[lonely and scared]

My T wants me to use the couch that is in the room. But I am not all that sure about using it. To be honest I am scared as I think it will make me more vulnerable.
Has anyone used the couch and what does it feel like? What is the difference between the couch and chair?

[Out_of_denial]

The couch is actually nice. I like to sit right in the corner and sometimes put my knee up so I can lean against the back with the side of my body and face. This couch is very soft though. If it wasn't so soft, I would pick the chair.

Amy

[skysblue]

I think this is a very personal question. Only you know what it feels like in the office. Only you know where the couch is positioned and how that makes you feel. Only you know what it means to you.

It might be worth a try though and test how it feels. You can always return to chair.

[PTSDlovemycats]

I always use the couch. I don't like the chair. My T wants me to use the chair though...

[Elli-Beth]

My T has never suggested the couch, but he says if people want to use it they can.

Good question- I wonder if there really is a therapeutic difference in why/when it's used?

[ECHOES]

I would love to lay on the couch and do therapy, but I haven't (yet).
I've mentioned it to my T and she's welcomed me to try it, but we also talked about my thought that I would feel freer to talk. She thinks the defenses don't care what position you are in, they are there... until they aren't.

There is no coach in my T. office. I would like one...I think it would help me relax. If I didn't have to look directly at my T. if would probably make it easier to open up but I guess that's the point of all of his chairs facing him...

[cmac13]

Sometimes I sit in a chair, most times I sit on the couch. But is definitely my choice.

[sugahorse1]

My T didn't have a couch. I think I'd be very uncomfortable. We just had 2 couches, perpendicular to each other

[Izzyparker]

I think your therapist is asking you to lay on the couch as opposed to sitting ... correct? My therapist has both options in her office. After a year or so, she suggested that I lay down, hoping that it would be easier for my thoughts to flow out of my mouth as opposed to holding onto my thoughts and self-censoring. I tried it for about two years. After that time, my t thought the opposite was happening, I was censoring even more because I was feeling further detached. For me, not seeing her facial expressions or reactions (smiles, nods, even head shakes) I felt left alone with my feelings. So then we switched it up again to me sitting.

I will tell you that at first - laying down - I felt SUPER vulnerable. I felt she could examine me, cast judgments upon me (in her head) ... and I hated it. Over time, I liked it more because I would close my eyes and it was easier to hide (hence the problem).

The good news - you can try it for as long as you feel comfortable and change your mind if you don't like it. No decision is permament. You won't know if it's a good match for you until you give it a try and trust your therapist.

Now it's been another year of sitting and she asked me recently if I would like to lay down again. Is she kidding? For me, I said "no" this go around. I think I would become a turtle and hide in my shell once again.

[geez]

My T has a couch and a few chairs. I always pic the couch but I'm sitting facing her. I don't lay down. It's quite comfortable in fact. Her office looks like a nicely decorated living room.

[Perna]

Interesting blog article: http://lisakifttherapy.com/therapy-c...lly-lay-on-it/

My T's office the last couple years had a couch/loveseat I sat on but I'd have trouble lying down. If you think you'd feel weird, I wouldn't force yourself but maybe address the reasons why your T thinks it might help? I'd try one or the other (doing it "her" way or addressing the "problem" she sees).

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by Perna

Interesting blog article: http://lisakifttherapy.com/therapy-c...lly-lay-on-it/
.

yeh that was interesting, all right
>>>> " the image of a bespeckled older male psychiatrist "

doesn't anyone proofread any more?

EWWWW T, you're all speckled!! Run away!!!! LOL

[itsmeshorti]

My T has a love seat. During an easy session I just lay back and kinda put my feet up, don't want to put my feet on the couch with shoes on!

During a tough session is sit in one tiny spot at the farthest end looking at the floor, or the wall, anywhere T is not! The couch is adjacent to her so I'm not ever directly in front of her.

Sometimes I wish I could lay on a couch and stare at the ceiling, just kinda pretend she isn't there n talk away.

Actually I wish therapy was like a confession booth, you can still hear eachother, but you cannot see.

[WePow]

SAWE - you ALWAYS make my day! LOL !!!

For me, the couch or the floor are my only two options - unless I plan on kicking T out of his chair (don't think I want to try as he also has PTSD and is a bit guarded about his space)

Once I did lay down on it... I was exhausted and just did it without thinking. It was odd because I was kinda curled up in a fetal position the way I tend to do at home. I felt very vulnerable and relaxed at the same time. May try it again some day...

[laceylu]

I have both options and I would hide my face in the couch if I felt immature. No I would be embarrassed on the couch and then she would talk about me acting my own age. Chair all the way for me unless she asks me to use the couch.

[unaluna]

Usually in my previous T's office I would sit in the big cushy loveseat (he is very tall so he has all giant leather furniture) but one time I did lie down and I thought I was having a breakthrough but it turned out to be a bad case of bronchitis that just knocked me on my butt. Once I started laughing so hard I flipped over an Eames chair and me in it. Now THAT was a breakthrough!

[Dani]

My T has a couch in the office that I see her at now, and I sit on that only because it's closest to the door.

[WikidPissah]

No couch, two recliners and t's chair. I would NEVER recline, nor would I lay on a couch...that would scare the crap out of me.

I sit on the couch..and I lay down a lot, too.

I don't know if I lay down when I start to "drift" away, or if laying down MAKES me "drift" away, but I do know that when things get too hard or I get too lost, T always has me sit up and put my feet on the floor.

I tend to follow my instincts about where to sit. Probably 75% of the time I sit curled up in the corner of the couch with a GIANT pillow on my lap. I'm small, so I think T can probably see my knees and my eyes peeking out! lol