I saw my therapist today, a mid session-session since I wasn't doing to well. I kind of got quiet and I was very sad. Out of no where he just said "lets play jenga" and I agreed. He asked if my parents ever played games with me like this when I was a kid. Then we just continued playing, laughed and cussed at the game.

I found it to be very weird since I am to old for play therapy.. anyone ever have this experience?

[Rainydaiz]

Haha I played hide and seek with my t once and she frightened me to death by jumping out at me when I found her. Then she kicked off laughing at me for jumping so much. (Apologised later). I found it all a bit scary. Out of my serious comfort zone. I was a very serious child.

[Ad Intra]

Back when I was in therapy as a teen I used to wish my T and I would play chess. I think it would be fun to play a game, but I would worry about wasting valuable time.

[stopdog]

Never. I would not play a game with the woman.

I know. This was the first time this happened. We played games and chatted about therapy stuff. It took my mind off of my anxiety while we were talking about my childhood.

[JaneTennison1]

I would love to play jenga. To me it's not so much about being childlike and more about easing the tension and breaking up the routine. Sometimes doing something like that just shakes the cobwebs out.

[granite1]

I would play games quite a bit in T because it was hard for me to say anything . the games helped me to be able to at least interact some .

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by psychmajor18

I saw my therapist today, a mid session-session since I wasn't doing to well. I kind of got quiet and I was very sad. Out of no where he just said "lets play jenga" and I agreed. He asked if my parents ever played games with me like this when I was a kid. Then we just continued playing, laughed and cussed at the game.

I found it to be very weird since I am to old for play therapy.. anyone ever have this experience?

I think what he did was great! You were stuck.. quiet. Playing a game with you allowed you to relax and interact with him. He was able to ask you about your parents in a natural way.

It sounds like it worked in your situation.. so why not just let it unfold?

Originally Posted by Crescent Moon

I think what he did was great! You were stuck.. quiet. Playing a game with you allowed you to relax and interact with him. He was able to ask you about your parents in a natural way.

It sounds like it worked in your situation.. so why not just let it unfold?

I guess I am just confused because I am a bit to old for play therapy :P

[stopdog]

Why did you agree to do it with the therapist?

T and I have played games before, including xboz and just things for fun. So etimes its nice to just take a break from all the hard stuff.

[IndestructibleGirl]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Why did you agree to do it with the therapist?

<pulls mind out of the gutter>

Originally Posted by stopdog

Why did you agree to do it with the therapist?

Well he asked, I didn't want to say no. It was fun though

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by psychmajor18

I guess I am just confused because I am a bit to old for play therapy :P

Did he call it play therapy?

I find having my controlling mind doing something like coloring playing a game frees up the feeling part of my mind to say things with less of a filter... Guess that's a good thing...

[JaneTennison1]

Originally Posted by psychmajor18

Well he asked, I didn't want to say no. It was fun though

If it was fun and you enjoyed it then I wouldn't stress too much. It was a one off and helped ease tension.

Btw I also happen to believe you are never too old for Jenga.

[mira belle]

I would love to play games . u r never too old. There's a child in all of us. U have a very good therapist ...

[stopdog]

If you didn't mind it, then I would not think it too be a big deal. You can always tell the therapist you don't want to do it again if you think it not a good thing for you.

[junkDNA]

my T and i play a card game called rummy a lot. we talk and play at the same time. or if things get too heavy we play to take a break. hes also played catch with me and we would swing on swings or hike on a trail.

[doyoutrustme]

I never have and I'm too old for that officially. I would love to play Jenga with my t. I've heard of therapists playing cards or basketballwith teens, particularly ones who only go because their parents make them. It's not a "real" intervention but is said to help some, or at the least kill time without awkwardly sitting for an hour.

[UnderRugSwept]

One of my Ts has a bunch of games...I keep wanting to play Candyland with him.

I think you have a great T, psychmajor. If I recall correctly, isn't this a fairly new T for you? If so, he is probably still working on building a connection with you. It sounded like the game was helpful for that (he showed he was aware of how uncomfortable things were becoming for you), plus it seemed to work as you said it kept you from getting too anxious. All good things!

[ThisWayOut]

I've colored in therapy and played with play dough. I would be ok with games also. I agree that they can free you up to be a bit more loose and make it easier to broach some tougher sunbects. A previous T and I would often color or go into the group room because it was just easier for me to talk that way.
I'm glad your T was able to help you get unstuck.

Originally Posted by Elsewhere

One of my Ts has a bunch of games...I keep wanting to play Candyland with him.

I think you have a great T, psychmajor. If I recall correctly, isn't this a fairly new T for you? If so, he is probably still working on building a connection with you. It sounded like the game was helpful for that (he showed he was aware of how uncomfortable things were becoming for you), plus it seemed to work as you said it kept you from getting too anxious. All good things!

Yes he is a new T for me. I remembered he wanted me to talk about something really heavy and I froze up and he brought up the idea to play games. We never got to the subject but we had a lot of fun

[IndestructibleGirl]

I do think games could be a really useful way of helping therapy along.

I would liken it to some of the great discussions you can have on a car journey, almost. Where you're not looking at each other, and there's the road/scenery to focus on, it can make talking about difficult things easier.

[stopdog]

I am not much for games even in my real life. I liked to play racquetball before I screwed up my back and I will play bridge or gin but that is about it. One of the things the two I see have going for them in terms of me hiring them is that there are no visible toys or stuffed animals in their office.