[Petra5ed]

Have any of you had sessions outside of your Ts office? If so, why? What do you think of this?

I wanted to take a walk with T1 because he lived on the edge of beautiful countryside and he had a lovely labrador we could have taken with us (he worked from home). I told him when we terminated that I would liked to have done that, and he seemed like he would have liked that too. It was all part of mourning what I would never have with him.

[Lauliza]

No, I've never had a session outside the office and its never occurred to me. Some Ts may do this and others may not. I think it really depends on a lot - the client, the relationship, the clients issues, the environment the therapy is usually in, etc. There are apparently confidentially issues to be concerned with, but I think that's more in a group setting than an individual one. Does your T offer this?

Last week was the only time. We met in her hotel room when she was in town, plus took a walk together. It was so wonderful but a one-time thing. Unless you count all the phone sessions as not in her office lol she was in hers I was in mine for those.

[WrkNPrgress]

I can't imagine it would be very common. I'm not sure how that would work in most situations.

An ethical T would never have a session at a coffeeshop or something because that's a public space. The client might feel more inhibited. The client could be seen out in public with the T by anyone and that invades the Client's privacy. Even if the client didn't mind being 'seen' with a T, the risk might be letting the session be interrupted by something or someone outside of therapy.

A public space wouldn't foster the feeling of privacy and security that an office space does.

I also wonder if there would be liability issues involved.

[WrkNPrgress]

Originally Posted by artemis-within

Last week was the only time. We met in her hotel room when she was in town, plus took a walk together. It was so wonderful but a one-time thing. Unless you count all the phone sessions as not in her office lol she was in hers I was in mine for those.

I take it your T lives in another city, then?

[Chummy]

Not really. In the beginning we did some excersizes together outside the office. Exposer, for my social anxiety.

[Cinnamon_Stick]

My T has offered to take a walk outside during my sessions (its private in the back of her office) but I am more comfortable and feel safe in her office.

[clairelisbeth]

My pdoc took me for lunch once.

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[divine1966]

I can't imagine what kind of setting we could meet if not in the office. We live in the very busy area so there is no quiet place anywhere, everything is jam packed . I am easily distracted as it is.

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[catnip123]

We went for a walk for one session. It was right after I had to have my cat put to sleep. My T suggested it and it was better for me g o be walking and talking instead of sitting in her office crying

[junkDNA]

i've had lots of sessions outside of the office

[Restin]

I found on the web where my ex T lives but never, never would show up at his door. A few miles from me in an uppermiddle-class subdivision. So happens this used to be country and the little lake his house is on was one where I and friends used to swim our horses, and had a blast diving off their backs. He works from his office there now instead of in town. I long to tell him about this some day and sit down by the lake and talk, and more therapy with him again, since we can't be friends (sigh)...( little tear, too).
I do have a good T now tho, so grief isn't too bad.

Most of our sessions have been outside of the office. Being IN an office would be odd. We starting going for walks and talking after just a few months. We have aLso had sessions on the beach, at a beach front cafe, fast food restaurants, a very fancy restaurant, in the car while eating pizza, in the woods, sitting on swings at the park, in my bedroom, while taking our dogs for walks, on a horse farm, while grocery shopping together,, while climbing a mountain, i forget what else. We are just very comfortable with each other. I prefer these kinds of sessions.

Originally Posted by WrkNPrgress

I take it your T lives in another city, then?

Yep... a year into my therapy, she moved out of state, and we did phone sessions up until April of this year (for the past 2.5 years). When she was in town last week, we got together because it was important for me to see her in person one last time. I don't know exactly why it was so important to me, but I'm glad she was open to it!

[junkDNA]

Originally Posted by Starry_Night

Most of our sessions have been outside of the office. Being IN an office would be odd. We starting going for walks and talking after just a few months. We have aLso had sessions on the beach, at a beach front cafe, fast food restaurants, a very fancy restaurant, in the car while eating pizza, in the woods, sitting on swings at the park, in my bedroom, while taking our dogs for walks, on a horse farm, while grocery shopping together,, while climbing a mountain, i forget what else. We are just very comfortable with each other. I prefer these kinds of sessions.

my T and i met on swings a lot... i liked it. but he moved offices. so there are no swings close by.

[precaryous]

I have been outside two PDoc's offices before. One PDoc took me for a ride in his black Corvette. We also met for lunch in LA two or three times. He also met me at a court house when he had to appear before a judge in a civil matter.

The other PDoc subsequent to him took me out of the office for a long walk. We were discussing the "relationship" and he told me he didn't want his receptionist to over hear. Later, I found out he had told his receptionist the lie that the reason he was walking with me out of the office was because I was "dangerous." Ugh.

Both PDocs have lost their licenses for other reasons.

I could write a book.

[laxer12]

I have always thought that a session outside would be cool but I would not be comfortable if there were other people around or lots of cars driving by. I live in a busy city so it would be difficult to find a secluded place to hold a session. Plus, I doubt my T would be up for it...

[ThisWayOut]

I have gone for walks occasionally, but only when it wasn't crowded. It feels much safer in an office.
With couple's T though, she left the agency, but agreed to see us for a few sessions off the books (to carry my wife an I through a transition). We met at a coffee shop and an ice cream shop. I was incredibly uncomfortable at the coffee shop, but the ice cream place was less packed...
One T worked in a place that did in-home therapy. There is NO WAY I could feel comfortable doing therapy in this home, though if it were my own place, it wouldn't be too bad... I still prefer an office setting. Second acceptable would be a secluded walk in nature...

[growlycat]

My psychodynamic T usually talk by phone, but whenever I'm "home" we do go for walks and I love it.

CBT T and I have gone for a couple of walks. He helps me with my driving phobia so we even have in-car sessions.

Once his office was so overheated that I asked if we could meet outside. He agreed and we met in a quiet corner with a picnic table. That was nice!!

[Favorite Jeans]

I once met a former T at a park and sat on a bench with her. It was nice but I felt self-conscious not being contained in her office.

[LonesomeTonight]

H and I met with our marriage counselor at a coffee shop across from the office once. It was a nice change, but we also weren't discussing any big issues at the time. I know MC often meets with his teenage clients (his specialty) at the coffee shop, too. I'm guessing it's more comfortable for them there.

I feel like going for a walk, if the weather's good, could be a nice way to do a session. Especially if it was about something uncomfortable because then you wouldn't be looking at the T as much.

And I guess MC and I just essentially had an individual session on the phone today, since we had a 30-minute conversation (was supposed to be shorter) about something that was bothering me (related to my relationship with him, not my H). In some ways, it's easier to talk on the phone about certain topics, since you don't have to look the person in the eyes (good for what we were discussing in some ways). At the same time, you can only judge their reaction on their voice, so you lose part of the whole social interaction thing (less good for what we were discussing in other ways).

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by WrkNPrgress

I can't imagine it would be very common. I'm not sure how that would work in most situations.

An ethical T would never have a session at a coffeeshop or something because that's a public space.

Not necessarily. My husband and I have had perfectly ethical meetings (sometimes alone, sometimes group) with Veteran's Administration therapists at restaurants.

[justdesserts]

I haven't, and although I think ideally it might be nice, practically, I think it would be very scary and make me uncomfortable. I like all the social expectations that the office provides of who sits where and it is safe to cry and I know what will happen when I do. My therapist is 100% ethical, but because he is male and we are both married, I think I would feel uncomfortable going out in public with him.

T comes to my home. I've rarely had sessions IN an office.