[VioletBubble]

I know that some people here have been asked to read a book or workbook by their T.

Have you ever asked your T to read a book? Or parts of a book? How did that go over? Was it fiction or non-fiction? Did T read it in-session or outside of session? Im really curious if anyone has ever done this before.

Im considering doing this, as a way of hopefully getting my T to understand something the depth of which I apparently have not been able to get her to understand. Thought it might be more helpful that just beating my head on that same wall again.

Any experiences with this idea?

[stopdog]

I've never asked them to read a specific book. The second one I see is familiar with the Western canon. The first one is not and it does make talking to her more difficult.
I also doubt either would read anything I suggested to them. Students recommend books to me all the time that I ignore

Not books, but several studies, papers and articles that I have found relevant. I usually email them and he reads them in his own time. We normally discuss in session.

Sort of but not really. I had read an excellent book on bipolar disorder and we had been discussing it. He asked me if he could borrow it. It wasn't that I asked him to read it; it was that he thought it sounded interesting and asked if he could borrow my copy. I have no idea if he read it or not honestly, nor did it really matter to me if he read it himself. We never discussed it specifically again, but he did return it eventually.

I don't know that I'd necessarily expect a T to read a book. I might suggest a book because I find it interesting and discuss why with him, but beyond that, I don't feel it is my place to assign reading to him. I think that's because I'm an English teacher and it would feel odd to me to assign him homework so to speak. I would more likely just share particular parts of a book with him and discuss those particular parts.

Even when he's suggested books to me, it wasn't required that I actually read them. Sometimes I did; sometimes I didn't. I'm an adult; I can make those choices for myself. He's an adult; he can make those choices for himself.

I mentioned a book about depression once, and at my next session he told me he'd read it. I had not expected that, but I was quite pleased. We had a good discussion about it. The same thing happened once with a film I mentioned to him, which had had a very large impact on me; the next week he told me he had managed to look it up and watch it. Again, surprising to me but a very positive experience - it made me feel as if I existed for him between sessions.

From time to time we talk about literature, and I often use images from books or poems to try to illustrate things in my life.

[ThisWayOut]

I have passed on articles that I have come across that T's have acceptd. Some have read them, some have not. One T asked to read a book I mentioned because I said I related to a lot of it. I gave her my copy to read, but never got it back so I have no idea if she ever read it. I was kinda upset at myself for not asking it back, as I had underlined parts that described my situation at the time and written in the margins. Oh well...

[roimata]

Edit: edited out my answer because I totally misinterpreted this question

No I haven't

[gayleggg]

My previous t had suggested some books for me, so when I found one I thought would be helpful I suggested it to her. She read it and now suggests it to other patients that she sees.

I didn't ask her to read a book, but I did call her and suggest she do some research on the Internet.

The day after Christmas I was diagnosed with a new disorder I had never heard of. I called her and left a message mentioning it to her so she could be better prepared for me. She did do what I had asked.

[clairelisbeth]

My pdoc and I have read several books together

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stopdog]

It's also pretty probable that I wouldn't read a book she told me to read without giving me some good explanation why I should/what the point of her saying to read it is. I tried reading one book she recommended but then she criticized me for focussing on the wrong thing about it.

[dancinglady]

My old T used to read bedtime stories and I recorded them to help me sleep. He used to read toddler books about feelings, toys, friendships and father-daughter activity books.

[guilloche]

Yup. I had an old T read a book for me that I related to. It took her forever to get through it and return it. Interesting, the only two people I've suggested the book to (that T and my sister) both disliked it, because it reminded them too much of their own depressive periods.

For me, it was really helpful - because it made me feel like someone else in the world really understood what I was going through at the time, so it was the opposite of depressing!

[feralkittymom]

In the first month or so of seeing my T, he gave me a copy of a CBT sort of book about depression. I read it, and the next week we both realized it was only helpful in terms of what would not help me! Years later I gave him a several page excerpt from a book about group process that I thought perfectly analyzed a dysfunctional group I was in. He told me the next week that it was excellent work, we talked about how I saw it reflecting my group, and helped me make the decision to leave the group. But we're both academics, and he very much treated it in that fashion. While it was related to my experience, I had more of a problem solving reason for sharing it, not so much as a way of finding my feelings.

