[sittingatwatersedge]

A recent poster said this >> Don't forget you're not the only one she sees and, imagine the person before you WAS a pain in the neck but she couldn't tell them

This comment was actually about a pdoc, but it made me wonder... how much "leakage" might there be from one client to the next?

with one's regular T, suppose the person who just left really was a pain? What are the percentages that T's frustration really would carry over to some extent into your session?

Or suppose the person who just left was T's favorite, really making exciting progress, and you're ... um... not...

[BlackCanary]

Hence the 45 minute hour of therapy?
The T is supposed to take time to refresh and regroup between clients to keep the spill-over from happening.

My new girlT will bring her prior client to the waiting room (location of the elevator) and then take me immediately. That kind of bothers me. Once I said "You are really ready for me?" and she said yes. I'll have to say something next time it happens.

BUT to your other point, she admitted one week that she'd gone to the waiting room at the appointed hour to meet with me, and I wasn't there. Then she realized, oh no! Black Canary is NEXT hour, not now! She realized it must be a new client, but no one had a clipboard with the paperwork. So she finally had to ask "Who is here to see (name of T)?"

I think it's normal to have some spill over no matter what - if things are tense at home then my work suffers, when I have a horrid meeting at work then my next meeting won't go as well, and when I have a rotten day at work I tend to go home crabby. The key is to recognize it and set it aside - most Ts are pretty good at it, but not perfect.

My T seems pretty good at being present for me. If he's not able to be present for some reason (tired, worried, whatever), he tells me and takes a minute to do what he needs to do to GET present.

I remember once I was in REALLY bad place and was trying to get to see him and there was this traffic craziness. I was TRAPPED in this traffic and it sent my anxiety level through the roof - both being trapped, and possibly being late. I left a message for T and when I got there, he said HE was really anxious. He got up and walked around the room for a minute and took a drink and then sat down and took a deep breath and said "ok, I'm fine now" and he was totally attentive and "there".

I think it's really important for T's to be able to check in with themselves and do what they need to do to be there for us.

[ECHOES]

.... I think I am the 'person before you'....

[chaotic13]

I think my T must have a way of clearing herself between clients. Only on a few instances did I sense that she had some trouble settling and focusing on ME. A few sessions ago my T made an off the cuff comment to me that my energy seems to linger at after I leave and helps others after me. I did follow it up because after she made it she moved on to another topic. But inside it kind of registered and I liked knowing that because I am one who is kind of affected by the energy of others in the waiting room. Her comment though suggests that what happens during other clients session can and does sometimes have a ripple effect.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

.... I think I am the 'person before you'....

you Echoes?? MC in early 30's?! naahhhh... But whoever he is, he seems to be one terrific client.

Before I changed time slots I remember that T seemed very happy to see me (her radiant smile would strike me week after week). Last time, she just turned the corners of her mouth up, but her eyes were full of thoughts of the person who just left. maybe I am burning her out

[ECHOES]

jk

My T seems very happy with and more connected with patients she sees before me. While I have a regular appointment time, others don't so I see a variety. She seems to have sobered up by the time she comes for me. It makes me think she has taken a moment to steel herself.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

It makes me think she has taken a moment to steel herself.

my twinnie.............. never mind. She'll be stronger for it in the end.

[Ygrec23]

I guess I'm lucky. I've never perceived in my present T any "leftovers" from a prior client. I have the feeling, whether or not it's true, that I am a "favored" client, someone with whom she really LIKES to have a session. I think that's because I try as hard as I can to cooperate and do my share of the work. And I'm old enough to have a really appreciable quantity of insight as well as knowing pretty exactly what I want from therapy. Anyway, she likes me, I trust her, and we seem to be doing quite well together. Take care!

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by Ygrec23

I guess I'm lucky.

I guess you are!

[JustWannaDisappear]

My current T has never seemed out of sorts for our sessions. I usually have 6p sessions and am sometimes late because I have to wait for my husband to get home from work, so she has some time between to situate herself.

My previous T of 2yrs only had a couple times where she was really wound up. She told me her couple before me had a massive fight that made her anxious and she didn't get enough time to gather herself before our session. Completely understandable.

[AtreyuFreak]

I've never even thought of this. How stupid of me, it's simple and obvious! My T works with PTSD ppl all day, that's gotta have some effect...I guess I just always assumed I was the most difficult client she had to deal with!