[precious things]

Are you giving your T a gift for the holidays?
Have you done this before or know how they feel about it?
WHAT are you giving them?

And, if you decide not to, are you worried you might regret it?

[Asiablue]

I'm leaning towards not. Simply because she'll want to talk about the thoughts behind giving a gift! I really don't want to have that conversation, damn psychodynamic freak-show therapists lol

[stopdog]

No I don't give the therapist gifts, and no I won't regret it.

[Nightlight]

My therapist will accept cards, but not even small gifts. I probably will give her a card. I'm seeing a second therapist as well and I'll probably attempt to give her a card, though I won't have the chance to ask if she accepts them before it's time to hand it over.

[Daeva]

I tried, she doesn't accept gifts. Boundaries. Many T's do not.

[Bill3]

Nope, and I won't regret it.

[Yogix]

I would like to, and I will see her a few times before the holidays, but I'm nervous to give her one, and to ask about it.

I already know what I would give her if I did... But I'm not sure if Ill go through with it.

I have had a long and comfortable relationship with my T, and we are realllllly quite good together, but still... Not sure.

Thank you for posting this thread though. Feel like it could help me work through some of these anxieties.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[unlockingsanity]

I gave a T gift once (a different T) and it was SO AWKWARD. I don't think I'll do that again.

[tealBumblebee]

I am, but it's just my character. It's my first Christmas with her and she's told me that "gift giving" may be my Love Language so I don't think she'll be completely caught off guard (even if she doesn't approve). I'm leaning towards a card w/ a nice note or letter, coffee or a hand made craft/frame.

[Wren_]

I'm not; not really an issue with my current T

[Hope-Full]

Like many, my T doesn't accept gifts. I will, however, gift T with a handmade card and a heartfelt note of gratitude and appreciation. Simple gesture, and I am comfortable with it.

The question is..... to hand deliver the card before session? At the end of session? Mid session? To mail the card prior to session?

[likelife]

I'm not sure. I gave my former T a lot of gifts, but haven't really felt compelled to do so with current T. If anything, I might bring some chocolate bark or something else i tend to make around the holidays.

[likelife]

Originally Posted by Hope-Full

Like many, my T doesn't accept gifts. I will, however, gift T with a handmade card and a heartfelt note of gratitude and appreciation. Simple gesture, and I am comfortable with it.

The question is..... to hand deliver the card before session? At the end of session? Mid session? To mail the card prior to session?

Are you prepared to talk about it? If so, I'd say hand deliver it at the start of the session. If not, it would make a lovely parting gift

[ready2makenice]

I'm not either;at this rate,T is lucky if she gets a happy holidays from me.

If I did give her a gift,it would be a card preferably hand made

[scorpiosis37]

No, I do not think gifts are appropriate in therapy.

[growlycat]

Main T yes--I usually send him a plant or something with a card detailing why I'm thankful for his help in my life

Cbt t-- probably just a card with more subdued thank you's

[pbutton]

No. It's not really something I am interested in doing.

I don't plan to give him a gift this year. He does accept gifts, and I have given him a gift once in the past, but it isn't something I feel compelled to do. I won't regret not giving him a gift.

[Jdog123]

I have given small gifts in the past. Each of the last 3 years I've traveled around the holidays to foreign countries and bought something meaningful for us. For example, last year when I was in Istanbul I bought her this cushion cover/tapestry wall-hanging thing (just $12 American). She'd once told me that relationships were like tapestries with colors that changed in intensity, just like relationships do. She accepted the gifts, said something about it not being necessary the first year and I know that I don't *have* to, but it wasn't awkward and I believe that she appreciated the gesture (again, these gifts weren't expensive). This year I'm traveling, but not until Jan. 18-27. I might get her a gift from this trip, but I also don't feel like it's necessary and I won't regret if I don't. I likely will go with the intention of buying her a gift, but I won't unless I find something that is meaningful for our relationship (and not expensive).

[RTerroni]

How about this- has your Therapist ever given you a holiday gift.

[growlycat]

Main T gave me a graduation gift from college--means the world to me

[growlycat]

Also, gave T a gift from overseas because there was a time there is no way I could have tolerated a 14 hr flight w/out a panic attack. The gift was symbolic of how much he helped me )"how far I've come" lol)

Nope, no gift or card, and I don't regret that. If I were to give him a gift, it would perhaps be a pair of Freudian slippers

[Bill3]

Freudian slippers!

[feralkittymom]

Hmmm....what would those slippers look like? Embroidered with cigars, perhaps?

I never gave my T a holiday gift, and I have no idea what his policy on gifts was. I did give him a spontaneous edible gift once that had significance for me at that moment, which I explained, and he examined and accepted it, and thanked me again the following week. And many years later I gave him a small gift upon his return to work after surgery and for his retirement, which he accepted. I sent him something small but meaningful several years after retiremement, and most recently, a small gift to celebrate a new great grandchild. He's always accepted such gifts very graciously.