[yang0868]

I can hear the client/therapist next door to my T through the vents. Sometime I can make out what they're talking about and others times I can't. 30% of me finds it disturbing that I can hear them. My T doesn't seem to be bothered by it. She said she just tunes it out because she has her attention "solely" on me. I can't help but feel that if I can hear whomever is next door, then they can hear what T and I talk about too. It was awkward in a way on Monday that I really had to yell at myself inside my head to tune out the people next door. T said that we both are soft spoken so she's not concerned about being heard next door but....I'm not quite sure about not being heard.

Have any of you guys experience this before? How would you guys feel if you could hear the client/T next door talking through the vents?

[unaluna]

They should have white noise machines in the rooms. Thats what my recent ts have had, in small apartments made over into offices.

[A Red Panda]

I'd ask to turn on the radio or something. I wouldn't be able to talk openly about anything if there was even a chance that someone else could overhear me.

[Daeva]

My T has a white nose machine so no one can hear us

[Freewilled]

Hmmm...it would really bother me.

But here's the thing: I can hear people in the waiting room sometimes (T has a very small little waiting room right outside his office. It only seats like up to two or three people and they are only waiting to see my T). I usually only hear that someone is waiting because they have kids with them and kids can be noisy I just find it a little distracting but I don't care if anyone hears what I have to say. Not really. I figure they don't know me and I don't know them and probably never will. Plus there is a white noise machine so I figure they can't make out every word we're saying...probably anyways.

Now the thing with hearing another session through the vent? For some reason I find that more disturbing. I don't know why exactly.....I just do

[Elektra_]

they use this stupid cd of classic music in hall to prevent that. although i think is same thing and that music is annoying. recently i heard but dunno clearly what they are saying, just know someone is talking. i think i can abstract myself from it...

[ThisWayOut]

I've heard sessions before, and that's generally when my t will turn on the noise machine. I would not be able to talk openly if i knew someone else could potentially hear me

[Jdog123]

Yes, when my T moved to a new office (newly-constructed, so cheap walls) the same thing happened. My T talked to the therapist next door and it has since become better. Also, they started piping in very faint classical music, which probably helps too (my T said that this is better than a noise machine and though I initially disagreed I do think she's right). I really had the sense that the people next door were loud, so I don't think that T and I, who are quieter, could be heard by others.

[trdleblue]

Where I go there are white noise machines in front of every office, but this did start happening in a certain place in the building. I shut down when it happened. Not only was I worried about someone hearing me, but I was also disturbed by hearing another session. Thankfully my t saw that I was having an issue with it and he moved our sessions to another building.

[Elektra_]

noise machine? O.o never heard of such thing! lloll just remember when i had other therapist in the same place i go now.. in one appointment i was crying and there was the music of Mozart playing which was sad and i just said: yeah this music makes it even better (sarcasm)!! we both laughed (me with tears at same time lol)

[Victoria'smom]

Yes I can hear next door only when I'm not saying anything. So I try to continue talking.

[Petra5ed]

I've only heard one patient in my place, when I was in the waiting room, and it was because they screamed. Just one scream and then silence. Pretty wild.

[purplemystery]

I don't hear anyone talking during their sessions, but occasionally I'll hear a counselor leave their office if they don't have a client and start talking to another counselor. I heard someone yawn really loudly once before too, even with the white noise things. It's annoying, but it's only ever been muffled, so at least I can't make out what anyone is saying.

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by Petra5ed

I've only heard one patient in my place, when I was in the waiting room, and it was because they screamed. Just one scream and then silence. Pretty wild.

That's pretty hilarious! Maybe there was a spider....

[roimata]

I don't hear conversations between Ts/clients. But if that's something that frustrates your ability to be open in session then you should address it more strictly with your T.

My therapist shares her hallway with an attorney and he's so loud that some days I can hear his conversations. With himself. And sometimes we'll hear thudding come from the room, so I'm not 100% convinced he's actually an attorney and doesn't have a career in crime.. "liquidating the assets" he'd be wise to call it