Do you have positive things about therapy/therapists you would like to share?

It's nice to see a positive thread about therapy from you.

There are many things I like about therapy and therapists. For me, my therapist's involvement above and beyond the strict job description has helped me greatly in the progress I've made in therapy. But more fundamental than that, so to speak, what I mostly appreciate about psychotherapy is the combination of introspection and empathy, the recognizing and putting to good use of clients'(including my) personal resources, the way self-awareness and relational contact between client and therapist seem to complete each other to help one view all aspects of an issue, both internal and external.

Thanks all for this thread, it really helped me calm some heavy fears I've been having around therapy lately.

Also, I have good news and can add to this list!

Working with my current pdoc and therapist has been really helpful. It took a long time to find a good situation but I now see the value of therapy in a way I never did before.

I've learned so much in a short period of time working with them. I've explored trying different behaviors, implemented different behaviors and been able to see the results because I have a trusting relationship with these people that are knowledgeable and are focused on my best interest, health and healing.

All my 'stuff' has come up lately and I've focused it on them. I finally see how the relationship with therapist can model others and provide this safe space to work things out, work through all the fear and anxiety.

I think there are more rewards from therapy in store for me. I panicked, big time, this week but I think that'll be part of my process. Looking forward to adding to this thread later

Great thread! My therapist understands me, is kind and compassionate, helps me figure things out, he is brilliant, he accepts me for who I am, and he has many other positive qualities. I am really thankful for him.

Or couples counselor is amazing. She took a horribly difficult ugly situation that could have broken us and handled it perfectly. Both parties were heard and there was no shaming nor were there any excuses made for bad behavior. I wanted too hug her afterwards.

ETA: The very reason I was able to speak my own mind in this session was because my personal T worked with me and helped me solidify and validate my own POV.

my T is for the most part there for me as much as she can to help me see things in a more realistic manner when I can give her the chance to. she has stuck with me and my shenanigans for 4 years

Where is the supportive interpretive dance? SD, BPA, someone? I have 2 left feet and no rhythm so I can't!

Bumping this because my T is just so freaking skilled at recognizing (and helping me recognize) exactly what I'm struggling with. And she's awesome at helping me see through all the distractions and nonsense so we can tackle my stuff, head on.

Last week I inadvertently left my water bottle behind in T's office. He gave it back to me today and said it was empty because he'd used my vodka to water his plants.

Former T was very kind and non-judgemental. Always had a smile and a great sense of humor. She understood my weird sense of humor, too. I could make her laugh. She had clear and consistent boundaries. Was always professional.
Current T is very much the same. I don't think she's figured out my kind of crude humor yet, or it's just to "earthy" for her. Other than that she 'gets' me. She's kind, gentle, understanding, patient, doesn't judge, and I can email her. I love that part.

My session on Tuesday was so nice!! I almost felt like T and I are friends except for the fact that I pay her. We have such a strong connection and I need that! She is giving me her caring and love in a therapeutic manner and I don't even have the words to describe the relationship. Restorative maybe. She has a new website and it shows her warmth and caring personality. There are excellent Ts in the world and I'm grateful I have one of them.

my t always makes me feel special, important and validated. she tells me: YOU MATTER. and i like that.

My new T is consistent, calm and thoughtful. The consistency particularly is important to me. It has been lacking in my life so far.

My mom just passed away last month. I haven't seen my T in 6 weeks. All 6 weeks she has been sending me daily emails of support, compassion, and encouragement. I wanted to tell her in a therapeutic way, I have love towards her. But I chickened out and instead I wrote a thank you email to her and wrote in a therapeutic way, she is very special to me. I think that went over better. She rarely acknowledges my thank you emails as I do it every so often, but this time she did which I appreciated even more. Although some days she can be a real ***** and is really tough on me, I think she is a good T. My one complaint is she has 3 kids and she takes off all school holidays plus 6 weeks in the summer so her availabity is not the greatest.

My (now ex) T always told me I was a lovable and interesting person, that he enjoyed our sessions. I told him he had to say that because I was paying him. He told me that he had more clients than he could see and had no problem with turning people down. So at least temporarily I didn't feel like a total loser.

It's a safe place to dump all my thoughts, feelings and fears. He is also very kind and helpful. I only worry I'm too dependent on it now.

I feel thoroughly understood, seen, and heard. He is very careful and gentle, seeming to get what I know he didn't experience and what he has told me others clients haven't necessarily experienced either. I'm not sure how someone can have that much empathy.

I'm going to my session tonight, I'm dreading it yet glad at the same time.

I hate taking the time out of my day, driving over there in traffic, and barely getting a moment to talk before time is up. But I love having my outlet! I need to decompress and talk to someone who knows I don't have it all together; someone who knows how flimsy that facade really is, and sometimes helps me reinforce it.

Anyone have any good experiences lately?

my t always makes me feel special.
she takes time for me whenever she can.
yesterday she called just to see how i was doing and i appreciated it, we talked a long time. not even my family does that.

He takes the time to respond thoughtfully. He creates an atmosphere where I feel really free to be myself. He sometimes encapsulates what's going on in the room in a sentence. He has a warm interesting smile when something amuses him.

My T isn’t perfect, but I love that. He’s not afraid to be human. He works very hard to make me feel safe and accepted. He isn’t afraid to do things ‘out of the ordinary’ so long as they are helpful. I’ve had previous experiences of Ts and none of them were even a scratch on this guy. Our relationship really means a lot to me, I hope one day I’ll find a way to articulate this to him.

I was self-deprecatingly laughing at how there is a slight glimmer of hope peeking out from under the large pile of crap that is my life, and how I keep clawing my way towards that glimmer. She interrupted me to say ,"I'm glad you've held onto your sense of humor, that's a real strength of yours." Not fussing at me for comparing my life to cow patties, just acceptance of my view and a positive spin. "Sometimes life really does suck, but don't lose sight of the hope," she said.

what a great thread, helps me hold out hope that i'll soon find mine!

My t doorknobbed me yesterday - i.e., let something slip as we walked to the door. He is so skinny and healthy, and i am so NOT, that he does not understand that I cant even walk a mile in my own shoes! But he is so freakin accommodating, so kind to me, so "i do not want to kill this person after i talk to him, unlike most other people in the world" even tho i probably make HIM feel that way - well, thats my positive thing i wanted to say about him.

I love that line, "I do not want to kill this person after I talk to him, unlike most other people in the world."

Mine is sometimes like that which is more than I can say about most people, particularly people in the social services field".

i love this thread. positivity is a great thing.