bringing in things you've written

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Now, THAT's an interesting post, SAWE! Rather zen, I should say. But we do have a title to wonder about and mess with. "Bringing in things you've written." Hmmmmmmm. Sounds to me like we're talking about T. Could be wrong but I smell a journalist bringing journals to T. Or creative writing. Poetry. Stories. Descriptions of subjectivity.

It's a good thing. Bringing in things you've written. My T loves them. Tells me it helps her keep up with what's going on inside my head. Then when I come in I don't sound so cryptic to her. She doesn't have to ask as many questions. Don't look to T for literary criticism, though. Mine at least isn't up to that. She just wants to know what's going on. I usually bring her seven to ten pages of single-spaced journals per week.

What does your T say? How does he/she respond? And what do you bring? Just journal odds-and-ends or more formal stuff? I tried both and then decided I'd prefer to stay with jottings. Yes, it's all over the map and a little bit harder for T to comprehend. But (large but) when you impose any kind of "form" on any kind of narrative you start squeezing things out. Omitting stuff that doesn't fit within the form. Even though it may be true. And I'd rather that what I give to T stays inclusive and not exclusive. She needs to hear it all.

Well, it's interesting answering a blank post. Let us know your thoughts in response. And take care!

I too was compelled to reply.

Yes. I do bring in things I've written. I always give T their own copy.

I've shared one piece of writing with my T and I plan on bringing in a few things tomorrow as well. I'm glad he is happy to read things from me, because sometimes I find it much easier to express myself in written form. Of course we will talk out loud about things too but I think it is useful to have things written down for us.

I bring in my unedited (which I question the wisdom of) journal for my T about every other week. He always gives it back to me, and I take it home and shred it (have a copy on my computer, of course). He reads it outside of session, sometimes he starts a session with me by reflecting on what he's read, or if I say something that reminds him of what I've written in the journal, he'll say something about that. Once he said it would be useful to look at something I said in there, when I was ready. He has a really great memory for what I've written, sometimes referring back to something I wrote months ago.

Sometimes I give him a lot of stuff to read, I average about 5 ss pages per week, and last time I gave him 17 ss pages to read. I always ask him if he's read it, and he always says he read it twice, and then I tell him there will be a pop quiz later. Yes, I am that funny.

I notice lately that there's a lot more overlap between what I bring up in session and what I write about in my journal. There used to be things I would write about in my journal and then comment later that I was never going to bring them up again or that I was going to "lock them in the vault." Whatever I mean by that.

Journaling helps me get access to some of my feelings and write down some of my traumatic experiences that I can't yet express in a conscious way. It also serves as a record for some of my inner life (recording dreams, memories, fleeting thoughts or ideas). I appreciate that T is willing to read this stuff on his own time, and it seems from his feedback that he thinks it is useful for my therapy, or he's just humoring me because he thinks I might sue him.

Anne

I will read stuff I've written between sessions to T. I never ask her to read it outside of session though. It would seem to bold to make such a request for her to take that extra time and I don't know how much she would charge for that.

Although I have used a lot minutes in some sessions reading stuff to her, I also think I shouldn't do it too much because it puts the written word between us and probably can be a barrier in some ways. I also notice that if it is highly emotional stuff, I will dissociate.

Once in a while T will ask for a copy and for me that is a huge deal. It makes me feel like she's truly interested then.

ive sent my t some poetry. but she would really like it if i brought her in journaling. she has suggested it a few times. i think it can be helpful.

sittingatwatersedge