[Miswimmy1]

So I think that it's 50min bc the extra 10min are supposedly devoted to writing a progress report for the patient. But I was thinking, could it also be so that the patients won't run into each other coming and going? To avoid all the issues and emotions that come from seeing others?

its possibly for both, plus I would think T's need a moment to regroup.

I think it is more for the T to regroup, write notes, pee, etc. than anything else.

yeah, i think so too.

[dailyhealing]

I have twice run into people I knew in the waiting room at therapy. It was a little awkward, but we were both there to see a therapist so we just kind of didn't say much about it. It was fine. I do think it's regroup time though to answer the question...

From what I've read on T blogs & such, a good T puts a lot of energy into a session. If you've ever tried attuning to someone, it takes a lot of focus and energy to be completely into what the other person is saying and not have your thoughts rambling all over the place. I don't know how they do it, actually. To give them 10 or 15 minutes to shift gears from one person to the next doesn't seem like too much. We're all different in what we need from our T's, and there we are, coming at them one every hour, for what could be an 8-hour day, one after another, bang bang bang, with all of our unique needs - closeness, distance, empathy, plenty of space, lots of talk, no talk etc etc etc. Literally, let's give them a break!!! A breathing space to get a cup of coffee, pee, make a phone call, etc. They're not superhuman,....

I suspect peeing is high on the list of therapists' needs between sessions.

[LotusBloom]

I guess I can't relate, Miswimmy1. My hour appointments are always 60 minutes and sometimes more. I have seen clients before and after my scheduled appointment, and my T has often come out and let me know that he needs to use the facility before we start, but we always go for at least 60 minutes.

My T doesn't write up anything. She works from home & doesn't see clients back to back so bumping into other clients isn't an issue. I think it's as simple as 50mins being the length of time anyone can honestly stay focused.

[Dreamy01]

Traditionally I think it was meant as both; patient privacy plus time for the T to write notes and whatnot. But I also think it's become rather silly when T's apply it even when they work from home and don't see clients particularly close together. My T does the 50 minute hour yet I know she doesn't see anyone straight after me. I wish she would do the hour but it's become so standard for her. I can understand if someone works at an agency or place where a client comes each hour but otherwise it's really annoying.

Why is it annoying? That would be an interesting topic to discuss in session.

[Dreamy01]

Well because an hour would be preferable to 50 minutes. With 50 there is so little time to get into the therapy once you consider the time to settle in and then to ground afterwards. Another ten minutes would help a lot. My former T used to see me for almost an hour, usually about 57 minutes or so, and it does make a massive difference.

I think it's a mind thing.

[healed84]

My T always takes the times in between appointments. As a matter of fact he usually takes about 20mins. Which means he ususally starts sessions late, but always makes up the time in the end. I respect that he needs time. Probably to write notes, use the bathroom, get a drink or a snack, etc.

[unaluna]

my t does 45 minute sessions. sees people back to back. his office is a studio apartment in a hirise so the bathroom is not far, it's off the waiting (former dressing) room. as far as I can tell, he doesn't always have someone before me, but usually. so he probably gets his breaks with cancellations or otherwise unfilled times. those "breaks" would add up to 2 or 3 potential slots a day, wouldn't they? that's a lot to lose, 15 client spots a week, that's 2 days of work. if you want an extra session with your T, when do they squeeze you in?

[rainbow_rose]

50 minutes is NOT an hour!

Well, it's arbitrary either way - 60 minutes isn't really a more natural chunk of time than 45 or 50 minutes. I have 45-minute sessions, which feels natural since an "academic hour" in most universities is 45 minutes, and there is much in what earthmamma says - there's a limit to how ling it is possible to focus, and I suspect a T might find it hard to focus tightly for an hour, hour after hour after hour.

I'd like longer sessions, but on the other hand with exT the 45 minutes usually seemed to drag on forever. So there it is, and as long as the length of the session is made clear at the outset there isn't really any reason why 60 minutes should be the obvious length of time.

[unaluna]

the catholic mass - seems it's "over" at 45 - 50 minutes. your stomach starts growling, people need to move. I know there is the expectation based on experience, but is this a chicken and egg question? a good 45 minutes is the length of an entertainer's (comedian's) show. it's like the standard time.

[rainbow_rose]

i've had 60 minute sessions that were reduced to fifty ... to me, there is a difference...

Originally Posted by rainbow_rose

i've had 60 minute sessions that were reduced to fifty ... to me, there is a difference...

If there's a difference to you, then there is a difference. I didn't mean to sound invalidating.

[pbutton]

I had 60 min sessions with T1. I have 50 min sessions with T2. Oddly, I think I tend to cover more with T2. I must have spaced out a lot with T1.

i would think 50 minutes for another reason. their butts probably fall asleep and they need to wake them up for circulation reasons.

[murray]

My T doesn't do the 50min hour. He's pretty casual and I like that and luckily I go to therapy on my day off so if I don't get out on time it doesn't matter. He is always late so I just read while waiting, no biggie. He never shorts me time and often I get more than 60 minutes. He goes right from client to client I don't know how he does it honestly. If he has to pee, he does it before we begin.

[~EnlightenMe~]

I know they have to write therapy notes, that they need breaks like everyone else does, that they sometimes use it to call clients in need. I'd like to hope that they use it to relax as therapy takes a lot of mindfulness, but I don't think that happens often. I was okay with the 45-50 minute hour, a happier T=a better session. Of course, at times, I had a difficult time leaving, but ten minutes wouldn't have changed that. My T would call me back when I called him, and he didn't get paid for that.

[Screenager]

My T does 60 minute hours, and yes I run into other patients all the time, and yes I hate that.