[SpiritRunner]

So, I am just wondering how many have told their Ts about posting here and what T's reaction was and how many haven't told their Ts and why?
I hadn't exactly intended to tell mine for a while, since I was thinking probably she wouldn't entirely approve or think that things might be triggering for me or something....but I printed out the mood chart from the Daily Mood to take to show her and she liked it so well she wanted to know where I got it from. So, I told her it was from PC.....then I realized later I hadn't told her it was found on the forum specifically and you had to register, but she told me later that she had looked and had found that for herself. So, the cat was out of the bag I said of course I was registered and posted a lot and found it very supportive and helpful. She was concerned that some forums might be triggering for me.....but her main question really was, are you really you there? Meaning, I think, did I present myself as someone I am not? And I don't think I have....so I said, I am very much me there!
So anyway, now she knows.....and she's still a bit skeptical, but accepts that it's very valuable to me to post here.
That said, I hope she doesn't decide to look on here to see if she can figure out who I am and sees what I have posted! (especially that one certain sex thread.....although I did tell her I had participated in a racy thread, I didn't tell her she was a subject in it!)

[rainbow8]

I've told my T about PC. At first it seemed like she'd rather I had more friends IRL but I said I had those too. Then I said it was sort of like group therapy. Yesterday I told her how most people really like our forum and gain a lot from it. I said it's like having a T available all the time. She wanted to know if people were on during the middle of the night and I said not too many, but that some people live in different countries so it was daytime for them.

I also told her that I tell so many good things about her that she would say, "who me?" But everything I say is true! I'm definitely ME here, even more than I am in my sessions, but the same as I am in emails to my T because writing is easier for me.

My former T thought it was good for me but not if I was doing it excessively. I know I spend too much time here when I should be cleaning my house!

[lastyearisblank]

Where is that icon with the little man and the bag over his head? Just imagining if my T found this forum makes me feel like that. I honestly could not.

[WePow]

I told my T and he said it was like group therapy. In fact, he told me the website HE is on for his own support! OMG !!! :-) I resist the urge to go try to find him there.

[Liam Grey]

I told my T first time I opened a topic here, as it was directly related to her and to a problem in therapy (without saying anything about this community in particular, I just kept it generic, that is a forum of other people who are in therapy and so on).

She just asked what people told me/suggested me to do in that occasion and she was pleased with the outcome -

[with or without you]

I have told T about two forums I post in. I refer to this place as "a psychotherapy forum" (she can figure out for herself if she wants), and another forum that deals exclusively with social anxiety. I told her that this forum really helped me when I was dealing with my attachment issues concerning her, it made me feel like it was OK to bring up some stuff in therapy that I had been holding back.

[Suratji]

I told my T that I visit and post on a psychotherapy forum. She didn't ask which one. And I'm not sure I told her the name. I even gave her my avatar name. We didn't have a discussion about it - it was just a comment in passing

[(JD)]

I think any therapist worth his salt has already had many contacts with Psych Central... DocJohn has a great reference/resource pool here and PC comes up on nearly all psychotherapy type searches on the net! So if your T is keeping up to date on modalities and new POVs and such, they already know the place (though they may not realize it has a forum and chat rooms etc. )

[SpiritRunner]

Originally Posted by (JD)

I think any therapist worth his salt has already had many contacts with Psych Central... DocJohn has a great reference/resource pool here and PC comes up on nearly all psychotherapy type searches on the net! So if your T is keeping up to date on modalities and new POVs and such, they already know the place (though they may not realize it has a forum and chat rooms etc. )

She probably did know about Psych Central home, I think (especially since I had told her I read articles here); just not the forum and that I was here and posting away about my therapy and about her!

[ladyjrnlist]

I told mine. He thinks it's a good thing as long as I feel like I get some benefit. The jury's still out on whether I do.

[Suratji]

Have any of you given your T your PC name?

[ladyjrnlist]

I have not. He has not asked. If he did, I probably would.

[mixedup_emotions]

I have not addressed PC with my T, although I did mention to my group on a couple of occasions that I have found other sources of support online. I'm not sure how I'd feel if my T knew about my posts on PC, but I don't intend to tell him. This is my safe haven, even from him.

[darkrunner]

Hi Poetgirl,

That's a good question - interesting to read through all the answers.

I also think it is interesting that your T asked if you were 'yourself' here. That strikes me as a strange thing to wonder about - why would someone post here and pretend to be something other than they are?

