[sittingatwatersedge]

My T gives her clients a whole hour, not 45, 50, or 55 minutes, which I greatly appreciate. However it means that she sometimes sees people back to back as it were, and it can give you the feeling that her office has a revolving door but if I have to wait a bit I don't mind at all, I know that she takes the time she needs to finish with you before she lets you go out, which I really respect.

last week we were just finishing up, and she said, we have to stop now; that's the time she writes up appt for the next meeting, and while she was writing I asked her a question. She answered me, and while she was talking & saying goodbye, we walked together out the door & out to her waiting room.

the other client was sitting there. As I went by her, T said to her, "I'm sorry, I an just a little bit late."
The client sood up and said, in a little bit of an icy tone, "I *DO* have an appointment with you today, don't I?"
I had my hand on the doorknob of the waiting room and I froze for a second. I felt that what she said was more for me to hear than for T, but T had to put up with this because of me.

Anyway...any good pointers on how to STOP when she says, we have to stop now? Maybe I should I bring a cork with me when I see her, lol - ?

[Mouse_]

Why do you feel that the onus is on you? Your T sounds as if she isn't taking care of her self by allowing herself to run into this tight moments. A T needs to model healthy action in all areas, this isn't good modeling.

[deliquesce]

like mouse said, this isn't your responsibility. if your T really did have a problem with going over time with you, she would simply say "we can discuss this next session" or something.

as for healthy modeling, i'm not sure... some Ts prefer to run back to back for a while, then take a loooong lunch break (like my pdoc - he disappears for 2hrs), whereas some Ts prefer to have 10mins between each session (like my old T, who never scheduled a lunch break on the premise that at least one of his clients would cancel that day).

[emilyjeanne]

I wouldn't worry about the other client. It is their issue. The client sounds like me. I have been called a "time nazi". Not by my T but by other clients. I totally freak out if my T is late. Although I understand that it happens sometimes. It triggers something in me from my childhood.

So I guess what I'm saying is that it isn't your fault. The other client was probably triggered.

[laura2]

that's not your fault sweetheart, i dont think hardly anyone "stops" bang on the minute/second that their session "offically" finishes, i would have thought ending a session right is just as important as what happen's during, that's quite stressful to know though that sessions are back 2 back like that, its very easy to lose total sense of time, & you shouldnt have to worry if you run a few minutes over, suppose all T work differently, mine said to me at the start if i arrive early that's cool as he alway's has 30 minutes break between sessions, not just to avoid this, but so he can get his head straight, she must be wonder women!

[3velniai]

I think this wasn't meant for you, it's just that this person also has problems and maybe a bad day and so on... It has nothing to do with you. In my opinion T is responsible for staying in line with her schedule, not you. My old T started to wrap things up earlier (like 15 minutes) because I tend to say something important when I have to leave Your T could do something similar if she thinks she should.
On the otehr hand, not all T's are the same. My new T... I always have to wait about 15 minutes for my appt because she just doesn't look at the clock, lol. But it's the same for all clients, my session always lasts for more than 1 hour (1,5 hours most of the time, but I'm her last client). When it is the same rule for everyone, noone has the right be angry.

[Xtree]

I agree, I wouldn't worry about the other clients. It is not your responsibility, besides wouldn't you like those few extra minutes? I do not mind starting late I just would like T to be mindful of that at the end.

Xtree