[caseygirl]

Just before your session with T, for the most part how do you feel?

1. I'm feeling so overwhelmed that I couldn't wait for this day to come
2. I don't know what to think, last session was confusing and we just kind of left it hanging
3. I've got so many things to discuss, I hope we have time for everything
4. I hope she understands what I'm about to tell her
5. She's not connecting with me
6. Finally I've found a T that is connecting with me
7. Will this be another time-waster
8. This is the best T I have ever found

For me it is #1, #3, #8.

When I sit in her waiting room I feel a sense of aaaah! "here I am, someone who will listen to me; someone I can open up to".

It is always a relief to be in his waiting room. It is a place I can sit back, relax for a few minutes without teenagers all around me (I teach high school AND live with two teenagers) and just have quiet, me time. His waiting room couch is insanely comfortable and I've been known to fall asleep while I wait. I don't think any on your list really apply to me, not even #6 or #8 as I have had several really good therapists over the years. I don't even really think about the upcoming session in a few minutes. It is just a mind-clearing time for me.

[tinyrabbit]

I don't spend much time in the waiting room. I normally just feel really nervous, whatever it is that's going on.

[stopdog]

I do not usually go to the waiting room. I show up right on time and walk in to the therapist's office. If I think about the appointment ahead of time, I usually throw up.

There's no waiting room, just a landing on the stairs, where I leave my coat and shoes. I try not to be there more than five minutes ahead of time. How I feel while standing there varies wildly, from "I can't wait for this appointment to start" to being scared sh itless. Once or twice I've really wanted to grab my things and bolt before he buzzes me in, but I've never done that and I don't really think I ever will.

[RTerroni]

My Therapist comes out almost right away so many times I don't even sit down.

[content30]

I always feel 8 (best T ever) and sometimes 3 (will we have enough time to discuss everything). Usually, I just feel relaxed and happy about going to see T.

[photostotake]

For my personal t: I fill out the depression/anxiety scale form for him. Then I quickly read through my journal from the past week on my phone. I want to make sure that we discuss everything that needs to be brought up over the next 45 minutes and I will have likely have written about it beforehand. I really like my t. I generally look forward to my appts with him. This waiting room is actually a comfort place for me, just as his office is too. It means he's coming out to get me. Yes, I realize that might sound a bit strange.

For my eating disorder t: I try and distract myself the entire time waiting for her to come out and get me. I really don't want to be there each week as I know we're heading for the scale the first thing. I like my t, but I'm never happy to see her right away, so the fake smile is on. On the inside, my anxiety levels are sky high from the morning until the weight stuff is done.

[unlockingsanity]

I try to play it cool by playing on my phone, but inside I'm squirmingly anxious.

[tealBumblebee]

Generally, I'm quite content. I've grown accustomed to the multiple receptionist and nod as I enter (if i'm in a pleasant mood) and if not, I just sit down. I always sit in the same seat because no one is really ever there to have to compete with over it. My seat is away from all the other conjoined seats and i'm almost in a corner. I either text on my phone, think about what I will tell her in session or listen to the music playing. It's a peaceful experience for me.

[Lamplighter]

T doesn't have a waiting room as he works from home, so I make sure I get there bang on time with no hanging around outside or in the car. But it wouldn't matter either way, as I manage to shut down by the time I get there anyway. Not that there haven't been times when I'd have happily turned tail and run away (mainly due to cock ups on his part before start of sessions.)

I've only ever seen one T who had a real live waiting room with a real live receptionist, and I have to say that that contributed even more to my shutting down, making small talk with the people who came and went in the waiting area and reading whatever magazines were around - not conducive to putting me in a therapy frame of mind. Too clinical for my liking.

But I did get to use the loo without feeling so embarrassed about it as I do in T's own home...

[Freewilled]

I'm super nervous I don't spend much time in the waiting room because I purposely get there at the last minute, but its like I'm forcing myself to be there. My mind is racing and yet blank at the same time. Hard to explain /:

[stopdog]

I would hate a receptionist. I have always chosen therapists who did not use them.

Depends on what we working on at the time (or my mood), sometimes nauseous, sometimes excited, happy, nervous etc

[Hope-Full]

1. I'm feeling so overwhelmed that I couldn't wait for this day to come
6. Finally I've found a T that is connecting with me
8. This is the best T I have ever found

None of the above...

I just want to be seeing my old T again since he helped me the most.

[ar2004]

I feel 1, 3, and 8. My T's waiting area is nice because she has instrumental music playing on a CD player. It helps to calm me most days unless my anxiety is at an all time high.

Scared. Really scared. Scared of the mental health system and the power they have more than of my therapist as a person. It's a long story.

[Miswimmy1]

I hate my therapists waiting room. It's not a nice environment for me. I don't find it comforting at all. I find it very formal. I usually get a little anxious in my therapist's waiting room, because I know that at any minute, she will come out and it will be time to begin the hour of talking.

[sunrise]

I'm not sure I'm thinking much of anything, but I have feelings of being comfortable, and peaceful, and maybe some anticipation. I don't see my T very often anymore, so being there is a treat. Last time, I remember sitting in the waiting room and reflecting on that feeling of comfort and ease--I have been here so often, I know this room well, I know that painting, the water cooler still hasn't been filled ha ha, etc. Kind of like old home week.

[growlycat]

I'm cbt's first patient of the day so sometimes, like today:

1. I enter the building about the same time cbt t is coming in. One shy/awkward elevator exchange--check!! before he lets me into the greater clinic. Receptionists who arrive a few minutes later always nervously ask who let me in (sigh)

or...

2. He comes late so I'm hanging out in the hallway waiting for him to show up.

3. I come in a few minutes after him and he lets me into the waiting room. Receptionists come in and nervously ask who let me in (sigh)

So the waiting room is dead empty when I come in. When I leave, there are so many people I don't know who his next patient is.

[yoyoism]

Number 1 and 4 in some ways. Also:

- Ugh, the receptionist knows. (Because the office where my T's office is located is not the main counselling centre, it's for another student service department)
- I wonder if any of the students walking by outside know what I'm sitting here for.
- What if she doesn't want to see me today, is that why she's taking so long to come out and get me??
- This week was good/bad, I wonder what I will remember to tell her about.
- I can't wait to see her, she's always so nice to me, I like her, I hope we have a good session today.
- And sometimes: I shouldn't even BE here, I'm wasting her time when she could be seeing students with real issues.

when i still went to her office (before she moved), I LOVED sitting in her waiting room. Sometimes I'd get there a little early on purpose because I was almost always the only one waiting I think there was only one other T there and they must of staggered appointments, and there was no receptionist or anything. The colors of the walls were so soothing, and the paintings too, and the music playing (a classical radio station) and even just the smell of the place... so relaxing. I'd kick back and close my eyes and sometimes I'd be so lost in the music I wouldn't even hear the door open and she'd have to come over and say "Art, hello?" LOL