[Raging Quiet]

I sent my t a book in the post about eating disorders. She read half then read out key points with me in the session. It was beneficial because she had admitted she didn't know how to support me and the books had tips in about doing so and it was my way of asking for help.

no but i loooove my t's voice (irish and soft) so i would love her to do a voice recording reading a book on my phone. although i know she wouldn't. and i'd be way too embarrassed to ask.

[angelicgoldfish05]

What book is it if you don't mind my asking? I am a book addict and always open to ideas regarding therapy. Maybe your sharing the book can help others here.
Anyhow to answer your question, I've never asked a t to read a book, however I did just send an unedited first version of the book of poetry/prose I wrote to my ex t. When we first got back together after a long time of not seeing each other, I told him about wanting to write a book. He said he couldn't wait to read it. So I figured it was ok to send it to him since he originally said that and has not told me anything otherwise. That being said, it's been over a year since he has talked to me (via email). So I doubt he will ever read it or respond.

Originally Posted by guilloche

Yup. I had an old T read a book for me that I related to. It took her forever to get through it and return it. Interesting, the only two people I've suggested the book to (that T and my sister) both disliked it, because it reminded them too much of their own depressive periods.

For me, it was really helpful - because it made me feel like someone else in the world really understood what I was going through at the time, so it was the opposite of depressing!

Do you mind sharing the name of that book? I love reading stuff that might make me feel less alone.

[angelicgoldfish05]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

Sort of but not really. I had read an excellent book on bipolar disorder and we had been discussing it. He asked me if he could borrow it. It wasn't that I asked him to read it; it was that he thought it sounded interesting and asked if he could borrow my copy. I have no idea if he read it or not honestly, nor did it really matter to me if he read it himself. We never discussed it specifically again, but he did return it eventually.

I don't know that I'd necessarily expect a T to read a book. I might suggest a book because I find it interesting and discuss why with him, but beyond that, I don't feel it is my place to assign reading to him. I think that's because I'm an English teacher and it would feel odd to me to assign him homework so to speak. I would more likely just share particular parts of a book with him and discuss those particular parts.

Even when he's suggested books to me, it wasn't required that I actually read them. Sometimes I did; sometimes I didn't. I'm an adult; I can make those choices for myself. He's an adult; he can make those choices for himself.

Which book if you don't mind sharing. I'm bipolar and always looking for good books to read on the subject.

[InRealLife45]

my t and i read the alvin maker series more or less together. she started first and told me to read them, then i read them faster than her and wanted to talk about it so she read it/finished the series for me.

other than that no not really but i gave her a list of books and a usb of audio books dunno if she ever listened or not but she still has the usb.

[scorpiosis37]

I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but my T read a book that I wrote. She reads my articles sometimes too (they have nothing to do with psychology). I have never requested that she do so--- she just decides to. She says that she enjoys reading them. Once she did assume that there was more of "me" in what I wrote than there was. She basically made up a theory about me based on a character I created-- but she got it all wrong. Still, it means a lot to me that she takes the time to read some of my stuff.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

I have 2 yeses.

First one was a book that I said I really related to. I brought it in and read a few key passages from it. When T asked to borrow it, I felt pangs of fear. I had underlined and written margin notes about my similar experiences. She'd learn my innermost ickiness and be disgusted with me. I didn't say she could read it, but did leave it on the couch when I left. Pure passiveness at work. She returned it 2 weeks later and didn't humiliate me by going chapter by chapter. She just thanked me and said she saw and understood how helpful it was to me and she felt glad to know what I liked.

I had been talking about the second book for months. How every page was just what I needed to hear at the exact right time. She asked for the name of the book, but I never assumed she read it. I just kept bringing up different key points. Then one day, I saw it. There was a new book on the bookshelf: "Why Does He Do That? Inside the minds of angry and controlling men" by Lundy Bancroft.

I felt honored and loved by T at that moment