The Couch 115: Corduroy Pillows Are Making Headlines!

SD, how about a poll? What qualifications people look for in a therapist -- credentials, modality, age, experience, sex? Multiple choices? I don't know. Seems to be a topic of conversation today. Might be too broad to handle in one poll though.

I just read a great quote. "Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on."

It does work for me.

I'm am thinking about having one to just sit there and be what you use them for, I think I might find it useful. Just haven't actually done it yet....

Love it!

Gave it a try. The list of options got a bit long so I expect other to be a popular choice.

But there is!!

: nopity :

Good job! You are the master!

I just highly doubt some T's (most?) "act" all day long, every day. That would be really exhausting to do all the time. My T is genuine in her interactions with me. I find it very difficult to believe she is acting that she is kind and interested in what I am saying. Her humor isn't acting-though she specifically said she uses humor to lighten the mood. I can see how you would see that as a sort of manipulation SD, but many people use humor to alleviate a bad mood. My friend does it all the time-she is hysterical and she know exactly when to make a joke that will snap me out of a bad mood. Is she "manipulating" my feelings? I suppose so-but is that a bad thing?

I also think T's definitely show you their "best" side, but my preschoolers also only see my "best" side--but I am not acting all day long, I just don't show them my anger or more of my "dark" side of my personality. It's not appropriate as a teacher, and it's not appropriate as a T, and it really isn't appropriate in many professions.
I think you can be a "real" person and not be complaining about your life at your clients. I find it hard to believe T's put that much effort in faking it all day, every day, unless you are a sociopath and get joy from that kind of thing.

I think that your need to have any T not show any part of themselves makes it easy for you to read books and read stories here and see anything that they may do "at you" (the general you, not personally) as some manipulation to make you feel different. I completely respect what you use your T's for. That's fine. I just disagree that the whole profession is a bunch of wily manipulators trying to make their clients "feel" things they don't want to. My T focuses on trying to understand me, and may make suggestions based on what she learned about human psychology that might make me feel less alone-as that is my specific problem.

I am rambling, so I will stop here. (Insert smiley face emoticon)

Yes! *pumps fist*

Sorry, SD. I just have to do this.

I think those little blinky things need to be hidden in a trigger warning.

And yes - yes you could help it - you just didn't want to.

I prefer not to see therapists as real people. It means I have to deal with the people instead of focusing on the therapy. Which seems counterproductive.

If you have one with a SIM card slot, and you are comfortable with me knowing who you are in real life, I would buy one from you. Or a Macbook or Mac tablet, whatever those are called.

I was going to post the same but didn't because well, I just didn't. So I'll just piggyback here

I was mainly just *****ing earlier (too much time on my hands and trying to de-clutter) and I don't want to run afoul of forum rules. Let us pm.

So I've never really posted my own opinion before, this time I did, and I stood up for myself. I hope I didn't sound like a *****, but it was my opinion so it shouldn't bother me. I want to go delete my original but I'm trying to be true to myself..... Hrmph. I should just keep my mouth shut and not ever share.

Like it's okay to agree to disagree but I can't have opinions that differ from others, I have to be in the majority and not ruffle feathers or be different. I guess some of this therapy is working, it is okay to have my own opinion, right?

Thoughts with those at UCLA shooting. Two injured. Shooter at large.

I thought your reply was kicka$$.

Thanks. It's def out of my 'comfort zone'.

I am pro people having and expressing their own opinions.

I don't know about whether it means therapy is working or not - but certainly you are as entitled to your opinion as much as anyone else and that others may differ is no reason, in my opinion, to not post it.

Of course it is okay to have your own opinion!

Unless they are wrong, of course.

Then it can be a learning experience.

Thanks, Lola.