I have not told my T about this place. I told her about another forum I use for AN support, but not this one. I thought about mentioning it, but I realized I am scared to tell her. For a couple of reasons: I am afraid she would come here to 'find' me, and also because I don't her to think I am talking about her behind her back. I know that probably sounds strange.

[SpiritRunner]

ladyjrnlist, I really hope you do come to find it of benefit to be here!
As far as giving T my screen name here, I don't think I would volunteer it, and if she asked (which I hope she won't!) I'd probably not want to tell her - I feel like it's OK that she knows I post here, in the interests of transparency, but don't think I have to be so transparent that I tell her my name so she could possibly come see what I posted! I know she has lots of other things to do with her time, but you never know.....I feel like if I want her to know something or she needs to know, I will tell her in person! This is my space to deal with issues about therapy or about my relationship with her that are confusing or troubling to me, a place I can be me, a place to find insight and support, and offer it.....all of benefit to me.
Thanks to everyone who has replied so far, I appreciate it!

[SpiritRunner]

Originally Posted by darkrunner

Hi Poetgirl,

That's a good question - interesting to read through all the answers.

I also think it is interesting that your T asked if you were 'yourself' here. That strikes me as a strange thing to wonder about - why would someone post here and pretend to be something other than they are?

I have not told my T about this place. I told her about another forum I use for AN support, but not this one. I thought about mentioning it, but I realized I am scared to tell her. For a couple of reasons: I am afraid she would come here to 'find' me, and also because I don't her to think I am talking about her behind her back. I know that probably sounds strange.

I relate to how you feel about the thought of talking about her behind her back...it doesn't sound strange at all to me!
That was an interesting ? T asked me, wasn't it? I should have asked her why she asked it. I think really she asked it though because I do have the habit of wearing a mask to hide the passionate side of me, to appear calm and controlled and guarded and reserved and conservative.....I think she wanted to be sure I was being honestly myself here, not only picking and choosing which parts I wanted to share. Otherwise, what is the benefit and the value, to me or to others, if I am deceptive in that manner?! That, I think, is why she asked.

[Sweetlove]

I gave my T a copy of the "Therapy Map" from Wounded Genius...he loved it. He asked where I got it and told him about that and PC...but didn't go into detail. I aked him if he ever heard of Psych Central and he said yes..which I was suprised about. So, then I just told him that theres a psychotherapy forum that you can join and share in discussions. He really didn't have much of reaction but I also didn't really open it up for discussion. If he ever looked on here, he would definatly know who I was...

[rainbow8]

I forgot to say that I emailed my T the article about the teddy bears that came from PC. But, whenever I've mentioned the site to her she's said she doesn't have time to come "look for me here". I told her I was worried about her doing that. IF she wanted to read my posts for some reason, I would tell her my name, though. She'd have to have a good reason to want to do that if she ever did, and I trust her.

Originally Posted by Suratji

Have any of you given your T your PC name?

Yes, it came up in my session today. I would die if she came on here and started looking around!

[PTSDlovemycats]

Originally Posted by Squiggle328

Yes, it came up in my session today. I would die if she came on here and started looking around!

I bet, especially after your other thread!!

[PTSDlovemycats]

Originally Posted by darkrunner

I have not told my T about this place. I realized I am scared to tell her. For a couple of reasons: I am afraid she would come here to 'find' me, .

Ditto,BIG TIME!! I don't think that she would have the time or energy, but really all she would have to do is look on here for a few minutes and she would guess who I was almost immeditately. Haven't told her and don't plan on telling her...

[Can't Stop Crying]

T found out inadvertently when I printed off one of my posts - had my screen name and forum title - really don't want him looking here. IS everyone paranoid about T's reading posts on here? I know I am!

[abience]

My T knows that I have been on here and the forums I have been involved with and the one I can't even look at (grief). I would give her my name. She knows everything about me already, so none of what I write would be a suprise to her. But I seriously doubt she would ever come on line to even look up anything I wrote because 1.) She has better things to do with her life and 2.) She already knows me. So it doesn't worry me at all.

A

[ECHOES]

I told my T, and have briefly discussed some posts, including my own. She didn't pass any kind of judgement about my being here or about the site or any sites, but was curious about what it means to me, what I get from it.
She has a full and active private life that I get the impression doesn't include much computer use, so I doubt she has ever been here, but you never know, I suppose.

[WePow]

My T wouldn't come on here to look for me. He has too much to do for one. Also, he already gives me his time. I want to say flat out "He isn't curious enough about me to even want to see what I would right here." LOL. I do think that. But my emotions behind it are too mixed to explain.