[archipelago]

I made an appointment for a session today with the shrink who is covering while mine is away. I know him already to some extent. And called him for some advice so he is aware of things that are going on. I am not so sure how to handle the session. I really would like to make it useful.

This shrink, while close to and in the same orientation as mine, has a different temperament and attitude that actually could be really helpful right now, given the issues I'm facing. He is more blunt, more willing to take up negative, difficult, messy stuff without really wanting to clean it up, and he is not the happy-go-lucky optimist that my shrink is. He isn't really pessimistic, but way more into seeing that disasters and losses are inevitable and always there for anyone to experience.

I go into that because the crisis I faced just recently is really about the possibility of losing everything I've been working for because of an old mistake. I've taken several practical kinds of steps to address it so it isn't so much a crisis now, but there is still the possibility of it turning out badly. If I brought this into my regular shrink, he would probably say just optimistic or have patience types of things. But this cover person might be able to dive into a more negative view and help me with handling that possibility.

Not really sure how to handle that. And not sure it is what I should do right now. Perhaps I should just stay with the way I have tried to address things so that I feel more solid about that. Or just catch him up on how things have been overall since I haven't seen him in a while and it might be nice to just check in.

[stopdog]

I would go for the check in sort of idea unless I was going to see the person more than once. I would hate to leave all worked up with one guy and then see another person after that.

[archipelago]

Thanks, stop dog. You always have a rational, measured approach that is often clarifying.

[archipelago]

Actually, I think I'm going to do more than a check in because he's too good and skilled and it is an opportunity that I really shouldn't waste. Having his take might really be helpful and it most certainly would be different and intelligent.

But I think I will not raise current concerns in any detail and instead go back to something that happened that was part of the process of feeling symptoms and then working them through to see if he has a view of that that helps me understand this process.

[healingme4me]

I don't pre plan my sessions. I'd, myself, would walk in, say what's on my mind, take it from there.
Good luck with your session.