[ilikecats]

Does your T give you "homework"? Do you do it? What kinds of things do they tell you to do? Does your T push you to do it, or do they treat it more like suggestions? Does your T ask you if you did it? How do you feel about the way your T approaches homework?

My T sometimes gives me things to do outside of sessions, but I basically never do it. She usually doesn't ask me at the next session. One time she said that there's like no pressure to do it, and I don't necessarily have to. I kinda wish she was more pushy with it though. The homework I get is stuff that would be good for me, but I need someone to push me more, otherwise I won't do it. Sometimes it feels like she must not care if I don't actually do it, or like it must not matter that much. The things she gives me as homework have been things like exercise, write down feelings, meditate, try talking to people, etc.

[ChavInAHat]

T gives me homework

Usually books to read. Although I literally just posted seconds after this post about the painting homework that my T suggested.

I don't get pushed to do it, although I do tend to find reasons why I won't at first but eventually I do try it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stopdog]

The therapist does not nor would I do it if the therapist tried. It is not a concept that would work with me in the least.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Practice CBT - it is after practice, practice, practice.

[Out There]

He doesn't and it wouldn't work for me. I do things myself of my own choosing.

[Chummy]

My T gives me homework. Not at every session. I usually do it.
Homework I've gotten: writing down hard situations and what my thoughts/feelings/behaviour were, keeping a journal in which I write down every day positive things that has happen that day, behaviour expiriments (for anxiety), doing more activities outside the house...
My T doesn't push it, it are more like suggestions. If I would say that I don't want to do something, she'll probably ask why I don't want that and what else I could do then. If I don't think something would be useful, then I shouldn't do it just because she suggested it. She also tries to get me to come with suggestions, like how can I handle this. I don't always like homework or doing it, but for me such things are more helpful than if we would only talk. Most of the time she asked about the homework, there have been maybe a few times that she forgot it (or just didn't asked).

[naia]

Homework? I'm not in high school so why should I do homework? Sorry if that goes against what people find useful. It just seems kinda weird to me. I do a lot on my own, journal, write poetry, art, meditate, tai chi, snorkel, walk, bike, hike, be in nature, take picture, collect shells, learn languages, read and stuff that all is part of healing for me, kinda like homework but play not work. Do we really need to work more in a time when people hardly take a decent lunch break?

Other places and other times took lots of breaks, took lots of time out to play. Animals play more than we do. I'm not sure we need more work. I'm not lazy at all, but working around the clock and turning therapy... a time out for me...into more work...seems...

I guess I get an F? or am just auditing....

I voted other because while I can bring home and read books pertaining to my trauma issues and strangely not be derailed by that, I've found it's a lot safer and better for me to actually do the emotional work on them over there at her office.

[seoultous]

It is common with CBT to have homework to do. I have worked through two self help books that were suggested to me. They were ok (not a waste of time). I would talk to my therapist about certain exercises in the book and whether or not they were useful. I found some to be almost childish and that annoyed me so I talked with her about those as well.

I had terrible homework compliance issues with my other therapist many years ago.

[laxer12]

I voted other. I guess she has given me "homework" before but only formally called it homework once and actually kind of joked about the term homework. She has framed it as a "challenge" before and I like that better. It is pretty rare that she suggests or asks me to do something during the week but it has happened. Only once though has she ever asked me about it later and that's because I asked her to hold me accountable for it because I knew I wouldn't do it if she didn't ask the next session.

Long answer short, yes, but it doesn't feel like homework and isn't framed as though it is homework.

[AnxiousGirl]

I get homework from T but if it's something that will make me upset or angry I dont do it. I usually tell T that I haven't done it and then give the reason mainly because Im such a bad liar. During my last session I hadn't done my homework and when T asked I said the truth and the session actually turned out to be a pretty decent one. We did the homework together.

She said one time "If I were the type to give homework...." at which I started laughing before she finished her sentence... she doesn't call it 'homework' but instead a suggestion to do something that might prove enlightening... ergo, homework. But I always do it. Not always right away, and sometimes she has to suggest it a couple times, but eventually I do. I trust her, and so far it's been helpful, so I continue. In the past year I've been giving myself homework. Like today.

[atisketatasket]

I think I was given homework twice, once by No. 1 and once by No. 2. I didn't do it either time and the therapist forgot to follow up on it both times.

[Argonautomobile]

Originally Posted by ilikecats

Does your T give you "homework"? Do you do it? What kinds of things do they tell you to do? Does your T push you to do it, or do they treat it more like suggestions? Does your T ask you if you did it? How do you feel about the way your T approaches homework?

