Pokerface T

I actually appreciate when T puts his poker face on- he uses it when talking about a hard subject. No emotion- love that. Maybe it's because I had a T that had cried twice when I was talking bout my past (one of the reasons I don't see her anymore)

I would hate it if a T cried over my stuff. It is MINE not theirs. And my stuff is not bad enough for me to cry over, let alone a therapist.

I've talked to my T about her poker face and she insists I'm imagining it. She can't be showing extremes of emotion all the time. Her face has to rest between smiles. That's all it is.

I almost believe her. But the illusion is very powerful. Emotional neutrality is very difficult for me to accept.

What we need is some photos!

Ohh I would LOVE to have a T with a poker face. All the ones I have seen, you can read them like a book. So easy. I am not interested in what they are feeling so it sucks when its up there in neon lights in their face. Its like unneccessary information there in front of you. I wish I had a T that has hardened up a bit, because I do not want to know what they are feeling. Their feelings are not important in a client's therapy session. It is about the client, not the therapist.

I have never actually looked at him...but I think T's pokerface is something like this:

I would totally clam up if T2 tried to be pokerface or blank screen with me.

Totally. I have to know that's another human being in the room, and one that is benign, otherwise the threat siren goes off and I'm done for the day.

She is however pretty good at suppressing reactions (even eye reactions) if I ask or tell her something unexpected.

Me too.

I noticed that this morning, actually. I've had a really low couple of days and I was barely able to talk to T this morning. I must have been radiating pain. I looked at T and his face looked so sad and concerned. It made me feel so cared for and I was able to open up a little more.

I think the ones I see are way over animated.

i was so creeped out by my cold distant Ts poker face.

I am glad you all started this thread. I read somewhere that people whose loved ones suffered from Parkinson's disease which, in its later stages causes something called Locked In syndrome...struggle with communcating with the patient in part because of the lack of facial expression...the frozen mask of the late-stage patient is a barrier to communication.

That's exactly what I experienced with the cold, distant T. His complete lack of responsiveness turned me off, and I fled in despair. Please refrain from telling me that I fled in despair for other reasons; that's also true.....but the fact remains, I feel creeped out by the pa pa pa poker face.

And I'm glad you started this thread. I'm with Critterlady on this one...I feel cared about when someone is responsive to what's going on, and I can see it in their face.