[lifelesstraveled]

Hi All,

So I have finally moved to my new city and had two appts with potential Ts yesterday and today.

Yesterday T: I got a very cold feeling from this T. She didn't smile, she seemed rather uninterested (idk it was probably just me reading into things too much as far as that is concerned). IDK it just didnt click with her. Other than that, her couch was white and hard, the building she was in was...not what i expected. I could hear outside noises in the office--toilets flushing and people talking (there are other businesses in the building), traffic outside. I asked her why she chose to be a T. She said Oh I just sort of fell it in. I like to help people...generic answer, which may very well be true. But it wasnt an answer i was expecting to hear. And she only has about 12 years of experience, which isnt bad, but I think I want someone with a bit more years under their belt.

Today T: OMG...She smiled and had this warm vibe about her. When I got there, her cat was rolling around in her office(she works out of a home office). I love cats. She invited me to sit on the couch and I chose a spot furthest from where she was sitting. She asked me to move a little closer just to make sure she could hear me. She pretty much wanted me to take the lead on the way the appt was going to go. So we did the normal family/childhood background, what initially drove me to therapy etc. At one point when we were talking, my foot was shaking (a nervous habit I have) and she stopped what she was saying and asked me "is your foot trying to tell me something?"--I gather she already knew that I was nervous, but I guess she wanted me to acknowledge it. I told i was nervous. She wanted to know about where my anxiety overall comes from/what drives it and ended that part of the convo by saying that if we work together she one thing she wants us to work on me feeling the sensations that come up in my body and learning to tolerate them. She has training in body centered psychotherapy.

I asked her why she chose therapy and she said that she comes from a not so good family and that was her motivation- figure out what all the dsyfunction was about etc. She said there are mental illnesses in her family and that she like relationships where she can get to know someone really well versus acquaintance like relationships and therapy provides that for her. I liked her answer. Her couch was really comfy, her cat was adorable and i liked the location of her office. It was quiet. i like this T...and she has been a T for about 30 years. Only thing is she is not a provider on my insurance. hopefully get a plan that allows for services from out of network providers.

Tomorrow T: this is my last interview. We will see how it goes.

Well so far the voting on this one seems like a no brainer! But good that you are still going to check out #3. Best of luck!!

[ECHOES]

Wow, LLT, TodayT sounds wonderful! I really like how she worded her noticing your foot shaking nervously, warmly opening a door for you to talk about your nervousness.

[zooropa]

good luck with your search, LLT

[hangingon]

Wow Lifelesstraveled, sounds like a great session. I really like how she was intuned to ALL of you, not just the words you said. The body says alot. Sounds like she may be a wonderful person to work with.

[lifelesstraveled]

T3 was nice. I have nothing positive or negative to say about her--just a neutral feeling.... though I am still very much thinking I really want to work with TodayT (the one with the cat). I am going to call my new insurance company to see if they accept treatment from out of network providers. if they do, I will definitely be going with TodayT(Cat T).

There was something soooo incredibly calming and warm about her, even when I saw her pic online and in her response to my inquiry. She had me when she said "is your foot trying to tell me something"...she knows a lot about anxiety and since i believe I have been suffering with it for the majority of my life- she noted it's because I never had a place/person where I felt safe- I feel like it'd be good for me to work with her. I may have to pay a bit more, but it's something I will give to myself.

Originally Posted by lifelesstraveled

it's something I will give to myself.

I LOVE this. Good for you

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by LLT

I am still very much thinking I really want to work with TodayT (the one with the cat).

BlueMoon has dt and ftt.....will this be CatT?

Truly, she sounds wonderful and I am very glad you found a new T!

[Sannah]

Hi LLT! Oh yeah, 2 is the winner! My focusing on my body was the most helpful thing for me in healing. You body doesn't lie! I also liked her answer about her family. It shows that she has worked through stuff so she will be able to focus on you more. T's who haven't done enough of their own work have a harder time I think doing good therapy because "they" are not out of the way to make a good connection with the client. Keep us updated!

[lifelesstraveled]

CatT it is (yes we will call her CatT--she also has tons of cat figurine things sitting around her office as well)!

I found out that I can see out of network providers- I just have to file my own claims, which I am fine with that. I emailed her and told her that I wanted us to work together and that I would call her once my insurance is activated. She said that she is pleased and thinks that we can work well together...

[ECHOES]

This sounds like the start of something good!!
It must help so much with getting settled in to a new location to have this important decision made.

[polarsmom]

I'm so happy for you. It sounds like you and CatT were ment to work together. It sounds like a perfect match for you!

[elliemay]

Oh man, if my T had a cat that would just be awesome.

But he's far too persnickety for that. He still wears not only ties, but tie pins.

[googley]

((((LLT)))))
I'm glad you found a new T to work with. YEAH!

life, cat T sounds wonderful! i'm so glad you've found someone good and your insurance covers it too. gotta love a T with a pet in session. even fish would be cool.

[polarsmom]

Originally Posted by elliemay

Oh man, if my T had a cat that would just be awesome.

But he's far too persnickety for that. He still wears not only ties, but tie pins.

I don't think I would like it if my T was this formal, old fashioned, or whatever you wanna call it. I like the more relaxed, casual feel. It makes me feel that way too.

[gravyyy]

Awesome LLT!!!!! I'm so happy for you. Hopefully everything goes fine with getting your insurance up and running. That's terrific and it makes me really excited for you that you found someone you think you're going to be able to work with and who seems like they're excited to work with you as well. Good for you!!!! Hurray!!!

I love what your Cat T said.... she SO knows her stuff. She sounds a lot like mine so far. Making it safe for you there, recognizing what you are feeling and where and knowing it it is okay to feel anything. Plus she has come from a family of dysfunction and it just seems to me that that is a bonus because she probably was or is a client herself. Good luck, take it slow as you need, and relax.

Besides a WHITE couch? I don't know anyone who actually uses a couch would choose white unless it was in a magazine photoshoot. lol

[BlueMoon6]

OMG! I love CT (or do you prefer CatT)! When I was reading about your session, I wanted to sit on her couch (even tho it is white), shake my foot so she could "read" me and tell me about her background and struggles. What a good question to ask. I wonder if its too late to ask ftt that question????

She sounds like a very cozy therapist (is that a weird thing to say about a therapist?)with her kitty there. Having a lot of experience is excellent and I love that she is so tuned in to you and what your body is saying. She is listening to all of you

And the major bonus is that she can get paid. What a relief. Ya did good, LLT, ya did good