Hi All,

I’ve been having trouble opening up and really getting comfortable in my appointments with T. Do any of you do anything non-typical in therapy to break that down? Putting on your own music, playing cards, etc? A few of you had mentioned taking walks with T? Have you requested anything that T has said no to? I’m looking for ideas, and want to avoid making any outrageous demands.

Thanks J

CK

[Lauliza]

If you like games like cards, I think that is a great way to break the ice. It's done with kids for that reason so I don't see why not with adults. It depends on what you find relaxes you. Since you mention a walk I'm guessing that might help you (I know I wouldn't mind having a session that way). Maybe even having your session at a casual coffee shop? A lot of Ts might not want to do the coffee idea but it's not unheard of. Either way it's not inappropriate to ask.

[anilam]

My T said no to a session outside the therapy room... I wanted to take a walk in the park. I don't think it was outrageous but still it's his "rule".

[rainbow8]

My T and I went on a couple of walks but I don't think they helped me open up better. What helped me more was finger painting and other art activities. I like art so it was relaxing for me. You don't have to be artistic to finger paint! I think if we had played a card game that would have helped too.

We also did breathing together, at her request, and some relaxation and visualization exercises. Those helped me too.

What would you consider an outrageous demand? Your T can always say "no".

[sweepy62]

We did a puzzle together, sometimes we do coloring books.

[brillskep]

When I had a particularly difficult topic that I really couldn't talk about, my therapist helped me by having me draw it instead. We drew together actually - it was like a sort of dialogue but in an artistic way instead of spoken. It helped because I worked through my issue well in spite of my strong difficulty in talking about it. It also helped because my therapist was so supportive by what he was adding to my drawing, and we were making something together.

[Leah123]

I listen to music, it's very helpful, facilitative, soothing, evocative.

[stopdog]

I don't really think of these things as special accommodations. Some therapists are more flexible than others, but asking the therapist to help or suggesting some of these things is not out of line. I put a power point together once to try and communicate with the woman. I have also had other therapists suggest things like walking etc.

[tealBumblebee]

I'm generally pretty easy to adjust. However there was once one room that i just did not like for no reason at all. I was trying to rearrange my sessions in effort not to go in there. She could not guarantee it but she offered asking another t to switch rooms for my appt. so i wouldn't have to go in there. I told her to give me one more time to "test the waters" and we realized that it was simply a light issue. So while i don't love the room we can have a more productive session now simply by opening curtains and blasting the lights lol.

Thanks for all the replies! I'm glad things like drawing or music are pretty typical. I really want to sit on the floor as well - the room is more homey. I'm not sure if T would sit on the floor with me too, but it couldn't hurt to ask. I'd probably feel awkward having a session outside the office, in thinking about it. I'd be afraid of seeing someone I know, or T seeing someone he knows, and potential awkwardness. Or someone overhearing what we are talking about.

Coloring, swinging at the park, going for walks, eating at fast food places together, going exploring around the neighborhood, taking her dog for walks, listening to music, going to the library, reading books to me, one day we went to the beach,one day she came over to my house, one day we went to the zoo, things like that were all helpful.

[doyoutrustme]

I share my art when I'm stuck. I'm more of a visual person and some times I don't know what the words are for how I feel.

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[purplejell]

I sit on the floor in my therapy... I asked her for that because it seems to "fit" for me more with vulnerable stuff and I feel like I can let go more. She usually stays in the chair and will stay on her side of the room or in the chair beside me (depending on what I feel comfortable with). But at times she has also sat on the floor with me as well.
I think it's good if you can experiment... try different things, and see what works for you to help you open up. I'm also allowed to leave her voicemails during the week (she doesn't have to call back), and I feel like that's kind of leaving her a "breadcrumb trail", so she knows where I've been at and can ask me questions that get to the important stuff.
I've also written things and brought them in to read to her or have her read. And brought in drawings as well.