Homework?

Does anyone get homework given to them by their T?
I get some almost every week and was wondering if this is common.

This totally depends on the therapist and on their theoretical orientation. I do not ever have "homework", but some T's (like yours) assign it all the time.

Not generally. Every now and then he'll assign me a specific task. That doesn't mean I necessarily do it, but I may at least give it some thought. Usually, his "homework" is more along the lines of asking me to apply what we discuss out in the real world (which I don't really consider homework).

Not usually. Once in a while, she will suggest something that might be helpful, but that doesn't mean I have to do it. I'll think about it and if I think it will be helpful, will do it. I usually have to bring it back up though.

The only time I've had "consistent" homework was when I first started working on some OCD stuff and T wanted me to track the behaviors and my moods and coping skills on a weekly basis. I did that for several months, but it wasn't a big deal and was very helpful.

Not every week, but yes I get homework. Depends on what we are discussing.

T tried to get me to meditate for a while every night. I could get into it. No matter how hard I tried to relax and sit still every night, I couldn't. I stopped trying and told her I stopped. She knows I can't sit still very long, I'm extremely hyper and have to burn the energy just so I can attempt to get a few hrs of sleep a night.

No. Such a thing would not work for me.

Most sessions I get homework, but not always. This week it is mostly tasks:
- Look up some books she found for me
- Talk to my wife about couples therapy (yikes!)
- Call my psychiatrist and find out if she did a report

Usually it is something like: Find two things each that you like to see, hear, touch, smell or feel...

No, never. Homework would not be useful for me, and I don't think my T ever uses it.

Every week, I write about something discussed in session and what it means to me, amongst other things we are working on feelings and emotions.

Not typically but I have a few times before.

Although I think that jotting all of my thoughts down in my journal each week is homework for me.

I've never been given homework to do. I wouldn't like that but it is big in some kinds of therapy.

I get homework almost every week. Sometimes the homework is concrete (write certain things down and be ready to share them next week, or read certain book chapters), other times they are more vague (e.g., be mindful of your bodily sensations every time you have a strong feeling).

i love it when t gives me homework

Very rarely, my therapist asked me to do things outside of session, but those few times I suffered a lot of angst that I couldn't do it, and I would disappoint her. Then one day all my fear came out and we discussed it. What I heard was I have to do this or you are a bad person, failure, etc., and what she was saying is maybe, this might help you if you try it, but you are an adult and you get to decide what you will do, and no judgement will be passed. What A relief!

i got homework every week. some were cbt ts.

My previous T gave me homework every session. She would write it down and then photocopy the sheet to give to me. Sometimes there were as many as 7 or 8 items to do. Things such as journaling, looking into herbal supplements, having a specific conversation with someone, even "fun" things. Then she would check in with me next session about which ones I had done. I founded the whole thing overbearing. When I talked to her about this, she always said that it was fine if I only did some of the items and not all, but is don't think she ever understood how the "assignments" caused me stress. And, despite what she said, when I did none of the homework I could tell that she viewed that as me being resistant to progress. She wasn't going to stop though - she had very definite methods that were like a formula she stuck to every session. Quite rigid, in retrospect.

I love your replies SD they crack me up

My T gives homework every other week, Sometimes I do it and sometimes I just simply forget.

current T hasn't given any homework ... previous T did a few times

do you find what you are given is helpful krazy cat?

Hi tiger, Yeah it was very helpful thank you not been given any this week.