[jaynedough]

I like the lighting to be subdued when I'm talking to T. It makes it easier to relax and open up. It creates a warmer environment, imo. Bright light puts me on edge and makes it harder for me to focus.

I'm more of a night person. IDK if that influences my light preferences.

Which do you prefer? Why?

[Ellahmae]

I usually meet with T during the day but on Friday I met her after dark she had a couple lamps on and the overhead lights off - it was so nice! I LOVED it! I wonder if I can get her to turn the lights off today . I felt safer and was able to open up more, it felt less sterile.

T always switches off the light when I arrive, so it's natural lighting only. My appointments are at a time of day when there is daylight even in December, fortunately.

[junkDNA]

my T has a lot of nice lamps and stuff he never uses the overhead lights. i like it

[stopdog]

I prefer window/natural light in general. I like there to be a lot of light at the therapist's office. I find it interesting that when I think about the woman's office - it is always dark and shadowy with her image being masked but when I notice it in real time, it is not. She could use some more light, but it is not as dark as I remember it to be.

[jaynedough]

Originally Posted by Ellahmae

I usually meet with T during the day but on Friday I met her after dark she had a couple lamps on and the overhead lights off - it was so nice! I LOVED it! I wonder if I can get her to turn the lights off today . I felt safer and was able to open up more, it felt less sterile.

Sterile is just the right word I was trying to think of.

I hope your T agrees to turn the lights down.

[ThisWayOut]

I prefer subdued lighting. Is more comfortable and more safe-feeling.

When I still saw t in person, it was almost always in the morning, and her office had lots of windows so she just had natural light which I love. For my phone sessions, I always sit out in my car for privacy and because of the natural light.

[gayleggg]

I liked the way my old t lighted her room with lamps. My current t is a guy and just uses a ceiling light. I don't feel near as cozy and warm with him. I believe the setting is important and I would switch t's if I didn't like him so much.

Both my pdoc and my T never turn on the flourescent lighting in their offices; they have regular lamps. I like that.

[catonyx]

I've never really given the lighting much thought. My T's office has a lot of natural light and I typically have my appointments during the day. I have gone at night before and it was much darker. I've also seen T in an office with no windows at all.

I don't think it affects me either way.

[roimata]

She has a lamp in the corner of the room and gets natural light during the day.

I've only seen her at night one time, but the lighting was warm/subdued which was comforting. I'd actually prefer evening sessions but those spots are always filled since most of her clients are in school during daytime hours or at work. Jerks :b

[justdesserts]

I get migraines with fluorescent lights, so I think the right lighting matters very much.

[Ellahmae]

She turned off the lights and turned on the lamps! I guess sometimes all you have to do is ask

[stopdog]

I don't mind fluorescent lighting - to me it is preferable than having the light be dim.

[ThingWithFeathers]

Soft lighting is comforting to me while bright lights make me feel stressed. Lighting does matter.

[guilloche]

Yeah, I don't think I could do fluourescent, bright white, clinical type lighting. Definitely too sterile and hospital-like.

The office that I was seeing my T at had tons of natural light, which was great. Except for the afternoon that a big storm came in mid-way through my session, and the whole room went dark . I kept saying, "wow! It's getting really dark!" before my T turned on a lamp... (yeah, I know, working on asking for what I need, this was awhile ago though).

His other office, where I'm seeing him currently, is like a cave. No windows, no natural light. It's a little weird, but I like that nobody can see in and the waiting room is much farther from the door (less chance of being heard). It's very dark though with just lamps... at least it feels like that to me!

[Gavinandnikki]

Originally Posted by jaynedough

I like the lighting to be subdued when I'm talking to T. It makes it easier to relax and open up. It creates a warmer environment, imo. Bright light puts me on edge and makes it harder for me to focus.

I'm more of a night person. IDK if that influences my light preferences.

Which do you prefer? Why?

My T knew that I liked it dark. She would close the blinds and dim the lights before she sat down.

Dark. No light.

[tooski]

I'm much more comfortable with subdued or natural lighting. I have that in my home, and T has the same setup. I don't like or need bright light unless I'm repairing watches or performing surgery.

[~Christina]

My T turns off the over head horrible lighting and he has his lamps set to a dimmer lighting, Thanks goodness. We had to once start our therapy in another room as an emergency patient came in and they shuffled them in his office as its calming waiting to find them a psych bed,

Soon as we walked in the other office ,I said Okay I can in no way shape or form do anything remotely Therapy wise in here, so we talked about movies, tv shows and books and our weekend plans , until about 30 mins later we moved back into his office.

Lighting does make a huge difference in my opinion .

[Raging Quiet]

My t puts on her electric fire which gives off an orange glow and puts on a light behind me which is a soft glow lamp.. as I see her in the evenings it feels like it's much later and makes me sleepy. I read online once there is a etiquette for lighting for therapists to apply to their rooms...

[jaynedough]

Originally Posted by guilloche

Yeah, I don't think I could do fluourescent, bright white, clinical type lighting. Definitely too sterile and hospital-like.

The office that I was seeing my T at had tons of natural light, which was great. Except for the afternoon that a big storm came in mid-way through my session, and the whole room went dark . I kept saying, "wow! It's getting really dark!" before my T turned on a lamp... (yeah, I know, working on asking for what I need, this was awhile ago though).

His other office, where I'm seeing him currently, is like a cave. No windows, no natural light. It's a little weird, but I like that nobody can see in and the waiting room is much farther from the door (less chance of being heard). It's very dark though with just lamps... at least it feels like that to me!

My T has had the same kinds of offices, too. The cave-like one took a little getting used to, but I felt "snug-like-a-bug-in-a-rug." Safe. His current office is much the same as his first one. Large, but comforting. Also safe. Healing. It has plenty of natural light, but I see him in the evening and, at least for now, that means it's dark out. I like that.

The clinic where I go to for psychotherapy has harsh lighting. It's a standard medical room with hard chairs.

I think I'd like warm lighting with a window through which there's some natural lighting.

[granite1]

my T has floor and table lamps. I hate overhead bright lights . she will usually just have the floor and table lampoon the coffee table on when I get there if needed

[NowhereUSA]

My T has a floor lamp he uses in lieu of the overhead fluorescents. He keeps evening hours, so in the summer, the light outside is enough, but during the winter he needs the lamp. I much prefer the lamp to the fluorescents :P