[Mike_J]

I have been thinking about how to write this for some time.

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts? (huge yes for me)

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted? (once again a huge yes for me)

If you said yes to the last question would you still change what you post if you strongly felt that your therapist didn’t know it was you posting and wouldn’t figure out your real identity (somehow feels almost like a "super hero" sort of question, but then again in my option so many of you really are super heroes, you have so much to deal with but you haven’t given up, against unimaginable odds you keep fighting the good fight)

Yes and yes for me. I'd probably PM a small group of people with most of my stuff instead of posting.

[mcl6136]

Yes. Much of what I have written is a way for me to be able to share some extremely negative things that I did not feel safe saying ....because I did not feel safe with my therapist.

That's really sad, actually.

therapy is supposed to feel like a safe environment.

That is sad mcl. For me, it's more that I want to be the one to tell him things, not have him find out here. I also didn't want my sister to use him as a therapist because there are things I still haven't told and when he finds out, I want it to be because I was ready to tell him, not because he found out some other way. I don't want him knowing things about me until I'm ready. If that makes any sense.

[sittingatwatersedge]

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?
I would only post encouragement for others but not refer to myself any more, or ask any questions. Big loss for me.

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts?
very probably

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted?
yes I might even ask to have all my threads deleted, but that wouldn't get everything out would it

If you said yes to the last question would you still change what you post if you strongly felt that your therapist didn’t know it was you posting and wouldn’t figure out your real identity
yes

I finally got up my courage to ask T2 about this. She assured me she does not read online forums and I told her what a violation that would be for me. FWIW, she seemed to think that they have their uses, but can also be harmful in certain cases (not my case apparently, because she was fine with the idea for me). I told her that PC is a good resource for me, since I have no resource outside of that room except here. PC people help me greatly in normalizing, pulling me out of spirals or getting up over the emotional surf to see what's maybe really going on. I think she understands those are good uses for the forum. whew!!

[mcl6136]

Originally Posted by Mike_J

I have been thinking about how to write this for some time.

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts? (huge yes for me)

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted? (once again a huge yes for me)

If you said yes to the last question would you still change what you post if you strongly felt that your therapist didn’t know it was you posting and wouldn’t figure out your real identity (somehow feels almost like a "super hero" sort of question, but then again in my option so many of you really are super heroes, you have so much to deal with but you haven’t given up, against unimaginable odds you keep fighting the good fight)

this is making me feel kinda paranoid!

[roads]

Mike, I'm so glad you asked this. I've been meaning, even since I started with this new T of mine a few weeks back, to ask whether he knows about us & if so what he opinion is. I jumped out of here to email him, asking just that--& here I am back...

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?
I'd be amazed that he found the time.

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts?
Yep, doubt that it would take him very long either.
Hm... Now what does that say about me ?

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted?
My instant gut response is, "No, of course not." *thinking... thinking... thinking...* I'm going to stick with that response. No, I wouldn't change what I post if I knew Dr. T was reading.

If you said yes to the last question would you still change what you post if you strongly felt that your therapist didn’t know it was you posting and wouldn’t figure out your real identity?
N/A

Big me says nope, I'd keep on posting . Little me wants to hide in a closet. Are they watching us now?

[WantingtoHeal]

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?

oh jeez...I'd be so embarrassed

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts? (huge yes for me)

oh yeah, absolutely

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted? (once again a huge yes for me)

yep, absolutely

If you said yes to the last question would you still change what you post if you strongly felt that your therapist didn’t know it was you posting and wouldn’t figure out your real identity


if i had a strong anonymity, i would feel okay about posting...i don't think she looks here...i gave her something I posted last week and she didn't know what a "T" was. don't think she has time or interest.

For me, having words connected to a body makes it so much more powerful for some reason. Here, I can sort of disconnect from it. I can type and write all these things in my head as an outlet, but stay somewhat removed from it. In therapy, the verbal words just freak me out. If she saw what I wrote here and brought it up, I'd just about die.

I think possibly a reassuring thing for people on the board may be: I'm a therapist that uses this board and I read almost all the posts. I don't think about my clients in terms of "Hmm, that's kinda familiar, I wonder if that's "Jill". I read for my own support of issues in my therapy, to provide support, and be supported. If by some chance there was something very unique that "Jill" said that I thought "Oh wow, that's my client", I would stop posting on the boards and reading posts. "Jill" has a right to privacy, and me reading posts if I knew it was "her" would feel unethical and uncomfortable to me. Our relationship is sacred, and I want us getting to know each other in the therapy room, not from something I read online.

(If anyone's name is Jill, I don't have a client named Jill. Seriously. )

[critterlady]

I'm okay with the possibility that he reads this (although it's not likely) and that he recognizes me. If something I post fills in a piece of the puzzle for him, then that's a good thing.

My previous attempts at therapy have been very controlled, with very little trust and little sharing of anything other than surface issues. I'm approaching it much differently this time and I want my therapist to be able to get a full picture of me and my issues, with the hope of finally resolving some of them. It's hard to do in just a couple of sessions per week, so if he picked something up here, I'd be fine with it.

[stopdog]

I do not think the one I see would know me from my posts but if she did I would not care. I am not that different with her than I describe on here. It is possible I have been somewhat nicer in somethings I say about her here than I would actually tell her, but she already thinks I am more attached to her than I think I am (or in her view than I will admit) so other than that there would be nothing of surprise. I do not actually think she would remember my name if she did not write it down weekly or recognize me out of context in general, let alone from what was written here.

