[GenCat]

My T can be very personal with me, she told me her sister committed suicide last year, she's told me her son was diagnosed as bipolar at 8 years old. She's told me where she lives even, and I once drove to her house!
How much do you know about your T? Do you feel comfortable with how much or little you know? Is your T open to talking about his/her personal life with you?

I've been seeing him for around 10 years, so I know a good deal about certain aspects of his life and nothing about other parts, which is fine. He keeps photos of all his kids and grandkids around his office and talks about them by name pretty regularly. He talks a great deal about his studies, his hobbies, his interests, etc. I'm sure I know nothing on much of a deep level about him except for what he has shared as it pertained to my therapy.

I know which country he was born in, roughly when he moved here, and that he has never wanted to move back. I know something of his taste in music, films and books. I know that he likes his job. That's it, I think. I am very happy not to know more. If he disclosed other minor details I don't think I'd mind, but I do not want to know whether he has a family, what he does on his holidays, or other major personal disclosures like that.

[nottrustin]

I know a lot about her life....I know about her childhood, about her short marriage when she was really young, her lack of relationship with siblings and mom, close relationship with dad who died young from colon cancer, about her son and his fiance as well as the wedding plans, her other jobs, medical issues, her current boyfriend and about him being from out of state and them spending most weekends and other days together and where he is retired from and what he taught, and since we bought a house the year before she did and and i am more business oriented than she is so I helped her understand and gave her pointers on her old house and new..

[Mactastic]

Hardly anything... I know religion, school, where he interned, how long he personally did therapy, and I guess that's it. I don't know if he's married, hobbies, kids, or anything like that. It saddens me that I don't know these things but I understand why.

She sometimes mentions bits of her life if it's got something to do with my therapy, I know she has a son about 5 years old and that she is a supervisor to other T's, She is also a very private person in which I totally respect.

[Aloneandafraid]

I am saddened that my T is so closed. I don't know anything except what I've researched. That is basically her nationality/which country she got her degree from and that's about it! I understand but I feel sad and hurt that she is so closed to me?

[RTerroni]

I learn a little bit about my Therapist at a time, often by doing some of my own research and discussing it with my Therapist later on.

[brillskep]

I know pretty much about his personal life / his life outside of his therapy practice, and I am very content that things are the way they are.

[healingme4me]

I know he has two grown daughters. branched off, from being government social worker, to private practice 25 years ago. That's about it.

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[stopdog]

Very little but more than I actually wanted to know. I am not all that interested in what she does or who she really is.

I know a lot.

[RFS711]

The more I think about it the more I realize I know almost nothing about her. It breaks my heart.

[RTerroni]

Originally Posted by RFS711

The more I think about it the more I realize I know almost nothing about her. It breaks my heart.

Well try to ask her some things the next time you see her.

I know plenty.

[RFS711]

Originally Posted by RTerroni

Well try to ask her some things the next time you see her.

I have tried but it feels like she doesn't want to tell me anything. Like I think she thinks it will distract us from what we are trying to accomplish. I don't think it would....

[hayleytheherbivore]

I know a lot about her dog. Mostly light, silly things really.

[RTerroni]

Originally Posted by RFS711

I have tried but it feels like she doesn't want to tell me anything. Like I think she thinks it will distract us from what we are trying to accomplish. I don't think it would....

I don't think it would either, I like knowing certain things about my Therapist, it gives us things to talk about when there may not be anything else of note to talk discuss, although I have a ton written down for me to talk about with my Therapist at session tomorrow.

[healed84]

I know a fair amount about him and his family actually. However, I am sure in the grand scheme of things, I really don't know all that much about him. He is a fairly open book and discloses personal things when appropriate or when I ask.

[RFS711]

Originally Posted by RTerroni

I don't think it would either, I like knowing certain things about my Therapist, it gives us things to talk about when there may not be anything else of note to talk discuss, although I have a ton written down for me to talk about with my Therapist at session tomorrow.

I always write down so much to talk about but I'm starting to run out of things since I've written so much

I don't think it would be a big deal to know a little bit of things about her but it's up to her....

[BonnieJean]

I know just a little.

[Lauliza]

My t I know a bit about. She is a lesbian and married, has a daughter. I know she rides horses and has a dog. She always shares new pictures of her daughter with me. I know my pdoc is divorced with 2 young kids, and that know he's dating. I know he works out a lot and plays sports and I know his religion. That's about it though - we have 20 minute sessions so its not much time.

[feralkittymom]

A lot. He protects the privacy of his family, so while I know general info, he doesn't discuss identifying info. For instance, while I knew his son's name, he's never mentioned his daughter's name, even when it would have been a natural thing to do in the conversation. I've suspected we may share the same name because otherwise, I don't know why it would matter so much. But about himself and his life and history, he's always been pretty open with me.

Originally Posted by RTerroni

I don't think it would either, I like knowing certain things about my Therapist, it gives us things to talk about when there may not be anything else of note to talk discuss, although I have a ton written down for me to talk about with my Therapist at session tomorrow.

It is interesting how different therapy is for different people. I can't imagine running out of things to discuss with my therapist - and if I did, we would be discussing termination, not T's personal life (which frankly doesn't interest me that much).

[with or without you]

almost nothing