therapist's birthday

my therapist is turning 70 (!) soon, and i'm wondering if i should give her something.

last year, her birthday was on the weekend, and i called to wish her a happy birthday. she later emailed me (something she rarely does) to say thank you and that it meant a lot to her that i called. the year prior, we actually had session on her birthday so i was able to wish her a happy birthday in person. that day as we were hugging goodbye, i remember her saying "thank you for being here."

so it's not unusual for me to acknowledge her birthday and for her to respond, but i've never actually given her anything. and since it's on the weekend again, it feels even more different. should i send her a card? call again? i don't want to do anything "inappropriate," but i feel like it's a BIG birthday and one that should be acknowledged properly. my best guess was to send her an orchid and leave her a voicemail to say happy birthday.

I think a card sounds nice. Could you give it to her at your session before her birthday?

I think a card sounds great.
She may not focusing on the "70" part of her birthday

I gave my T a bonsai plant once ... I forget the occasion ... but it was also b/c I wanted to honor her and thank her for such help, dedication and devotion she'd showed me.

She interpreted my choice of gift as proof I wanted to be taken care of, since bonsais (like orchids) are such "fussy"/needy plants.

I felt totally deflated. I had picked it because it was pretty and was supposed to last a long time. In the end, she got rid of it b/c she said it was too much pressure. I felt like she'd get rid of me too, if I got to be too much for her to handle.

I don't say this to discourage you, by any means, But your T may have very different views on your gift than you intended.

Since then, I've stuck with something I made or a thoughtful card.

Me and my t have birthdays a couple days apart so we always have a birthday party with presents and cake . We love giving presents. I like to make her homemade stuff and goodies. Last year we went shopping together at a little market and were oohing and aahing at all the things there we liked, and ended up buying each other things we saw that the other liked. It was really fun. Is there anything you know your t likes? Anything she collects? Or maybe something you could cook or bake for her that she would love for a snack or a treat? Theres one thing that my t loves for me to make for her, thats always a treat, whether its her birthday or not.

My T and I have the same birthday! I always give her something homemade- usually art- I paint, so I paint something symbolic of our relationship or about my feelings towards her. I do believe handmade is best for Ts.

Pam

I have given my T presents on occasion. For his 50th birthday I gave him an ATF cap [the whole ATF thing had significance for us.] He asked me how I knew it was his birthday. I told him had mentioned once that his birthday was the first week of April. He sat there for a second, and then asked, "was that a while ago." I am sure I turned red, and had to admit it had been quite a while ago. He loved the cap, though, and has mentioned a few times since then how much he loves it.

My T mentioned a birthday coming up one year and I asked the date. Since then I've always given her a handmade card with a heartfelt message. I think a small gift would probably be appropriate given your T's reaction in the past. Personally I'd probably hand it over during my session before her birthday.

let her know you appreciate her, a card is a nice idea, maybe some flowers. i saw a therapist for a few years, then one day i got a call saying she had died suddenly. i was gutted.

there is a certain line between a therapist and their clients of course. but that doesn't mean there isn't affection there.