[mcl6136]

Originally Posted by stormyangels

I think possibly a reassuring thing for people on the board may be: I'm a therapist that uses this board and I read almost all the posts. I don't think about my clients in terms of "Hmm, that's kinda familiar, I wonder if that's "Jill". I read for my own support of issues in my therapy, to provide support, and be supported. If by some chance there was something very unique that "Jill" said that I thought "Oh wow, that's my client", I would stop posting on the boards and reading posts. "Jill" has a right to privacy, and me reading posts if I knew it was "her" would feel unethical and uncomfortable to me. Our relationship is sacred, and I want us getting to know each other in the therapy room, not from something I read online.

(If anyone's name is Jill, I don't have a client named Jill. Seriously. )

well then you must not be my therapist because my therapist doesn't know the meaning of the word support.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by stormyangels

I think possibly a reassuring thing for people on the board may be: I'm a therapist that uses this board and I read almost all the posts. I don't think about my clients in terms of "Hmm, that's kinda familiar, I wonder if that's "Jill". ...(If anyone's name is Jill, I don't have a client named Jill. Seriously. )

I believe you Stormy but that sound you heard was some Jill, somewhere in the world, going thunk!!!

I would still post the same. Mu T doesnt have time to be online tho.

[struggling2]

it would definetely change my posting. in fact, the possibility of it already causes hesitation on my end to post. I know T cant possibly have time to do that but ya NEVER know!

Maybe if there was some secret online forum where T and i could talk back and forth....oh wait, thats email and that would defeat the whole purpose of me opening up to people face to face. crap!

[Unrigged64072835]

I wouldn't be worried if T recognized me here. He'd be glad that I'm talking to people with similar issues. I pretty much dumped my whole life history on him recently so I don't think he'll find anything new.

[Fuzzywuzabear]

I would doubt mine had time to come on here.

I did tell my T about this forum before, but I told her I do not post, I just come here to read Which, is partly true. Sometimes I post, but I don't think I post enough or enough details where she would actually peg me and be able to say "Hey, that's Tryin's post that I just read" When I did tell her about this forum, she did say that she would check it out "if she has time." But, it didn't freak me out, since I don't post here often. I was talking about PC 2 sessions ago and she did say "Oh, I never checked that site yet" So..who knows.. but..as I said, I'm not worried if she does, because I don't post a lot.

[Towanda]

It wouldn't bother me in the least if my T recognized me in PC or read my posts. I'm pretty open and honest with him, so not much change from what goes on here to what he sees in session. I wouldn't stop or change anything. For instance, on "Dear T, I wish I could tell you" - when I post in there I usually end up bringing it in to him anyway. So no, not much difference where I'm concerned.

[Elli-Beth]

Last year, I would have been scared and embarrassed, but I think I've gotten to the point where I just trust him enough that I'm not really worried about what he might find out.

[sconnie892]

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?
I guess I wouldn't not care either way.

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts?
Definitely. If she read enough posts she would figure out it was me. The idea freaked me out at first, but now I don't care if she figures it out.

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted? (once again a huge yes for me)
I used to think it would, but since I need to be honest with T, I now see it as if she reads it, it gives her more insight into who I am. I would hope she would see the forum as another means of support in the journey of healing. I guess if I knew she was reading and knew who I was I would be a little less likely to vent about a "bad" session - because often the "bad" session is due to my resistance and not opening up and much less to do with her.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Mike_J

I have been thinking about how to write this for some time.

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts? (huge yes for me)

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted? (once again a huge yes for me)

If you said yes to the last question would you still change what you post if you strongly felt that your therapist didn’t know it was you posting and wouldn’t figure out your real identity (somehow feels almost like a "super hero" sort of question, but then again in my option so many of you really are super heroes, you have so much to deal with but you haven’t given up, against unimaginable odds you keep fighting the good fight)

my therapist was the one that told me about this website so I know she is reading here. when my therapist told me about this place I got the feeling that it was a good place, (she wouldnt have recommended it otherwise.) I felt real good knowing my therapist was on here, to me it's sort of like the feeling you get when someone recommends a 5 star hotel - someone else checked it out and it worked for them so why not give it a try..

yes my therapist recognizes my posts here, we have had many discussions over the past 2 plus years I have been visiting this website.

knowing my therapist is here would I change my posts no. my posts are wrote according to the rules of this website not according to the rules of my therapist.

I also know that its just common sense to be careful on the internet. from what I have read PC isnt set up so that those outside pc cant read here. I was reading these boards two months before I registered, as can anyone else who googles any mental or physical health issues.

I follow the rule that if its something I would not yell from the roof tops on a clear sunny day when the whole town is out on the streets milling about, listening, gossiping, what have you, then I dont post it.

plus my own motto for me , is if its something you cant talk about with your family, friends, co workers, neighbors, the whole town alike then it doesnt belong on the internet, regardless of what kind of website it is.

[Chopin99]

How would you feel if your therapist was a regular reader of the forums here?

I wouldn't care, but I don't think she would read here. Her nose always seems to be in a book from the way she talks.

Do you think your therapist could figure out who you are just from your posts?

I know she could. I am very detailed about my sessions. Also, my picture is on my profile.

Would knowing that your therapist would read what you posted here change what you posted?

Not at all. The only way I would change it is if she asked me to and I don't think she'd do that.

[Dani]

Honestly, I really don't think my T would have the time to be on this forum so I'm not really worried. If she did come on here, she wouldn't know who I was because I don't use my real name on here, it's just a nickname that someone called me when I was a child and my T doesn't know. If by any chance she did recognize me I wouldn't mind because anything I post wouldn't be a surprise to her.