Is it weird to thank a therapist randomly?

AnxiousGirl · Jul 07, 2015 at 12:42 PM

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 · Jul 07, 2015 at 12:46 PM

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 · Jul 07, 2015 at 12:47 PM

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 · Jul 07, 2015 at 12:49 PM

I believe a sincere thank you is always appropriate.

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

ManOfConstantSorrow · Jul 07, 2015 at 02:29 PM

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 · Jul 07, 2015 at 02:35 PM

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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Jul 07, 2015 at 02:36 PM

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

Rive. · Jul 07, 2015 at 03:01 PM

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

ruh roh · Jul 07, 2015 at 08:04 PM

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

Jul 07, 2015 at 08:15 PM

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

Jul 07, 2015 at 09:15 PM

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

AnxiousGirl · Jul 07, 2015 at 10:07 PM

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 · Jul 07, 2015 at 10:09 PM

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 · Jul 07, 2015 at 10:52 PM

Quote:

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

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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 · Jul 07, 2015 at 11:05 PM

Quote:

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 · Jul 08, 2015 at 03:49 AM

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 · Jul 08, 2015 at 04:14 AM

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

Rive. · Jul 08, 2015 at 08:32 AM

Quote:

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.

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Is it weird to thank a therapist randomly?

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coolibrarian Poohbah Member Since Feb 2014 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,302 10 1,041 hugs given	Jul 07, 2015 at 12:47 PM #3 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."
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Leah123 Grand Magnate Member Since Jun 2013 Location: Washington Posts: 3,593 11 1,759 hugs given	Jul 07, 2015 at 12:49 PM #4 I believe a sincere thank you is always appropriate. And I don't think it's weird at all or unusual in therapy.
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ManOfConstantSorrow Grand Poohbah Member Since Jul 2014 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,954 10 4 hugs given	Jul 07, 2015 at 02:29 PM #5 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.
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divine1966 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Dec 2014 Location: US Posts: 22,797 (SuperPoster!) 9 1,292 hugs given	Jul 07, 2015 at 02:35 PM #6 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 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Anonymous200620 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 07, 2015 at 02:36 PM #7 I thank my therapist after every session. Occasionally, I contact her outside of session also, to thank her for being around.
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Rive. Magnate Member Since Sep 2013 Posts: 2,125 11	Jul 07, 2015 at 03:01 PM #8 Not weird at all. It is actually so nice to express appreciation coming from the heart... and so rare nowadays.
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ruh roh Run of the Mill Snowflake Member Since May 2015 Location: here and there Posts: 4,468 9 5,077 hugs given	Jul 07, 2015 at 08:04 PM #9 I think it's good in this case because it lets her know she's on the right track with your level of comfort.
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Anonymous50005 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 07, 2015 at 08:15 PM #10 Sincere thank-you's are a very kind gesture and generally really appreciated.
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Anonymous47147 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 07, 2015 at 09:15 PM #11 Not at all weird. My t enjoys it when i send her a random thank you email.
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AnxiousGirl Grand Member Member Since Jul 2014 Location: Around Posts: 862 10 580 hugs given	Jul 07, 2015 at 10:07 PM #12 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?
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ThingWithFeathers Poohbah Member Since Aug 2014 Location: An imaginary place Posts: 1,263 10 562 hugs given	Jul 08, 2015 at 04:14 AM #17 A thank you is usually welcomed by most people, whether it's spontaneous or not.
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