[WikidPissah]

After years of T with a few different T's (some really bad, some just not good) I decided to try one more time. I met with this new T for the 3rd time today. It's weird. Not like any of the others. The first day he asked a few questions, then he helped me create a "safe place" in my mind. Never did that before. The last 2 weeks he asked a LOT of questions...and when I stumbled with answers he reminded me of the safe place and said he didn't want to push me, he was just trying to get to know me. They weren't trauma questions...just basic things like what situations make me anxious...etc. My biggest issue is not being able to express myself.

Today he started with a "treatment plan"....he actually wrote a few things down and asked me if I agreed, then I signed it. Weird. The other thing is he accepted my current coping mechanisms....things the other T's shunned (but they never gave me replacement things). He actually complimented me and told me I was resourceful.

I don't know...it's different. I'm afraid to hope. It's hard to trust. I kind of like him though. Weird...really weird.

[WePow]

(((( Eileen )))) Just take it nice and slow. But you can find someone you can give a bit of trust to and they will treat it with utmost respect and try to not harm you. Give the new T a little bit of a secondary ledge so if he does slip up on something, he can land safely and still have your trust. And I am VERY glad you are getting this experience. Good job on keeping up the search to find the right T for your needs!

[zooropa]

Eileen, I think it's a good sign that this T is so different from your previous (unsuccessful) Ts. I hope it works out wonderfully for you.

[Perna]

Eileen, that sounds great that you can already tell this T is different from the others and might work out and that he's giving you tools right away (safe place) and being a help to you. I like the sound of him; I believe we've picked the ways we cope for ourselves and they're good too, just don't work well anymore and we need different ways of seeing things and to do a "better" set up.

[purple_fins]

That T. sounds like a good one to me.

setting goals, helping you to see that you have positive attributes-- even where you wouldn't think to see them.

I wish you much luck and inner peace.
keep us posted, when you can......

fins

[granite1]

Originally Posted by Eileen2010

After years of T with a few different T's (some really bad, some just not good) I decided to try one more time. I met with this new T for the 3rd time today. It's weird. Not like any of the others. The first day he asked a few questions, then he helped me create a "safe place" in my mind. Never did that before. The last 2 weeks he asked a LOT of questions...and when I stumbled with answers he reminded me of the safe place and said he didn't want to push me, he was just trying to get to know me. They weren't trauma questions...just basic things like what situations make me anxious...etc. My biggest issue is not being able to express myself.

Today he started with a "treatment plan"....he actually wrote a few things down and asked me if I agreed, then I signed it. Weird. The other thing is he accepted my current coping mechanisms....things the other T's shunned (but they never gave me replacement things). He actually complimented me and told me I was resourceful.

I don't know...it's different. I'm afraid to hope. It's hard to trust. I kind of like him though. Weird...really weird.

hi eileen i'n doing a bit of what weepow is talking about just giving a little trust and seeing what happens and it works well for me.i have huge trust issues .you T sounds like a really great T.maybe give him a little trust and see what happens

[rainbow8]

Hi, Eileen. You sound like me! I've seen a number of Ts through the years. About 6 months ago I started with a new one and she is completely different from the others. She asks me questions and says things to me that no other T has. Her style and orientation are different, and it's a very good fit for me. She had me find a "safe place" too.

It takes time to trust a new T, but yours sounds like a good fit for you. My T said to "trust my gut" when deciding if I wanted to see her or not. If you feel good about this T, the "weirdness" will lessen and the productive, healing work of therapy will begin.

[WikidPissah]

thanks for the encouragement. I haven't really gotten past the "trying to make a good impression" thing that I always do. I was raised in a political family and taught to be proper at all times. So, I have yet to tell new T how depressed I currently am. I wouldn't feel comfortable calling him or anything. He did point out his email address on the business card and said something like "this is a great way to contact me". I haven't ever contacted any T other then to schedule/cancel appts.

I kind of feel like a little turtle, poking my head out for a few minutes then yanking it swiftly back to safety the moment things look a little scary.