[suzzie]

if a t asks you to bring something in that you wrote. does it always mean they want you to read it out loud.

[Elli-Beth]

My T will read it aloud for me, but he also says he could just read it silently or even put it aside and read it privately later.

[lostmyway21]

I'm sure you can do whatever is most comfortable for you. I squirm if my T starts to reference my emails. So he rarely does.

I've had it go both ways, and sometimes he just has me refer to it rather than reading it word for word. Just depends on what it is and what we're using it for.

[healed84]

I usually have T read it to himself and then we talk about it.

Mine always asks that I give it to him to read on his own later.

My T usually just reads to herself, and maybe quotes parts aloud as she goes that she comments on or wants to discuss. She prints off any emails I send her and sometimes she'll bring them out and reference them in session. She hasn't ever insisted I read anything aloud, although there's been a couple of things I did.

[WantingtoHeal]

I will write stuff and leave it with her. However, I keep discovering that she's missing some details. I do write a lot, though. It's probably too much. I have given her something to read before during a session, though, so we could talk about it.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by suzzie

if a t asks you to bring something in that you wrote. does it always mean they want you to read it out loud.

My T would always expect me to read it.

And by "expect", I mean "command".

[stopdog]

I have never read anything aloud to the therapist that I have written. She has either read it herself or not read it at all.
I cannot imagine being commanded by a therapist to read something. I doubt I would comply.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I have never read anything aloud to the therapist that I have written. She has either read it herself or not read it at all.
I cannot imagine being commanded by a therapist to read something. I doubt I would comply.

I've always complied so I don't know what would happen if I didn't.
And anyway, I don't mind. It's always more powerful that way.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

I've always complied so I don't know what would happen if I didn't.
And anyway, I don't mind. It's always more powerful that way.

It is not so much reading something aloud that I would object to. But being or feeling commanded to do anything would not work for me. It seems to work for you and that is good.i was not trying to criticize you or your therapist. I do react quickly and strongly to the notion of a command.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I do react quickly and strongly to the notion of a command.

But sometimes change can be hidden there, in play, in trust, which is why building the therapeutic alliance is important. My T has been doing something the last few sessions that I didn't understand until just this moment. I will watch the clock at the end of the session, even though he often says that's his job. I'm being the parent, and I'm actually depriving myself of session time, just as IRL I deprive myself before my mother has a chance to do it. So - I don't know how he got this idea! - but as I move my foot to leave, T puts his foot on top of it, which really grabs my attention. I'm not leaving, I'm just taking my foot off my footrest, I always wait for him to pull me out of the chair, but it does signal the end of talking time. And he's like no, there's more. Anyway, it is a command, but it's a good command, because it feels like we are equal participants or contributors towards an action independent of either of our egos or wills. It's FOR the therapy?

[Nelliecat]

I've only once read something out loud that I've taken in and T never insists. Mostly she will read whatever it is and stop at important junctures to ask about something, then we talk about it more comprehensively afterwards.

Having said that there is something that she wants me to say out loud and I will probably write it down and try and read from that - but it's giving me chills just thinking about doing it.

[learning1]

I brought something to read once. He asked if I wanted to read parts of it or if I wanted him to read parts of, etc, etc, etc. I can't remember all the questions. Finally he read it like I wanted.

[velcro003]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

My T would always expect me to read it.

And by "expect", I mean "command".

hehe. my T always expects me to read my stuff out loud as well. i never questioned it, or asked her specifically to read it, but it sometimes has taken me the entire session to read a passage of my journal entry. i know she wants me to read it out loud because it is more meaningful saying the words out loud-and coming from myself and not her.

[BonnieJean]

Originally Posted by suzzie

if a t asks you to bring something in that you wrote. does it always mean they want you to read it out loud.

Suzzie - I have read things I written out loud to t; I've asked her to read it outloud to us and I've asked her to take it and read it before the next session. She's always left that up to me to decide.

[pbutton]

The last time I took something in he asked me if I wanted him to read it, presumably to himself. I screeched NO, and that was the end of that. It sat in the envelope unopened until after I left.

I assume he's opened it by now. I'll find out in a few hours. Lucky me. Barf.

[granite1]

my T has made it very clear if i bring in something that i wrote she wants me to read it outloud or at least attempt to then she will help me some but she wants me to use my words