My T sometimes gives me things to do outside of sessions, but I basically never do it. She usually doesn't ask me at the next session. One time she said that there's like no pressure to do it, and I don't necessarily have to. I kinda wish she was more pushy with it though. The homework I get is stuff that would be good for me, but I need someone to push me more, otherwise I won't do it. Sometimes it feels like she must not care if I don't actually do it, or like it must not matter that much. The things she gives me as homework have been things like exercise, write down feelings, meditate, try talking to people, etc.

I get homework. In fact, I wish I got more. I almost wish my T were pushier with it, too. I've always been better about doing things to please other people than doing them for myself, but that's not terribly healthy so I guess it's good T doesn't push more.

When I do get homework, it's usually something that comes up in session. I might say, off-handedly, "I should do X," and then later X becomes homework. Other times a question will come up, and my homework will be to answer it.

I know it turns a lot of people off, but it works really well for me.

[spring2014]

Originally Posted by ilikecats

Does your T give you "homework"? Do you do it? What kinds of things do they tell you to do? Does your T push you to do it, or do they treat it more like suggestions? Does your T ask you if you did it? How do you feel about the way your T approaches homework?

My T sometimes gives me things to do outside of sessions, but I basically never do it. She usually doesn't ask me at the next session. One time she said that there's like no pressure to do it, and I don't necessarily have to. I kinda wish she was more pushy with it though. The homework I get is stuff that would be good for me, but I need someone to push me more, otherwise I won't do it. Sometimes it feels like she must not care if I don't actually do it, or like it must not matter that much. The things she gives me as homework have been things like exercise, write down feelings, meditate, try talking to people, etc.

hi ilikecats ,
my therapist does give me homework but other times she doesn't cuz she knows when I do the homework it is always completed or I just do it on my own . the jobs homework I just put it aside and I don't even think about it at all. the other homework assignments my therapist has given to me were like the mindfulness box that was completed in two days after she gave me the assignment and looking for progressive muscle relaxation music. those I immediately jump on to the assignment cuz I had a car to drive around town so that I can complete the assignment .





Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistrail 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia with an additional 25 mgs=75 mgs when up past 1:00 in the morning

My therapist twice gave me therapy writing homework assignments, and it was very traumatic (yes, this is the correct word), for me. She never gave me a homework again. I have a fear of writing. In fact, I would bring my applications for various things to work on with her. We worked together on one, and other times, just knowing I could bring them helped me get them done on my own.

[junkDNA]

Yes. More like suggestions. Sometimes calling people to make appointments or get things done. Sometimes reading a book he lends me. Sometimes writing him emails about stuff. Also making collages. I eventually do them but some of the time it takes me a while to do it... he will mention it if I haven't done it yet but not that much and he never pushes me to the point that I feel forced or uncomfortable

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[growlycat]

I hate it when T gives me homework but doesn't ask about it in the next session. That makes me feel like he just gives me busywork and he does not really care about the topic or outcome.

He has been better at follow up these days.

[Pennster]

I would definitely not be up for anything called "homework". I have always been confused by why this is such an accepted term, when it conjures up images of teacherly authority and grades, and a dynamic of studently obedience. I have no desire to play the "please the teacher, get a point" game in my therapy. Neither my therapist nor I are up for that dynamic. (Though I have no doubt this is something other people have no trouble with and probably even find helpful, of course. I suspect most people don't react as viscerally to those kind of authority dynamics as I do!)

My therapist has made some suggestions, which I like because I'm up for trying things to see if they are useful. If I feel like talking about them again I bring up the suggestion again later, and if I don't want to bother I don't mention it. A few times his suggestions were awful - he tried giving me worksheets to try out a couple of times but they were terrible, and I spent some time telling him how awful they were and why.

Note homework exactly; certainly not like worksheets or anything. But he might give me a task to consider, a topic to journal, etc. on occasion.

[divine1966]

No. I am too busy as it is. My t knows that. No way I'd be doing homework

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bolair811]

My T usually gives me "things to work on" in between sessions. Sometimes, it'll be to journal about a particular thing we discussed during the session to see if I can gain more clarity, write a letter of comfort to my younger self at different traumatic times, practice using a meditation app, etc. I usually think the "homework" will be helpful, so I will always at least attempt it. Depending on how the next session starts out, T will ask me how the journaling went, or the meditation, etc. But, if I dive right in with something more urgent and not on the same subject, he doesn't bring it up.

[retro_chic]

I answered "other" because my two previous Ts gave homework but my current one doesn't. My first two Ts were CBT/ACT focus and homework is part of that type of therapy. I found it helpful at first since I had not done any type of therapy prior to this and was eager to learn new coping skills. Unfortunately CBT/ACT only helped up to a point and I began to get fed up with the homework and would stop doing it consistently. My current T does not give me homework and focuses more on why I'm feeling the way I do rather than trying to change those feelings with a bunch of worksheets. It is a welcomed change.