[AnxiousGirl]

I've been seeing a therapist for a year now (I'm 19). She's amazing and she understands that I'm very shy but she kept her calm and she was very patient with me. Just now I'm getting more and more okay with talking to her. So anyways, were getting to one of my biggest problems (health phobia) and were going to start exposure. I had a session recently and she told me that since she feels that the exposure might be tough to start with, she wants to start slow with minor things before going into the hard things. She also said that we won't start this week so I have a break and to be honest it made me feel so much calmer. I just wanted to thank her but didn't really think of it at the time.

I guess my question is, would it be weird to send her a short thank you letter or email for starting slow and giving me another week before going into the exposure or is it odd for a client to do that?

Any advice Thanks!

[stopdog]

I have heard some people say they do such things. It would be decidedly weird if I did such a thing based on me and how I view therapy, but I don't think it would be weird in a vacuum necessarily.

[coolibrarian]

It's perfectly ok to thank a therapist, but why not tell her in person? It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. You could say, "Thanks for going slowly with me on the exposure tasks."

[Leah123]

I believe a sincere thank you is always appropriate.

And I don't think it's weird at all or unusual in therapy.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

I guess my question is, would it be weird to send her a short thank you letter or email for starting slow and giving me another week before going into the exposure or is it odd for a client to do that? - Not strange, quite sweet actually.

[divine1966]

Thanking others is never weird either in a note or in person. Life is short and fragile to not say nice things when you feel it

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I thank my therapist after every session. Occasionally, I contact her outside of session also, to thank her for being around.

[Rive.]

Not weird at all. It is actually so nice to express appreciation coming from the heart... and so rare nowadays.

[ruh roh]

I think it's good in this case because it lets her know she's on the right track with your level of comfort.

Sincere thank-you's are a very kind gesture and generally really appreciated.

Not at all weird. My t enjoys it when i send her a random thank you email.

[AnxiousGirl]

Just dont want it to seem too aggressive or anything. So you guys think it's a good idea. Should I send an email or do it in person?

[stopdog]

I don't think it is a good idea because I see it as unnecessary. So more I don't think it a completely bad idea if you for some reason really want to do it. I think it is not particularly weird in the context of what it seems some people do at therapists. I would think in person better than email basically because of how email can cause its own set of stress if the therapist does not respond or does respond but not adequately for the sender.

[Daystrom]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Thanking others is never weird either in a note or in person. Life is short and fragile to not say nice things when you feel it

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Amen to that. I thank mine at the end of each session and occasionally during text exchanges. It's an appropriate thing to do as far as I'm concerned, and the thanks always comes from the heart.

(I'm also head-over-heels crazy about her, so that may have something to do with it)

[tealBumblebee]

Originally Posted by AnxiousGirl

Just dont want it to seem too aggressive or anything. So you guys think it's a good idea. Should I send an email or do it in person?

I say whichever feels the most sincere to you. Every so often I feel the need to thank T, and i've done so by email and by randomly sending cards to her office. I think its awesome that you are receptive of what she's putting in to make things good for you.

[nottrustin]

I thank her at the end of every session as we hug. I have also thanked her in emails after a particularly hard session and a couple of times in a card that I mailed. She has at times said that I don't need to thank her. I tell her I know that I don't need to but I want to add I am thankful that she is there and safe. Granted I pay her to be there but as I have told her I don't feel like just another client.

[ThingWithFeathers]

A thank you is usually welcomed by most people, whether it's spontaneous or not.

[Rive.]

Originally Posted by AnxiousGirl

Just dont want it to seem too aggressive or anything. So you guys think it's a good idea. Should I send an email or do it in person?

Oh, it doesn't come across as aggressive at all... just appreciative. I'd say maybe in person preferably but the most important is to do what makes you more comfortable. So, if email suits you better (will she get it directly though? the concern is also sometimes emails can get 'lost' or whatnot). Or how would a card in person sound? (you could always ask her to open it when you leave or something). Just a thought.