Things you wish your T would NOT do:

Ask him to mute the volume on his computer. Easy fix.

a good way to draw T's attention to how intrusive their answering the phone is, when they start talking (or listening), get up from your chair and stage-whisper, with a smile "i'll just wait outside, come get me when you're done." they stop that carp right away.

Uhh, on cell issue... T leaves it on the desk behind her. I don't usually hear it, as it's on vibrate. ONCE I was behind the desk *being distracted* and it rang, and she apologised and more or less threw the phone to the other end of the desk. (To which I considered telling her that phones are fragile :P).
She has an office phone that rings on occasion, which throws me off sometimes, but because she's SO intent on keeping her eyes on me, I fall back into focus.
Seriously, she does NOT allow you to dissociate at all!! Because her eyes never deviate from you.
THAT took some getting used to.

One time tHe one i have seen looked at her cell phone when it went off so i pulled mine out and checked it too. And I told her if cell phones were okay, great I would turn mine back on. She has not done it since.

The only thing my T ever drinks is a sip of water. The only thing he ever "eats" is cough drops and he always offers one to me. I've never taken one, but I'm always tempted to take one and say "Thanks, I missed breakfast."

Some of you folks have really got it rough. Your Ts and their habits would send me over the edge for sure
Maybe you could hold up a stop sign. I'm pretty sure my kid has a nice little hand-help stop sign on a popsicle stick around here somewhere....

Repeat herself. That bugs me the most.

ETA: Drink coffee. I hate the smell of coffee breath!

WOW..I hope you are all able to find T's who are much more respectful of you! My T will have a cup of water or coffee once in a while..but I don't mind that at all, she might have 3 sips during the session if that. She's done the cough drop thing, too..but always offers me one (lol) and apologizes about having to have it.

Her phone is on silent on the desk behind her, neither of us can see it..I don't think I could handle it if she constantly looked at her phone, I would feel like I was wasting her time or something

That infuriates me. That is AWFUL. Horrible!! That makes me so mad. So inappropriate of her. Grrrrrr.

Last century was only thirteen years ago, after all.

Perhaps Hankster is thinking of the drummer in Spinal Tap?

It suggests T is nervous. And who wants a nervous T?

sigh. I repeat, I am NOT a guy! only seen Spinal Tap once, MAYBE twice! I guess this proves that gender brain thing, and shows where I am on the continuum!

FANTASY:

In some metaphorical psychic space...

T: (In a friendly and inviting manner) Don't just stand in the doorway. Come into the room and sit down!

Stopdog: No thanks, I'm fine where I am.

T: (Doesn't know what to do next.)

Is Spinal Tap a guy film? I honestly never thought of it that way.

What 20th century spontaneous combustion were you thinking of?

UGGGH! Mine does too! The macbook "ping" sound--so annoying!!

Spinal tap--not entirely a guy movie-----Blazing saddles on the other hand...

I love all Christopher Guest and mel Brooks movies. Now I have to add gender confusion to my list.

Hankster, I have tried a tamer version of this and it has worked well. I just get tired of having to teach my T appropriate tech-behavior-in-session, and so I try a variety of indirect and direct methods. So a few times when he picked up his laptop to look for information he thinks I want, I use that as an excuse to take a bathroom break (when we did 90 minute sessions, I often took a break). He would pick up the laptop and I would think, good, he can do his laptop thing while I take my break, so we don't waste my time. When I have done that, I think he has got the message, because when I come back, he has finished and closed the laptop instead of dawdling over it, as he does other times. I think it sends a good message--here he thinks he is doing something on his laptop for my sake, and my leaving tells him that I am not interested. Of course, I am direct with him sometimes too. It's kind of like working with a child--you try a variety of methods of communicating and hope the message gets through and sticks.

As for eating in session, my T does that too and it doesn't bother me. He sometimes snacks or eats his lunch while I am there. I think it helps him function as a T, since he gets low blood sugar, so I'm all in favor of him keeping his energy up. Sometimes he offers me some of what he's eating, but I usually decline.

LOL

You're my hero!

See, that is the funny thing about him. I have asked him at least 1/2 dozen times. Now I am stumped at what to do! Any advice for the next step?

Then my work here is done!

They ARE like kids! It's THEIR playhouse! I think the "i'll leave till you're ready for me" is OUR shock therapy for THEM!

No, just sayin' I didn't think I had heard it mentioned yet in this century. Like it was making a comeback now, like pleated jeans.

That is so weird, petty, and unprofessional!
Yet it made me laugh hysterically, because it's just so absurd!

The phone would drive me bonkers. I swear I would leave. Seriously. They either put that thing away, or explain why it has to be there or I would be so out the door.

Also, the therapist that lets her children call during a session. No.friggin.way. Get some childcare, or stay home with them. Don't spew it on me.

There are some true nightmares out there.

I think I'm going to thank my therapist next time I see him. He's made mistakes, but he has always maintained a strong degree of professionalism and respect for his practice. He always wears a tie and he says it's out of respect for his clients.

Pleated jeans are coming back????? Those things are horrible.