[sweepy62]

Well one of my very brief topics for this wednesday with t, is going to be one she mentioned before the end of session, and of course, I had to be a clown about it, because thats one of my defense mechanisms, she took it well, she laughed also, but told me to think about it for next session , so I have, this is what she said last session, and how I responded.

T: Sweepy, I value our relationship, but we both know that there is an elephant in the room right now, when it comes to disclosing your feelings with me, especially the vulnerable ones.

Me: Are you saying you sense we have an elephant in our room (with a serious face)

T: Yes , I am sensing we have an elephant in our room, and we both sense it.

Me: OMG t, do you want some of my antipsychotics lmao lol lol lol lol lol

T: SWEEPY !!!!!!! lol lol lol, lets get back to serious business here, you know what I meant.

Me: I am sorry t. I know what you meant, I get nervous when you talk about feelings.

T: Ok, we will talk about this next session.

On wednesday I will tell her, that I dont want any animals in our room, and I will try my best to rid the room of them, by trying to speak up when I am feeling any vulnerable emotions right then and there, and we can discuss where might those feelings be coming from, because she is really working hard with me, and we both deserve a chance at this relationship.

[Mike_J]

Humor is a great defense mechanism

It's hard to be vulnerable at any time even in therapy

Good luck

[unaluna]

Youre too funny!!!

I remember when i first started seeing this t, i said something maybe along those lines? And he was like, do you REALLY see or think blah blah blah? I was like, no, do people come in here and really say that??

Ha, I like that! My T talks a lot about the zoo I keep under the carpet, and will ask me sometimes whether some particular subject is an elephant, or maybe more like a rhinocerous?

Good for you for bringing this up with her, sweepy.

[sweepy62]

It was too funny, i couldnt hold back, that damn elephant, couldnt they think up another animal, maybe like a panda bear or something, I should go in dressed like a zoo keeper on wednesday lmao , and just say hey Im here to get rid of that elephant to make more space here, but then I think that would be too much humor, so I will follow her lead and talk about damn feelings, its easy to say hey t, im kinda feeling a certain way right now, but when they ask ok lets talk about it why are you feeling this way, thats where I get dumbfounded, and I hate saying i dont know , all the time, but sometimes I really really dont know, so I feel I should make something up.

[unaluna]

My t used to say - okay, you dont know. But if you DID know, what do you think you might say?

And that was usually enough to get rid of my judgment on what i wanted to say, and i was able to say it. I am pretty easily fooled

[Sabra]

Sweepy,

I have been following your experience with your new T. I think your former T did a great of finding this T and filling her in on the best way to work with you. That being said, you have done a super job of putting yourself out there and building the bridge of trust.

BTW, you have to be fairly bright to use humor as a defense mechanism and you do it well. Brava.

Regards,

Sabra

[Depletion]

No animals at all??? My last T had a therapy dog, I think it chased away the elephants. Now with my new T I sometimes wish I could bring my kitty. But she would probably just misbehave and distract me by being so cute. I think more therapy offices should come with cubbly animals.

[sweepy62]

Originally Posted by Depletion

No animals at all??? My last T had a therapy dog, I think it chased away the elephants. Now with my new T I sometimes wish I could bring my kitty. But she would probably just misbehave and distract me by being so cute. I think more therapy offices should come with cubbly animals.

Lol well maybe I will substitute the damn therapy elephant for some other animal lmao, I was also thinking of bringing my elephant stuffed animal, and putting him in the middle of the floor, that would be hilarious lmao.

[HazelGirl]

I think the elephant stuffed animal is a great idea!

[Depletion]

Originally Posted by sweepy62

Lol well maybe I will substitute the damn therapy elephant for some other animal lmao, I was also thinking of bringing my elephant stuffed animal, and putting him in the middle of the floor, that would be hilarious lmao.

I love that, you should do it. I've sometime thought about taking my teddy bear to therapy, but I just take a worry stone.