[rainbow8]

I'm just wondering something "in light" of the "lights off" thread. Am I the only one who does therapy with her eyes closed and likes it? Does anyone else who does IFS or EMDR close their eyes during it? My T says that's how she does it with everyone, but if I wanted my eyes open, I could.

I'm like a little kid, I think. When MY eyes are closed, I don't worry about my T seeing me as much as when my eyes are open and I'm looking at her. I also don't think about our relationship with my eyes closed. It's not scary for me at all, but would it scare others to have their eyes closed?

[BlessedRhiannon]

If my T asked me to close my eyes, I think it would bother me. I'm not sure scared is the right word, but I would find it disconcerting. However, I often close my eyes on my own when talking about difficult things. I close my eyes for one of several reasons - to remember more clearly, to disconnect from my surroundings, so that I don't have to see T's reaction to my words, to focus more on what I'm saying. I'm trying hard not to close my eyes to disconnect or not have to see my T, but it's difficult.

nope..no closed eys. can't see where she is or what she might be doing..not that i'm looking at her..but with my eyes closed it is certainly no way safe!

[critterlady]

Like Rhiannon, I often close my eyes myself, but I think it would bother me if he asked me to do it.

I'm curious - since EMDR is based on eye movements, how does it work with your eyes closed?

[stopdog]

I would not do it. If you cannot see where they are, they are not safe.

[rainbow8]

critterlady, I was waiting for that question. Watching your T's fingers is only one way to do EMDR. It was the first way, but now there are others. I got dizzy and couldn't do the fingers method. I hold little buzzers in my hands, and my T controls them. They vibrate, alternating left and right. I also wear headphones, where the sounds also alternate left and right. My T has to sit on a chair close to me because of the wires for the buzzers and headphones, but my eyes are closed so it's fine.

I like to look into my T's eyes, though, and to look at her. There's always time in the beginning of the session for that too.

[healed84]

Closing my eyes would make me very uncomfortable.. Even when doing some relaxation techniques with my first T.. he asked me to close my eyes during some of them, and I could never relax while doing it. I do avert my eyes from T sometimes while talking, but to shut them.. no way.. lol.

[rainbow8]

But I KNOW my T is right there, talking to me. It feels so safe to me. I guess we're all different. I don't know if I would have felt safe closing my eyes with my other Ts, though. I wonder.....

[skysblue]

I shut my eyes a lot in session as T asks me to explore my thoughts and feelings. It allows me to dig deeper inside myself and get in touch with what might really be going on. I am able to concentrate better with eyes closed. And T is great - while doing that she will remain quiet so I can delve deep. But I also have a strong meditation practice so it might be easier for me to be comfortable with eyes closed.

We do hypnosis sometimes, so I've closed my eyes with my T. I feel very relaxed and safe with her so it's not a problem.

I would feel uncomfortable, maybe even unsafe.

[taylor43]

I would feel very uncomfortable closing my eyes.

[Chopin99]

I don't think it would matter to me either way. It would depend on what was going on at the time.

[FourRedheads]

VERY uncomfortable. I don't think I could do it. Like others have mentioned, I would feel unsafe. I have to be able to see everything that is happening around me and be aware at all times. PTSD stuff.

[Fuzzywuzabear]

Hm just depends on them situation for me.

[Screenager]

In the past few sessions I talked about some embarrassing subjects and I kept my eyes closed and my hands in front of my eyes most of the time. Not seeing T made it much easier for me; it was as if I was in my own world. Today I even held my ears shut for some time.

I guess it's kind of childish, but it helped me.

[nannypat]

I have a tendency to close my eyes during tough times in therapy. My T has asked me to open my eyes because she says I use this to close her out, and a way of me slipping away. I agree that this is probably true. I have done it with my pdoc too. He also asked me to open my eyes and " stay with him".

[pbutton]

No, it would not bother me. I am bothered by many things, but not that.

I hate closing my eyes. It's triggering to me. But oddly enough, we can hide ourselves under a blanket...

During EMDR, or when I am doing inner-child work, my eyes are shut-because I can't bring up a image without closing them. I like them closed-but after a while of keeping them closed, my T will yell at me to open them.. Well, not yell...but she raises her voice and says very firmly "Tryin, OPEN YOUR EYES". I struggle with dissociation at time, so she does that to make sure I don't dissociate, especially during EMDR, because if you dissociate during EMDR-it can actually re-traumatize you if you become stuck in the image or flashback.

we close our eyes a lot
it helps to make it easier to talk things out

[sconnie892]

During my second or third session with T, she was taking me through progressive relaxation. She told me to close my eyes and she was going to watch me to make sure I wasn't re-tensing areas we'd already relaxed. It was very, very difficult for me. I hate being watched like that. I did it though because I knew it would help me learn the technique. I also knew if I did it successfully we wouldn't have to keep working on it and I could open my eyes again.

Otherwise I like to keep my eyes open. Eye contact with T is actually helpful for me. But when I get frustrated I stare out the window or at the outlet in the wall. But always eyes open.

[Towanda]

Once in awhile, T will ask me to make a mental picture of something we're working on, or we will do meditation exercises if I'm particularly anxious, so yes I close my eyes. I'm very trusting of my T so this does not bother me.

[CantExplain]

I quite often close my eyes. It cleanses the room, leaving only me and T.

[sittingatwatersedge]

Originally Posted by Screenager

I kept my eyes closed and my hands in front of my eyes ....

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((screenager)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I did that last week for the first time, & I remember what intensity of feeling made me do it; I'm sorry things were so hard for you.