great atmosphere for working through stuff. Perhaps I will ask to sit on the floor.

Regarding T having my old records: She does not. I had been in therapy 7 years ago when I was working on cutting and stealing (I had been arrested and my case was working itself through the court system). My T then (I’ve since moved to another state) said I was DID (I had been working with her for two years), but I never believed it. She even wrote a letter to the judge explaining my diagnosis, of which I have a copy.

Two months ago, and on top of my world in career and relationship, I’ve returned to therapy to work on the last behavior – eating disorder. I never told this T, an eating disorder specialist, about the diagnosis because I didn’t believe it; however, after 2 months of working with her, things have been stirred up, including what seems like the appearance of parts. As I reflect on the previous diagnosis and my inability to remember things even today, I’m thinking it’s true. I haven’t told T yet, but I think she’s beginning to suspect. I have told her that I dissociate. At the last session, one of the little kids came out at the very end and asked a question. She stopped and said, “Excuse me,” as I’m sure she wasn’t expecting a very confident, hard me to ask such a question.

Anyway, I had called the old T’s office (she retired five years ago) and they’ve destroyed my files, but I do have a copy of that letter she wrote to the judge. I asked if there was any diagnosis noted in the computer and she said 300.15 (which is DDNOS, or something).

[wanttoheal]

T here has a cozy office. It is not as comfortable as it used to be because she added another piece of furniture, but we are dealing. I have found myself standing in different places in the room and so I guess I must move freely, depending on what state of mind I am in. I have also "woken up" sitting in the corner or on the floor. She has stuffed animals and things like lotion and figurines, etc to help ground. And lots of pillows. And a soft blanket. And a closet to hide in when needed.

I would totally talk to t about it. I would think t would want you to be comfortable. For me, being safe and comfortable is essential in being able to allow myself to open up.

T has floor pillows in her office and sometimes she'll ask if she can sit on the floor with me. Sometimes I even say yes. Now that's progress.

Off topic for a minute.

I often read in the psychotherapy forum that people hold pillows and stuff while at T. I cannot. I move them off the sofa when I sit, like they have cooties, barely picking them up with my fingertips. I've always felt that they're "loaded" with other people's stuff and I sure don't need any of their stuff sticking to me.

And people wonder why I'm still in therapy, lol.

[wanttoheal]

lol, I sometimes surround self with T's pillows so nobody can get close to me, even T. I didn't realize I did it until one time T asked if I felt I needed protection that day. I always cover the other side of the couch with pillows though, so no one can sit down there. I don't ever think T is going to, but I get nervous someone is going to come through the door and sit there. I do the same with my bed though so I guess I just carry it through. There is barely room for me on the bed and barely room for me on the couch. I guess I figure I'm safer that way.

[multipixie9]

The tough thing is my T's office is small. I wish it were bigger, so I could run if I need too. I sit on the couch and hold her pillow to kinda cover myself up. Mostly, about 85% of the time I can't work with my eyes open. Strange hunh? But my system of alts is dark and we do not see each other ever, so I can't work if I see my T. We do not ever get up or get onto the floor. We just sit there and never let our T get near us. After 15 years you'd think we would let her be close. Even the littles don't expect to move.

sounds so stupid, right...we jus cant mov.

[wanttoheal]

Your post made me think of something here. I will make a new post on it when I can. I don't think it's weird multipixies. We all cope as we can.

We could try to describe it but since he s on vacation, the office is gone.
When it was there, it had bookcases and a recliner chair and a big plant by the window. He didn't care where we sat...on the floor or curled up in the chair.

It's too hard to think of it now cause we don't know where it is...

[possum220]

My previous T sat behind his desk, behind his computer laptop. We didn't click.........

My current T has his desk under his window and his clients sit opposite him (nothing in between) in a chair. The office is roomy with a nice rug on the floor. So its a nice place to be. He doesn't mind if you push the chair back. He has things that his clients have given him around the room. He even has a knitted turtle from a patient. He has small ducks on his desk and other little things. A picture of his wife and his dogs. So its a very comfortable place.

I always take my stuffie in with me. A big polar bear called Sebastian.(Actually my stuffie is looking a bit like it needs re-stuffing as I have hugged it so much).

Maybe it would be a good idea to ask your T how they like their space?

[writingwithink]

I love the idea of big pillows on the floor. That would work perfect. Not sure, though, how to address this with T. I haven't even told her I'm DID yet; although, I think she's beginning to suspect it. I would also need to bring my own pillow. This makes me feel so odd.

[possum220]

Chances if you think your are DID and actually have it, then a good T will already know it.... It should come as no surprise.

[dreamland]

My T's office is very welcoming and is just now after almost a year starting to feel like a safe place. Yesterday we got to bring our dog! It was T's idea after she hear that another T used it with a DID client and it helped her stay grounded when doing trauma work. It was really great to have her there and I am so glad she didn't pee on the floor!!! it did seem to help us stay present and after exploring the whole office, she fell asleep on my lap while we had our EMDR session. We get to bring her everytime if we want! (she a mini-doxie). I'm grateful T thought of this!
Have you spoken with your T yet? How is that going?
d

[LivingMiracle]

Lets see our T's office...hmm....
Its a small room with barely enough room to move in it. The room is kept very dim cause light hurts his eyes. I can draw the carpet for you if you want since that is all I really notice when he is talking. He has 3 chairs in there including his own and his desk. One is a rocker, one a desk chair, and the other is the chair way back in the corner that we sit in. He has a bookshelf that has toys on one shelf, and books on the other three. Then he has a file cabinet shelf in the middle of the room with the ugliest lamp on top . He puts his chair in front of the door so we can't escape since hes learned from experience with us. On the walls there is nothing but a border and a corner round thing around the wall.

[Elysium]

Old T's office was comfortable. It had a leather chair for her and a nice leather sofa for us to sit on. There were a couple chairs along the opposite wall of the sofa and then a desk on the far back wall. She would sit to the side of me, yet facing me, with nothing in between us which was nice. The only thing was the window was narrow and long that went across the office at the top of the ceiling so you couldn't see out and it didn't let in a lot of light so it was kind of dark sometimes. She is moving her office this week and I will see her next week...may be our last session. I am excited to see her new place.

My new T's office is really nice. It's pretty big and there is a nice couch with a soft blanket on it. She sits in a chair across from me and there is only a small lamp table in between us where she keeps her notes and stuff. It's really comfy in there. I like it alot. I think I feel better in there because she has a therapy dog and he comes every session and lays on the couch with me...plus she comes in jeans and a t-shirt and is really relaxed. Sometimes we even take our shoes off to get more comfortable. This is my first experience with a T who wasn't dressed up and more.....ummm....business-like.