[DelusionsDaily]

I know this is gonna sound sooooo stupid. However I have to get this out of my system. I think I posted a little bit about this previously. I had session last week Wednesday and it came up that I was writing poetry. She then mentioned as I was leaving that she would like see some of them. I trust T completely with everything. I dont any problem with that content-wise but I get so wierd about people reading what I write. I'm sure that is mostly because I am really hard on myself in this area. I think I actually fear her saying it is good and wanting to vomit. I have always been so willing to step out and do anything thus far that i feel not doing this would a big step backwards. Does that make sense? Not sure what I am looking for but had to get it out.

The practice that my T. is with had clients write poetry as a means of therapy. If a client is willing they can contribute poems to a poetry book that is in the waiting room. Some of those poems have reached parts of me that therapy alone could not reach....

I think its wonderful that you write poetry. I think it's wonderful that your T. asked to see some of them. IMO if you have the type of T. who would ask to see your poetry you also have the type of T. who would understand if you are not quite willing to share yet.

[Nickie11]

I sooo understand! I too feel way more exposed when showing my poetry and art to my T than I do when talking about other personal experiences. My T actually hung a piece of art that i did in his office - I had to face it every time I went there...PAINFUL!
But, please do talk to your T about how you feel, it's very revealing about how you view yourself. You can work on that and maybe get past whatever it is that's in your way. Just be aware, though, sometimes it's our pain that inspires us to create. There may be something deep inside that you are holding onto, are you ready to let it go?
This thing you are about to do is VERY BRAVE indeed!
All the best to you, please let me know how it goes.
HUGS

[DelusionsDaily]

Grrr! So I went back through the poems i wrote so far and thought they are stupid she wont want read them. I need to talk to her about it...this idea just feels wierd. I dont know, im not sure if the content would be anything new to her...but who knows. There is knots in my stomach either answer i come up with...show her....dont show her. I HATE THIS!!!! Why do I have to be so hard on myself...this is rediculous.

[Nickie11]

My T would say that you are listening to a voice from your past...for me, it was my mother, she was colossally abusive. Who's voice is it that is so hard on you? Who decided you needed to be perfect in order to be loved and respected?
Poetry is so soul-revealing. And the decision to show-not show, tell-not tell to our T's is always a scary, LOL. Take the leap if you do, in fact, trust your T. I've found it's always worth it.
I will be thinking o you on Tuesday!

Would it help if when you show a poem to your T, you lay some ground rules, like no commenting on the quality of the poem, only discussion of the content? I do that with my students when they are presenting their writing, and that usually helps them feel a bit safer about sharing.

[DelusionsDaily]

I decided I am going to take my Ipad which my poems are stored on and just see how things go. Whether I decide to share my poems or not I have them just in case. I trust my T totally so I am pretty sure I will do it.

[Perna]

I use to write poetry about T and therapy! Don't think you have cornered the market on bad poetry Just pretend it is like a dream and use the unconscious part of it; the poetry "came" to you from there and the fantasies and unmentioned thoughts hinted at can make it really really helpful.