[mixedup_emotions]

Is it because of being anonymous? Or perhaps because it's in writing instead of face to face?

I'm just wondering why I have been able to share more here on PC than with my T, verbally.

I feel safe here, and surrounded by people who have been there, are there and KNOW what I'm going through.

[moonrise]

We're not here to make judgments. We know what it's like to sit facing a T in fear and anxiety. You don't know us, so you probably don't *truly* care what we say, where we hold what our T's say dearly.

There are many different opinions that will be listed, so you can hold on to what you like, and disregard the rest.

We've all BTDT.

We're not sitting face to face. We don't "know" each other in real life so we don't feel like we have to put up our usual defenses.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Because we don't have our eyes on you. (I seem to be hung up on that this week).

Because we are here for more than one stinking, short 60 minute span. You can talk, and process, and talk some more later.

Because PC people will sometimes say, try this, don't do that, and a T will never say so, even when you need ti hear it..........

because we charge less than T does of course, to be fair, mostly we also help a lot less than T does.

[rainbow8]

For me, many reasons.

1. You're not looking at me so I don't get nervous. I agree with SAWE about eyes.
2. I express myself better in writing than in talking. It's just plain easier!
3. It's anonymous. I don't have to worry about what you will think of me. Or, if I do, I know that you won't judge me.
4. We're all in the same boat even if we have different issues.
5. It just feels safer here than in therapy.
6. I don't have to stop after 50 minutes so I don't panic at getting it all said.
7. I can post at midnight or at 6 a.m. I don't have to write at a predetermined time.

[wonderingmary]

It's so good to know that there are others who have a problem with the face-to-face, being-looked-at aspect of therapy. I don't recall it ever being mentioned in any of the books I've read on therapy. In fact, some of them talk glowingly about the "warm gaze" of the therapist as something that the client is supposed to like.

I did read on the web a few months ago about some therapists who are working over the internet, rather than in person, with socially phobic clients. Makes a lot of sense to me.

Also, I remember reading in a book that one clinical trial for a therapy treatment used "phone therapy" as a control. Much to the surprise of the researchers, the phone therapy actually worked pretty well. It makes sense to me: there wasn't the face-to-face aspect, and the client didn't have to go out of the comfort of their home (no worry about someone you know seeing you go into the therapist's office!). I think it was "on call" therapy, rather than appointment time, too.

I've often had the fantasy of therapy that was conducted in circumstances like a Catholic confession -- with the client and therapist each in their own booth and separated by a screen that they could talk through but not see each other through.