I've run out of things to talk about!

Well some people on here actually are doctors. But regardless most therapists I know aren't doctors either.

My therapist has the same education level as me: graduate degree and state licensing. My suggestion to talk about work/volunteering/fear of work/inability to work etc comes from knowledge. First of all knowledge of my own life ( that's what I talk to my t about) also because I transition adults with disabilities into a workforce/post secondary education every single year because that's what I do for a living. And that's what is their primary concern and that's what they want to talk about.

It's presumptions to say we can't suggest anything to OP ( even though she asked for advice) because we aren't doctors.

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The OP didn't ask for medical advice, so I don't see what being a doctor has to do with anything. The OP asked for suggestions from others who may have been in similar situations, so people shared their thoughts. I am in the field and I think all this advice is valid.

Chit chat is not necessarily useful for everyone in this context. Someone who is extroverted, for example, may spend a good deal of time chit chatting with many people. In this case chit chatting with their T for an hour might be just another way to pass time and not terribly meaningful. A socially anxious person, on the other hand, may struggle with small talk and benefit very much from this kind of interaction. And some sessions that are lighter and casual are of course fine. But if you find every session becomes 50 minutes of shooting the breeze, it might be a sign that something else is up.

I think sometimes when you think you have nothing to talk about, you really do have something. You just don't know it until you are talking with T. But that could just be me, too...

I take breaks when I feel like I need some time to just live my life and let things we've already worked on gel and other stuff to come to the surface - t calls it "percolating", which is as good a descriptor as any. In the past when I've taken breaks, she's just said "call me when you're ready to schedule" and we've left it open. This time is different though, when I first said I wanted to take the rest of this month off, she pretty strongly suggested scheduling for early April so I didn't "go back to sleep". Of course, that's not the plan anymore now I'm taking April off, and we'll schedule for early May after 2 more sessions this month.

(As if I could go back to sleep. That is no longer an option for me!)

That's true for me too sometimes. It usually happens when I'm doing a sand tray because I don't think I have anything to talk about. She stands close by watching me create, and I always talk to myself while I'm playing in the sand, and she hears this of course. Pretty much every time something has come up while my hands are covered with sand and then we talk about it.

i usually start a rut like that by simply saying i have nothing to talk about.

T said she would put in effort if I put in effort. She said I should bring in some of my hobbies (architecture, painting, crocheting, etc.). Or come up with a topic in mind. Topic could be anything. She said she might bring in worksheets to fill out, but she warned to be careful what I ask for. I think because the worksheets will probably be CBT. So I warned her to be careful what she gives me because I might give her more than she expects, and I will expect her to read it all. I did that to ex-T. But I probably don't have the energy now to do more than required.

So this week I plan on bringing in a glass painting I made of a blue cracker butterfly. That should give us a lot to talk about: how I made it, why I made it (for my future child), why a butterfly (the meaning of the child's name), my butterfly tattoos and their meaning.

Anywho. What are some topics to talk about? I like different things. Like when my T brought up forgiveness. That was a good topic. What are some good topics?

How about a very part-time job. You seem ready for it.

What's the down side?

Even if you don't feel ready to start working, talking about the possibility is a good topic. Brainstorming about your future and how you can achieve certain goals can be really helpful.