[coolibrarian]

Sometimes I get REALLY annoyed when my T yawns during my sessions. But I don't always complain about it, sometimes it might take me two or three sessions to bring it up, even after all this time with T.
I get particularly annoyed with her yawning if she has also been late for my session on that day.
I know she's human, and stays up too late like the rest of us, but when she yawns she's showing she's not really present. Comments?

[Lauliza]

Originally Posted by Cherbiej

Sometimes I get REALLY annoyed when my T yawns during my sessions. But I don't always complain about it, sometimes it might take me two or three sessions to bring it up, even after all this time with T.
I get particularly annoyed with her yawning if she has also been late for my session on that day.
I know she's human, and stays up too late like the rest of us, but when she yawns she's showing she's not really present. Comments?

Yeah mine has yawned before but it was usually at the end of the day, so I wrote it off that it's been a long day and I'd be doing the same. It does make me feel like I'm not going to get as much out of him as his earlier clients might have. I've never said anything though.

[elaygee]

I don't think yawning means you are not present. It is an *UNCONTROLLABLE* response. She may have just eaten before you (I yawn bad when I do that), or had a crisis until 3 in the morning, or who knows? If she's anything like me if someone *talks* about anything tiring (tiring like their own lack of sleep, or up all night, etc), I yawn. I'm yawning RIGHT NOW.

If she is yawning the *whole* session, I'd say something. I'd ask her if it's just best to try a different day/next week. I always try to think about it, if my T behaved that way towards me, how would I feel? (If she got on to me for yawning. If T said "You know, you yawned once today, I don't think you're taking treatment seriously..." Really??)

[Leah123]

I had a therapist when I was about 17 who seemed to doze off in sessions, but I was young, she was quite intimidating to me, and I found it hard to trust my perceptions. I brought it up once and she said she was just deep in thought, which still rings false after 20 years, lol.

If your therapist has a habit of yawning, it seems like a completely valid concern to me that she might not be attentive- does she sound present otherwise, and react to you as if she's well-attuned?

Personally, my therapist just yawned once, for like the first time about a week ago, and she excused herself as if she was embarrassed. I knew she'd not felt well the day before, she'd let me know she was a bit tired, and I offered to reschedule, but she said no need- so... in that case I wasn't bothered a bit, but if she did that regularly, I would, honestly, take it personally, that she was bored with me or unconcerned about my therapy.

I was basically raised to treat yawning like burping.... not something to give in to in public, and to excuse myself for if I did it inadvertently.

[someone321]

Yawning not always equals being tired - might also happen if there is a bit less oxygen (e.g. If your T doesn't open the window between every client) or like it is in my case - due to the stress that is my only reaction if I am really, really nervous - actually then people think that I am very relaxed

But if it happens to your T because she's tired I wouldn't like it neither as I would be afraid that maybe I'm too boring...

[MusicLover79]

Mine always says excuse me if he yawns or he'll say why he was yawning like if he was up late because of his kids or something. I don't mind it. Everyone's human

[pinkbutterfly]

I definitely think it's a human reaction sometimes...but it is not appropriate not to excuse yourself in a professional setting.

I can actually honestly say I've never seen my T yawn... Ever.

I read something somewhere about somatic energy, though? Yawning doesn't necessarily mean boredom or even tiredness. Interesting what someone321 said about oxygen, I know my T always opens the window between clients..

[IndestructibleGirl]

I can't think if my T has yawned in my appointment...she must have done at some point, but obviously not very much if I haven't noticed.

I try to avoid scheduling for after work because then I'm like a total zombie, and super tired and cannot do the work properly - but I don't yawn at all. So likewise, her yawning might not be a sign she's tired?

[nottrustin]

I have seen T trying very hard to suppress a yawn but I can tell. In fact she did tonight. It doesn't bother me though as I know that by the time I see her she has already been working for 12 hours. If I see she is trying to hold one back purposely look away. It only happens once in a session. We had a very productive session so definitely not about her not being "present"

[Wren_]

I had a previous T who yawned frequently ... when I asked him about it though he explained it was just him and didn't mean he wasn't present and didn't mean he wasn't sleeping properly or was bored it was just him and something that had always happened and to ignore it. When you talked about it with your T before did they give you any explanation or say it meant they weren't present?

[coolibrarian]

I know she gets tired different times during the semester (She is also a professor.). If she tries to suppress a yawn and seems drowsy, sometimes I call her on it. I try not to sound annoyed, but can"t hep it, sometimes.