Therapist taking off shoes?

I take my shoes off in T. It makes it so I can curl up in her chair. Which for me feels safer. My T will take her shoes off if she is mirroring me and curls up to (usually during very intense conversations about uncomfortable topics). When I am at work I will take my shoes off if I am working at a desk for a long period of time or if I am in a long meeting (and there is a table to hide my shoeless feet). I hate wearing shoes.

I'd never wear shoes if I could get away with it. I always take my shoes off and curl my feet up under me. I asked if it was okay the first time though. Someone else's couch and all that. I wouldn't be bothered by a T taking their shoes off, although it would probably surprise me to see a guy do it. Previous T did it once, but she was 'mirroring' me. It was the first time I'd done it and I'd asked and I guess she did it to make me feel comfortable about it. I could tell it was not something she was used to though.

my t has never taken off his shoes. don't think i'd care either way now that i've been seeing him for ages. i only have a thing about feet touching me lol. i've slipped off my shoes before to tuck my feet underneath me, but in the summer i wear sandals all the live long day.

T sometimes has no shoes on when I arrive, she will have slippers on tho. I don't take mine off unless T asks me to for specific work, I guess grounding kind of stuff.
I would always have to have socks on. And T should have to too!

Lol, actually - both me and T take off our shoes. It's the first thing I do before I even sit down. I curl up on the couch and think it's just courtesy to not put your shoes on other peoples furniture. And she... I guess just likes taking her shoes off, lol. We're both a bit on the natural side of living though *shrug* and we both usually have flip flops or slip on's that only take a second to get on or off.

We've done this as long as I can remember - and I've never asked for her permission and she's never asked for mine. Now that you've posted this, I wonder if she does this with all her clients - she has told me that I am a client that she can relax a little more around and not have to 'keep her guard up'. *shrug* I live to be barefoot lol. Now that I read these posts though lol, I wonder if she's mirroring me or that's just what she likes to do...maybe both but I think she just likes to kick them off and relax too lol.

I personally have nothing against my T taking off her shoes. She has done so once or twice. My T and I have that type of relationship though..I take off mine a good deal of sessions and my T doesn't care. I asked her the first session I ever had with her though to establish that. We have also had sessions where we both sit on the floor instead of the chair/couch. My T is pretty damn awesome in my book for doing so and being so comfortable with me.

Since nothing was said from him to you when he took off his shoes and you didn't say anything as well he probably interprets it as okay to get that comfortable with you in sessions. I doubt he is trying to be unprofessional or make you feel weird. Since it does make you feel off about it you should bring it up next session. It is the beginning of a new T relationship that yall are establishing and comfort zones such as shoes being taken off. Nothing wrong with a little short discussion about it and moving forward from there! It may just feel too soon for something so comfortable to happen.

I always take my shoes off so that I can sit cross-legged on the couch. I really wouldn't care if my T took her shoes off but I don't think she ever has.

Hm... My t and i are almost always barefoot. We are just not shoe wearing type people Doesnt bother me that her shoes are usually off since mine usually are as well.

I had a T that was also a yogi, and she regularly did sessions without shoes... and while we sat on the floor... I only took my shoes off if I had flip-flops on and we were on the floor (makes for more comfortable sitting), but I don't think she ever wore shoes through an entire session.
I have had other T's that wear sandals and such, which is pretty much bare feet with a few staps.
I think the only time I took off my shoes recently was when I scrunched up on the chair (shoes on the furniture was always a huge no-no in our house growing up), but I wear flip-flops to session these days, so like sandals, it's already pretty much bare feet...

It would be courteous for T to ask first but I think I would be amused by it. They do quirky things sometimes and it shows they are human too. Kind of gives me a rush of affection for them.

Adios T!

I am loving reading about everyone's experiences with T's, bare feet, and socked feet.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind sitting on the floor at all! It just struck me as strange in the moment. It didn't really derail the therapy session at all... it was a moment of me saying (in my head!): "hey, what's going on there - getting a little comfy, are we mister?"

I don't think I can say "adios" yet! My previous T experiences have been so awful and unhelpful... and right now... I actually feel a tiny bit hopeful. I was not a crazy mess after the 2nd session! This is huge crazy unbelievable to me! And, I actually had some insights! Actually, reflecting on what we talked about - I realized (more insights!) today that my boss is very much like my parents... ha... no wonder work is making me feel awful! I don't know how to fix any of it yet, but gosh... this are literally like... the very first even semi-insightful things I've *ever* gotten out of therapy, and I have tried therapy before years and years and years!

So... I don't know if it's all going to work out. I'm a little intrigued, because he has a bit of a different feel about him than my other therapists. I'm willing to try a few more sessions to see how it goes. Even if he insists on going shoeless... (as long as the socks stay on!!!)

I don't care if she takes her shoes off. For as long as I can get away with it, I wear flip-flops, and they often come off while I'm in the therapist's office....mostly when I'm stressed, so I can rub my feet on the carpet. My therapist sits in a huge chair, often takes her shoes off, puts her feet on an ottoman and puts a blanket over her lap. That makes me feel so comfortable!

My t used to take her shoes off sometimes when I still saw her in person. Doesn't bother me, I hate shoes!!

It's her office~ she can do as she pleases as long as her feet don't touch me. If she asked me to take off my shoes, I wouldn't have a problem as long as I am wearing socks.

At this point, I don't think she's the type that wants people taking off their shoes but maybe that's the vibe I give off.

I often take my shoes off. I tuck my feet up under me and really hate shoes. He has never removed his, but I don't think it would bother me. I never asked before removing my shoes, but it didn't seem to phase him.

It wouldn't bother me if my therapist took her shoes off, and I wouldn't mention it.

Though it would bother me if a male therapist did, of course I don't think I could ever deal with a male therapist in the first place.

I take my shoes off every session. My T sometimes does too. As far as the mirroring goes, I find it odd. I twirl my hair when I get nervous. Just last session, I noticed her playing with hers...only after I started with mine.

Can't say this ever happened during therapy, but as long as the shirt and pants stay on, I'm good.

But I live in a culture that never wears outdoor shoes indoors, except in some public spaces. Which is also why I would be very uncomfortable taking off shoes, or sitting on the floor, in a public space. The bottoms of outdoor shoes are far scarier than anything found in a bathroom!

I would not mind. This sort of thing is not important to me as long as my T is good and we click. I want her to be comfortable too and as long as she doesn't get naked it is ok. In my culture we don't wear outdoor shoes inside so my Ts office is no shoe area anyway and I like it.
My T is a ballet dancer and she likes to sit in all kind of fold up positions and I don't mind at all as I feel I can do it too and not feel weird.
But I really prefare free minded and little unconventional T then the classic formal professionals who does everything " right".
My T even told me we can run around the office or dance if I feel like it. She is body therapist so that probably plays a role.

Yes, I take my shoes off to stay grounded and to help me stay present and not dissociate. This is a very common technique. It is almost standard in group T and we use wooden dowels to run our feet over to keep present and massage bottom of feet.

In my house, we all take shoes off at the door to help keep allergens and dirt etc from being so present in the house. It is cleaner and healthier.

Also, people who have to sit for long periods of time often have circulatory problems and it helps not to make things worse by wearing shoes or whatever that might further decrease the flow of blood.

So not an issue.

WB

I personally wouldn't care but you do and that's what counts.
If the T works for you (well, after 2 session is too early to say but being hopeful is stg ) I'd tell him you don't like him taking off his shoes. He may (or may not) change but being able to specify your needs is one of the essential part of (not only) therapy.
It's a good practice for the future.