Is therapy an easy job?

My T and I have different definitions of a "good session." We joke about that all the time.

I think some Ts like to go deep and some don't. I like to go deep and so does my current T. We are a good fit that way. I have someone to accompany me on my forays into the depths! My first T, though, was very superficial. I don't think we ever went deep. If she had to, I'm not sure she would even know how.

I have noticed that sometimes when I'm talking about deep stuff, particularly with my past actions or experiences, my T gets extremely interested, compared to other times when I'm just telling something about myself and T is in more of a relaxed position.

When T does that, it makes me think "okay, this must be real juicy for T", even though to me it seems unimportant, but something that just kind of came up in conversation.

Yes, I notice that too about T. Sometimes he'll write things I've said down and I'll sit there and think, "Why is this so important?" But then when I'm at home I'll try to google research whatever it might be and I'll usually find something that suggests its important in how I think about things.

yup. For you.

You probably don't have to be perfect, though...

I think it depends on the therapist and their boss. My T is helpful and he is honest with me and seems to trust me to a degree. He helps me.

I noticed in group that my T was always interested in CSA and alcoholism. Ghoulish, almost.

For some reason What About Bob comes to mind ... Bill Murray sending his psychiatrist around the bend by the end of the movie ... Hmm ... Wonder if that ever happens to the professionals in real life?

I don't think it would need to be a client like Bob. The ones I meet in my professional capacity are mostly distinguishable from the people locked up against their will in psych wards by their lack of hospital gown.

My t and i both prefer the deep, intense stuff. It drains us both but its helpful.

My t is always present and engaged, but I swear when we're really into the deep stuff she's more animated than usual....

lol, i am sorry P.I.T.A. = pain in the *****

I wonder about this all the time. Sometimes I feel like it must be easy for her. She works in an Ivy league affiliated research hospital and publishes half the time, and the other half the time she is in private practice doing therapy. To me, this is like the best of both worlds. She also charges 225 for 45 minutes and doesn't take insurance so she doesn't have to deal with that mess. I also know that Fridays are her half days.

However, then I think about the fact that next month I might have to go on a sliding scaled and will be paying 60 as opposed to her regular fee of 225, so if I do end up going on the scale, she will not be making a ton of money off of me. Plus the fact that during one period of time, I was emailing her excessively, and when she said something about it (b.c I asked her), I realized how much of a pain it must have been to have a client emailing you all the time, it must feel like you are always working. And then there is the fact that she specializes in CBT for EDs, and I get the feeling that her type of therapy is not successful all of the time, so that must be frustrating especially if clients aren't willing to do the work (ie write down your food intake, come to all sessions, etc.) and then they end up blaming the T, which I am sure happens. So I guess I am on the fence about this one, although I do think my T's job is probably easier than a lot of other Ts that don't charge as much, deal with trauma clients, take insurance and therefore deal with insurance companies, etc.

I don't have to be perfect but my T certainly does!

My T works with a lot of children. I've seen several come out to leave & not say goodbye to him. I bet he works pretty hard during those hours.

I would be EXHAUSTED with a job that required talking to people all day long. It would be a mini-hell for me.

I don't say good bye to the one I see. How would not saying goodbye make things hard for a therapist? I don't think students who come to see me say goodbye when they leave. I shall have to try and pay attention to see.

this is a great post..its something ive been wondering about it seems like some therapists take it very easy while others perform their job like its the most important thing in the world.

Well personally, I think it is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Trying to stay involved but keep a distance and not think about clients that are having a hard time, trying to reach out to them but not too much. Dealing with peoples emotions 24/7 is exhausting.

i agree with button. also i can't imagine just leaving a room and not say something! usually i mumble "thanks," if i had a particularly hard session, and most times i say bye.

you're drawing this parallel, saying that you learn something from your therapist?

I am saying I don't find whether someone says good bye or not to be indicative of whether the job is easy or not.

I think the lack of goodbye reminds me of when I was taken to a T as a child. I flat out refused to speak or to play. I am sure the T wanted to help me, but I had to have been incredibly frustrating to work with.