[Parva]

Does your T know you read and post here?

If so, how did it come up?
Any consequences of that knowledge?

If not, why not?
How do you think they'd respond?

Any other thoughts?

I ask because my T definitely knows about the site, although I don't know if she ever comes here. My guess is that it wouldn't bother her personally, but I wonder if she would think it's not a great idea (too many outside opinions, etc...) I keep my posts as generic as possible in case she does troll through here. I suppose I wouldn't want her reading about some of the stuff I post, although we do ultimately talk about all of it.

No, my T doesn't know I post here. And I hope he never finds out. I hope even if he did troll this site, he wouldn't recognize me by my posts.

My T doesn't know - but I wish he did. I find it so much easier to write, than to talk. I kind of hope he does troll, and does read, so i can tell him the stuff I can't verbalise.

No, there really is no need for him to know. This forum really does not impact what goes on in my own therapy. I don't think he'd particularly care one way or another.

[Ellahmae]

Does your T know you read and post here?
My T knows I read here, but unsure if she knows I post.

If so, how did it come up?
When I first started therapy I was so fascinated by it that I wanted to know everything I could, ie: books, online research, etc. I told her I found this site and it was fascinating to see how people interacted and I enjoyed browsing it and reading others stories, etc.

Any consequences of that knowledge?
She acknowledged that she was aware of the site and knew what I was talking about but didn't speak one way or the other on it being good or bad, or if I should stay away, etc.

I ask because my T definitely knows about the site, although I don't know if she ever comes here. My guess is that it wouldn't bother her personally, but I wonder if she would think it's not a great idea (too many outside opinions, etc...) I keep my posts as generic as possible in case she does troll through here. I suppose I wouldn't want her reading about some of the stuff I post, although we do ultimately talk about all of it.
I also keep my posts pretty generic here. I've often wanted to ask her opinion on it or if she ever browses etc, but haven't done so and probably won't. I wouldn't mind her knowing what I post as we always end up talking about it but for some reason I also wouldn't want her to know I post here, either. Not sure why.

[Chummy]

My T doesn't know. It has never come up. She hasn't asked if I'm on forums and I've never told her. I don't know if she knows about this site. We're Dutch, so if she would think I'm on a forum, she'll probably thinks it would be a dutch one.
Even if she would know I'm on this site, I don't think she would look here and try to find me.

[WrkNPrgress]

I certainly hope not.

I kinda hope she doesn't have time to read online forums. She has kids and seems to value her personal time, I can't imagine what she would get out of reading a psychology site like this off the clock.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Yes, both my T and group T know. Why not? This place is a source of support for me. I even gave my group T a link to this site because he was interested in it after I told him about it.

My T does know. There have been certain times when the support from this site has been really important to me, and its been an important part of my process. Particularly around the time I stopped seeing my first therapist. Some of the advice and support I received here became part of the picture of what was happening to me, so it was pertinent to tell him at the time.

[TangerineBeam]

She knows I frequent some online forums, she doesn't know that it's PC. I mentioned how grateful I was for all the support I received here after I terminated with my ex-T, and it's all that mattered to her. That I was able to reach out and that it helped me a lot.

[AnaWhitney]

Really good thread!
It's not like I keep it a secret from her but it has never come up, so she doesn't know.
I've often worried that she might recognise me from my posts though, but I try not to flatter myself that she would be thinking about me outside of the therapy hour. And I tell myself that when she gets home from work the last thing she wants is to read through a mental health forum.
I like posting here, it helps me to process things and I value the opinions of the other people who use this site. But also, I sometimes think it's like an online diary and in 10 years time I will be able to look back and see exactly where I was at for each stage of my therapy. I might find that interesting for myself or I might want to use it to help somebody else.
No harm in that really

[stopdog]

I cannot imagine what difference it would make to the woman. I have not mentioned it because I have no reason to do so - it has no bearing on why I go or how I handle therapy. Also I haven't said anything here that I haven't said in one form or another at appointments. It is not like she has been mislead and would be surprised at my true opinions.
I doubt the woman would recognize me from my posts - I don't think we are as unique as we sometimes like to think.

[ruh roh]

If I told mine, I think she would just sigh.

[mcl6136]

There are times when I wish my former T (cold and distant one) would read and understand that I meant...HIM with all of my anger and invective.

But then again, he wouldn't recognize himself.

Ts, by and large, seem not to be as unique as they like to think!

[neverending]

I mentioned that I have been on a site but not which one. If my t read through my posts he would probably know it was me but we talk about everything so it wouldn't bother me. However I doubt very much he has the time to go through all these sites.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by mcl6136

There are times when I wish my former T (cold and distant one) would read and understand that I meant...HIM with all of my anger and invective.

But then again, he wouldn't recognize himself.

Ts, by and large, seem not to be as unique as they like to think!

Hell, some of them wouldn't recognize themselves if you held up a mirror.

[Daystrom]

If she does, she's not talking. I've imagined her stumbling upon my posts in this forum and figuring it out, which would be awkward given the number of times here that I've proclaimed my head-over-heels craziness for her.

If she did, and called me on it one day ("Are you.... Daystrom?"), it would almost be a relief 'cause then it would all be out in the open.

[Leah123]

Originally Posted by Parva

Does your T know you read and post here?

If so, how did it come up?
Any consequences of that knowledge?

If not, why not?
How do you think they'd respond?

Any other thoughts?

I ask because my T definitely knows about the site, although I don't know if she ever comes here. My guess is that it wouldn't bother her personally, but I wonder if she would think it's not a great idea (too many outside opinions, etc...) I keep my posts as generic as possible in case she does troll through here. I suppose I wouldn't want her reading about some of the stuff I post, although we do ultimately talk about all of it.

Yes, she knows.

It came up because I told her about it. I sometimes share things I've posted here or tell her about great ideas I've seen here or fears that have been stirred up here, etc.

As for consequences, well... she's asked me why I posted something occasionally, but... no actual consequences. I don't really see how she could impose any.

As for any other thoughts, I think most things can be helpful in moderation and it's the same with this site. It's good to be mindful about why we use it, keep things here in context and I find it helpful to be open with others about what I do- it's things hidden that I find more troublesome than the thing itself.

[junkDNA]

i dont think he does but i have had my suspicions before. i dont really think he would spend the time to do that..but who knows. i dont think he would mind if he knew i was posting here.. he would like the support i get.

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I doubt the woman would recognize me from my posts - I don't think we are as unique as we sometimes like to think.

You're in denial.

[nottrustin]

I have no idea if she knows our not. We have never discussed it. She knows I read a lot of articles online related to the topics I deal with. I just have never felt the need to tell her.

[(JD)]

Actually, many psychologists come to PsychCentral because of the professional links DocJohn provides to articles on the site. For someone to mention they use PsychCentral should not be a negative for a smart T.

[AllHeart]

It's never come up, so no, my T doesn't know I'm on this forum. Honestly, if she did know she would probably advise me to stay away. A lot of posts tend to trigger me and make me paranoid!

[atisketatasket]

No. And I'm careful about what I say.

[Soccer mom]

I told ex-T. and current T. but never mentioned the name of the site - just that I'm on a forum. Sometimes ex-T. agreed with people's responses to my post which was nice to see. Other times I think she wished I talked more to her? New T. didn't even flinch and I don't know why it would bother her.