[Hopefull]

My T is a way due to a shoulder injury. I have taken an imaginary walk with my T a few times lately. I meet her at the office and ask her to go on a walk with me. I usually use my fall version of the walk because that is the original version hence it is easier for me to change the script in my mind. We walk through the woods over to my pond. I usually lay down while T runs her fingers through my hair. This is a behavior that my great aunt used to do when I was a kid. This behavior always made me feel sooooo cared for more than any other behavior. I am wondering if this fantasy is a good/bad idea. Is this mentally healthy or am I encouraging an increase in sicko transferance? I sometimes think of T as the parent of my inner-child. I almost feel like I love her except that it is transferable (can switch to different person in about six months-probably) and I don't really know T. I just know how she responds to me in session. Does anyone else have T in their relaxation exercises? This walk started out as a way to relax myself into sleep. Now, I think it is becoming another way to feed my inner-child.

It is completely healthy and normal to have this fantasy! Your T is caring for your inner-child, fulfilling those needs. It is completely normal that you would imagine her doing something that your great-aunt did, which made you feel safe as a child.

In one of the rooms that I have session in, there is this painting of a picnic scene.. there are no people in the painting. T asked me to imagine him and I in the painting. He asked what would be happening. I imagined him setting next to me, then holding me. I didn't tell him about that part... I wasn't ready to. I acknowledged to him that there were parts that I was censoring, but wasn't ready to talk about.

Hopefull, it is okay to feed your inner-child at this point if she needs to be fed.

Are you comfortable talking with T about this scenario? I wish I could talk to my T about mine.

I did something similar today. I imagined myself asking T if I could have a hug, she stood up and I put my arms around her and laid rocked myself as if it was real, then the tears came! I felt "fed" afterwards, it felt good, at the end of the day, thats all we all want, to feel good.

[negotiator]

Well You know there is nothing wrong with this fantasy but I would recommend not to make it a habbit of doing that because it will be difficult to switch your love than. I could be wrong in this assumption but please prove me wrong. Have a wonderfull life..

A Well Wisher.

[Perna]

Hopefull, I use to have imaginary meetings with my T in her office at a "board room" sort of affairs with other T's around (and sometimes other clients) and I'd tell everyone what was good about my therapy and what bad, etc. :-) I had other scenarios too.

In real time I looked for and brought my T four-leaf clovers, my grandmother (like your aunt) and I use to look for them together on the front lawn when I was little (about ages 3-6 or 7). My T was from another country and didn't have that 4-leaf clover "background" :-) so had no clue. LOL.

Can you share your fantasies with your T? Over time I started to notice when I'd go get my hair cut that getting my hair shampooed first, I was able to relax better than usual and "let" myself be "cared for" (enjoy having someone else wash my hair) and that was a really big breakthrough for me. You ought to try something like that, "be there" when you get your hair cut (I also managed to practice it at the dentist's! let them care for me there!!!).

Were I you I'd notice all the fantasies you have and see how they connect to your real life (like you remembered your aunt and how much you enjoyed that when you were little) and ways they can be fulfilled now and see how much you can share with your T. It's quite healthy and such things were very helpful to me in my therapy.