Most unconventional, out of the box thing in the t/patient relationship

lostmyway21 · Sep 30, 2012, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlessedRhiannon

My T is fairly conventional in that we don't do things together. Our sessions are held in her office, and we talk. Once, when my anxiety was particularly bad, she offered to walk around the building with me, but I declined. I knew that the instant we left her office, I'd put up my masks and everything would be "fine."

I'm comfortable with our relationship, though. I think my T is awesome. I need consistency, and my T is excellent about that.

There are times when I wish she'd go places with me, or do different things, but then I realize that would feel too "friend-like" and I need her as a T, not my friend.

I just wanted to point out...I go out with my T twice a week around the city and I do NOT in any way view him as a friend. In fact he said something about me viewing him as a friend once and I yelled at him. I only view him as T....and (father figure-transference). Our walks have in no way put us on an equal (friend) level.

stopdog · Sep 30, 2012, 10:00 PM

I do feel equal to the therapist. I don't think one has to relinquish equality to a therapist just because they are not a friend.

autotelica · Sep 30, 2012, 10:05 PM

I think it's reasonable to want to work "within the box", even though I do appreciate my therapist's unorthodox approach. There HAVE been times when I felt weirded out.

Sometimes she says we're friends, and she does treat me in a "friend-like" way. But I know we aren't friends. It's just make-believe. It's kind of weird when she acts like I don't know this.

BlessedRhiannon · Sep 30, 2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostmyway21

I just wanted to point out...I go out with my T twice a week around the city and I do NOT in any way view him as a friend. In fact he said something about me viewing him as a friend once and I yelled at him. I only view him as T....and (father figure-transference). Our walks have in no way put us on an equal (friend) level.

Sorry - I did not mean to imply that others view their T's as a friend if they do "out of the box" things during sessions.

I just meant - for ME - it would feel too "friend-like." I prefer the structure of a session in an office, that's predictable. For me, that's safe and comforting. So, I'm glad that's what my T does.

I'm glad there are so many different types of T's out there, that can reach each of our needs with their different styles and approaches to therapy.