[seattleskies88]

So I thought it would be fun/interesting to hear what sorts of things your therapists are always saying. Do they have a catchphrase or a motto that they're constantly repeating? How do you respond to them?

For me, my T, when describing how I should think of traumatic experiences always says: "This is who I am; this is a part of my story." And he holds out the 'or' sound in "story" while making this big circle with his hands. It gets pretty funny after the 2nd or 3rd repetition.

He also tells me, "You need to stop ruminating."

I can't help but roll my eyes sometimes. He reminds me of those cheesy inspirational posters that describe what courage and teamwork are. My T can be pretty cheesy though.

[gayleggg]

Thanks for sharing. I haven't been seeing my T long enough yet to tell if has some but i'm sure he does I just heard him enough times yet. I always like anything humous.

[Willowleaf]

Where do you feel it in your body. I swear I will scream next time she says it

[tinyrabbit]

I like threads like this!

My T always calls the therapeutic space around us "the soup".

[seattleskies88]

Originally Posted by tinyrabbit

I like threads like this!

My T always calls the therapeutic space around us "the soup".

That's hilarious. I love it.

[BonnieJean]

"Can you say more about that?" I'm just getting kind of tired of the same prompt...

[content30]

OMG...my T has a TON of catch phrases.

-it's not about perfection but the direction
-struggle well
-talk, trust, feel (<-what you should be able to do in healthy families/relationships)
-lean in
-let's/I want to unpack that

Every time, before I leave, she closes with:
-what are you walking away with?

[EllieBear]

My T always asks "so how's that working for you?"

How do I respond? I roll my eyes at her...or respond with some sarcastic version of "Great, thanks!"

Then we proceed to talk about how I can change whatever we're discussing to a more healthy way of thinking or behaving.

[confused and dazed]

Great question!
I can only come up with at the end of each session, is, see ya next week.... I will have to pay more attention to T LOL.

[Syra]

That's a great question. I'm glad you asked that.

Sometimes I roll my eyes.

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by Willowleaf

Where do you feel it in your body. I swear I will scream next time she says it

I totally just spit my drink all over my screen!

[likelife]

Originally Posted by EllieBear

My T always asks "so how's that working for you?"

How do I respond? I roll my eyes at her...or respond with some sarcastic version of "Great, thanks!"

Then we proceed to talk about how I can change whatever we're discussing to a more healthy way of thinking or behaving.

Your T has been watching too much Dr. Phil.

Mine doesn't really have catchphrases, thankfully.

[ready2makenice]

I love this thread my T will say things like:
When I'm trying to be perfect T will say :you can't eat the elephant in one bite

(being funny)get the mojo going (newest one)

When I'm upset T will usually say:Its just temporary (my least fav)

When I'm having a bad day T will say: Don't let the bad dog beat out the good dog

T is pretty cheesy as well,I'm constantly tell her that though,so she's well aware!!

[tooski]

I can't think of any that he uses consistently, but he's always so relentlessly .... POSITIVE.

And yet, he has some family photos in his office I got to look at once when he was getting coffee, and the two he was in, he looked positively grumpy. Really, just kind of cranky. So maybe he's human after all?????

[sunrise]

My T has said a number of times, when we are sitting facing each other at the beginning of therapy, and there is a silence as I think what I want to start with, "I'm all ears." It's very welcoming--he is ready to listen to whatever I have to say.

Originally Posted by Willowleaf

Where do you feel it in your body. I swear I will scream next time she says it

I'm with you there! I would hate this if it were a regular occurrence. My T has said something like this only a couple of times when we were doing special protocols.

Originally Posted by BonnieJean

"Can you say more about that?" I'm just getting kind of tired of the same prompt...

I have patients too and I must admit I use a variation of this pretty frequently. Mine is "tell me more" or "tell me more about that." It seems to be working OK. I hope the patients aren't secretly holding back screams of annoyance when they hear that.

[googley]

My T uses: "Tell me more." and "What are you thinking?" There are a few others, but I can't remember exactly what they are right now. I think the routine of it helps me feel safe. And not demanding that I tell her, but asking if I want to tell more about something.

[QuietCat]

"Pretend I have a magic wand and could do anything. What would you want done?"

[stopdog]

"I am not messing with you"
But that is usually because I say, "Stop messing with me"

and
"Yes, I do know what I am doing"

[1stepatatime]

My T. doesn't have anything in particular that she uses consistently ( for which I'm glad) but she sometimes will say "tell me more about that, what are you feeling, and be kind to yourself". I really like the last one : )

[Syra]

...and
"Yes, I do know what I am doing"

[/QUOTE]

ouch. That sounds hurtful? Is it?

[stopdog]

ouch. That sounds hurtful? Is it?[/QUOTE]

It is usually in response to me asking if she knows what is supposed to be happening because I do not.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

When I say something she is proud of she claps her hands and says, "Thank you". I find it funny and charming and look forward to seeing it b/c it means I've done something good.

[CantExplain]

"Don't terminate by email. It's incredibly disrespectful of the therapeutic relationship." Word for word, every time.

[elliemay]

Originally Posted by tooski

I can't think of any that he uses consistently, but he's always so relentlessly .... POSITIVE.

And yet, he has some family photos in his office I got to look at once when he was getting coffee, and the two he was in, he looked positively grumpy. Really, just kind of cranky. So maybe he's human after all?????

When my therapist is cranky it cracks me up actually. Believe me, it took a lot of therapy and work to get to the humor in it, but it really is hilarious.

So out of character and so "you know today, I'm just not feeling it, so there".

It happens. They are actually human.

[Moodswing]

Originally Posted by Willowleaf

Where do you feel it in your body. I swear I will scream next time she says it

Both of my Therapist do this to me all the time! Sometimes I make crap up just to see their puzzled faces.