[thawing]

Does your T have any specific phrases that she always uses?

Mine does, and though I've never mentioned it, it always takes my notice when she'll use the same phrase, especially when it's the same phrase I've heard from another t as well. I always sit there in the session and wonder about their training and why they've been specifically told to use those phrases and why they would impact us any differently from other phrases.

For example, she begins every question with "I was wondering..." and will say "I think" a lot, but in a different context. Like if I misunderstood her question she will say "I think what I meant was...". And "I understand that..." ("I understand that that strange noise is the fire alarm, I understand that they are doing some drilling today"). It always strikes me that she says that instead of being more blunt, such as "I meant this" or "that noise is this" and just ask me a question like "how has your mood been" rather than "I was wondering how your mood has been".

[Miswimmy1]

"What's on your mind"

"I'll stop talking"

"please explain"

[stopdog]

The one I see makes fun of my phrases but I have not noticed her having any. It seems she finds my syntax not common.

[Victoria'smom]

No "shoulding" yourself.

[CantExplain]

"Do you want to know what I think?"

[EeyoreSmile]

Umm my T repeats my phrases more than her own.. if I refer to something as s***, she will too. She also used to say a lot about how its a process... but I banned that word. We use marathon now. And I've also forbid the use of the word "termination." I don't know.. I think I police her language because I love words and words have so much emotion for me.

[retro_chic]

Originally Posted by EeyoreSmile

Umm my T repeats my phrases more than her own.. if I refer to something as s***, she will too.

My T does this too. It makes me feel more relaxed I think. I still hold back from cursing too much though... I think it is just out respect/general politeness though.

Mine pauses for a second, takes a deep breath, looks me in the eyes and asks me how i am. After I tell her how I am she always replies that she had a feeling I was feeling that way : ))

[WikidPissah]

current trauma lady that I see says, "can we talk to that part for a bit". Grrrr. hate it.

XT used to say "you can tell me to eff off" in the end I did, and he didn't like it much.

[skeksi]

"Can I share my thoughts?"

"It isn't you." [he thinks I take responsibility or accept blame for too many things]

"My thinking is...."

"I don't know. Why DID you say that?" (this is almost as bad as "how does that make you feel?")

"I'm just thinking out loud here, but maybe..."

If we are going to talk about something tough and i say i dont want to talk about this, she says "oh yes we ARE talking about this."

If i try to say i am fine she says something like "ok quit lying and tell me how youre really doing."

"oh **** that now tell me whats really going on with you"

[EeyoreSmile]

Originally Posted by Starry_Night

If we are going to talk about something tough and i say i dont want to talk about this, she says "oh yes we ARE talking about this."

Ha! If my T said that.. I'd say.. oh no.. I'm definitely not talking about it and be woefully stubborn.. whenever i Say I dont want to talk about something, my T always says "Okay, we don't have to" cause she knows by just letting me win, I go ahead and talk about it within 5 mins LOL Ts are sneaky the way they know us and human nature LOL

"It's time to stop."

[QuietCat]

"Isn't that interesting? What do you think that means?"

[rainbow8]

"Let's just be curious about it".

"Where do you feel that in your body?"

"It's okay sweetie."

"It's not your fault sweetie."

or

"Sweetie, sweetie, sweetie."

Always when I'm sad or in distress, and she reaches to wrap her arms around me."

It helps my healing process...always.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

(said while clapping her hands) Yes! Thank you. ... when I say something empowering.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

"Where do you feel that in your body?"

Mine likes that too.

[CantExplain]

"Bravo" when I have an insight.

[Sunne]

Be kind to yourself.

Tell me about those tears.

Be patient.

Sooooooooo!

How are you, really?

[Butterflies Are Free]

Remember, no comparing yourself to others...

[Nightlight]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

"Where do you feel that in your body?"

Mine said that occasionally in the beginning and I really didn't like it! I just wanted to say nowhere, it wasn't in my body at all. After all I'd spent years trying to ignore what was happening in my body, and just block it off.

I saw a second T for a while and she had this amazing ability to describe the way the things we were talking about made her feel in her own body. It would always be exactly, exactly as I was feeling, whether it was "pain in my chest" or "throat so tight I feel like I can't say the words". It was so reassuring because it wasn't like I was just sitting there experiencing it all alone.

But I digress. My current (soon to be former) T doesn't seem to have any regular phrases, and I'm quite glad. Though very occasionally lately she's started, for the first time, to say things that just sound like they are regurgitated out of a textbook, which I really don't like.