[ghostLane]

I have pretty much suspended therapy for various reasons, but am planning a one-off appointment for sometime next month.

Part of the motive for this is so I can discuss something that happened six months into therapy during the single hypnosis session I underwent there, which I didn't bring up before as I didn't want to make things needlessly uncomfortable. At the time I told my (male) therapist (after he asked) that being hypnotised merely felt like meditating, but I couldn't 100% relax, pretending I didn't know why that was. The reason was actually because, despite being 100% sure he wasn't a pervert therapist (not an assumption I'd automatically make, I assure you), I couldn't erase the fear that he might sexually assault me if I let my guard down. I think this would happen with any male therapist where there was even the slightest concern he might be attracted to me.

Does anyone think this is a bad idea to bring this up even now that I am winding it down with this therapist, even if I make it very clear that I do so to potentially gain illuminating insight about myself and how it relates to the issues we'd already discussed, rather than as a commentary on him?

I can safely deduce that whatever my conscious mind says, I clearly don't 100% trust my therapist to not be a pervert, but I'm still sure this is about me not him.

[learning1]

It makes a lot of sense to me that you'd explore this topic in therapy. If you want to wind down and only have one more session though, it doesn't sound like enough time. You'd probably want to have some time to do the winding down, and this would be a big topic to get into. (IDK how big, but more than just a few minutes in a "winding down" session!) Do you have a choice not wind down yet, if you think it's important to discuss this topic with this therapist? Or could you discuss it with another therapist?

[growlycat]

It might help him work better with other clients in the future.

[AllyIsHopeful]

It is definitely worth bringing up. If you don't feel comfortable with him anymore, or male therapists in general, you may even benefit from discussing this with a new therapist.

I understand your concerns. My first therapist as an adult tried hypnosis with me after a month or two of seeing him. He was very kind, gentle, soft spoken, warm, etc. etc.....I also knew he was married with two small children so all of the signs pointed in the direction that nothing bad would happen and that I could trust him. I wasn't able to fully go under but I think it has to do with feeling discomfort and vulnerable in that situation. I was warned by friends and family to not let it happen again unless I brought a third person to session with me and that is when those concerns popped in my head.

[ghostLane]

Thanks everyone for responding to this question.

I suppose I also thought it would be probably unremarkable to reveal this in the context of what I've already told him (sorry for not giving much away here). But I suppose one shouldn't expect all new insights to be particularly dramatic, a lot are just fine-tuning of one's existing understanding.

[Wren_]

From what you've written it seems like it might be helpful to you to share this ... and you can explain as you did here that you are hoping it might help you learn something more about yourself; will you be continuing therapy with someone else?

I have a difficult time with doctors, period, and for this very same reason.

I'm scared I will once again be that vulnerable & defenseless child that cannot defend or protect herself.

The thought of anyone else having an upper hand or power over me the @#$%! out of me!