Do You Like Sessions That Run Over Time?

My sessions are usually one hour long. But my T talked to me for an extra 40 mins. I wasn't charged either. I liked that.

How do you feel if your session runs over time? Do you have to pay extra?

My T freely admits that the one boundary she is horrible at enforcing is the time limit boundary. We almost never end on time, and I really appreciate it. She doesn't charge me extra, either. I like having more time to wrap things up and get more relaxed before heading out the door.

My sessions are usually 20-40 minutes over time. I'm never charged anything extra, either. I love having more time!

"She had blue skin, and so did he. He kept it hid, and so did she. They searched for blue, their whole life through, then passed right by- and never knew."

Mine end roughly on time, about an hour. I think I'd be weirded out by a session that ran way over if we didn't talk about it at the time it happened.

No. I keep time myself and get up and walk out at the correct time. I would not let one go over even if the therapist would. It would be like the therapist giving me a favor or something. And I do not want nor do I take favors from the woman.

Mine told me tonight that I did a really good job not shutting down when he went over time. Normally I shut down when time is up. Today I noticed but tried to tone it down to see how long he'd keep having a conversation. He said normally I make faces at him and stare pointedly at the clock. lol

Im just curious, do you not like your T? You always answer very distantly from her.

I do not despise the woman usually. I am distant from her. She is a stranger paid to do a job.

Stopdog, what would happen if you allowed yourself to go over time by a few minutes?

Actually, I hate sessions that run over time because that means it has been one horribly difficult, distressing session and/or I'm in a huge crisis. Yes, I'm thankful he is willing and able to stay with me and work with me on those occasions, but I wouldn't wish those kinds of sessions on my worst enemy. And no, I've never been charged when those sessions go overtime.

Nothing per se would happen. I simply choose not to do it. I would find favors from a therapist to be a bad plan for me.

I don't think they can fairly charge you for their failure to wrap up on time. A planned longer session would be different. We've gone over time just a few times and never by more than about ten minutes. I sometimes wish she'd just let a productive session keep going or just call it quits after twenty minutes when it becomes clear that it's a crap session. But that's not how it goes. I do appreciate that she always starts pretty much on time and if she routinely ran over time she wouldn't be able to do that.

I always wanted to leave early when I was in therapy because I would just get frustrated by the fact that there was no purpose in me being there. Therapists don't bother to actually try to help you...they just want you to pay them to sit there and "be empathetic."

If I knew that my T didn't have a client immediately following my appointment, and it was productive to go over time, I would appreciate doing so. However, knowing that she has an appointment after mine, I would feel horribly guilty if we went over time and made someone else have to start late.

My T is usually very good about starting/ending on time. There have been a few times where the session has been a full hour instead of 50 minutes, and I appreciate it when I need those extra 10 minutes and she gives them to me.

So you distance yourself and check yourself for fear of what would happen if those walls were not there? I think you are brave for not clinging to your T, wish I could be more like you!

Thanks. I do not really view it as fearing what would happen if walls were not there. I have no reason to cling to a therapist or to have them be anything than other than the stranger I pay to do a certain job. If others do, and find it useful to get favors from a therapist, I am not criticizing it for them.

It amazes me that you don't really need your T, you don't want anything besides the paid hour, your not dependant. Don't answer this but why are you even in therapy! I think most of us can't survive without having a dependence on a T. I like knowing there are people out there who are in therapy but not have it affect their life. I want to have this some day.

I never developed a dependence on a therapist. The concept seems extremely foreign to me. I wouldn't let myself develop a dependence on someone who I have to pay to give me the time of day. Maybe it would be different if I had certain types of mood or personality disorders rather than just a crappy life.

I have wondered....if you don't answer, it's understood, but I've been very curious if you are male or female? LOL.... I know your posts before I even see the name. It does make me crack a smile, hope you don't mind.

My T has someone before me, and someone after me, always. My sessions are 50 minutes, and she gives herself that 10 minutes to breathe before the next client comes in. A couple times, she's gone over by a couple of minutes....but she's very good about time, and going over is something she's just not able to do. She has just increased me to twice a week instead of once though.

I am female and I do not mind.

Thanks.... that helps me understand you better! You know how some men refer to their wives/girlfriends etc. WOMAN.... I was kinda hoping you were female and not doing that! I like you. LOL

Huh, the way you refer to your therapist as "the woman" always made me inclined to think you were male. Not sure why. Interesting.

People seem to assume I'm male a lot. Maybe not anymore now that I have a "feminine" avatar thing.

Same here freefallin.... that's why I wanted to ask! I have more respect for stopdog, knowing she's not a man referring to her T as "the woman." Coming from a man, it would just feel different.

In the past my T would sometimes go over time. We used to have 90 minute sessions and she'd still go over by 10 minutes. Now I see her for 60 minutes and she occasionally let's me go over by 10 minutes or so.