[rainbow8]

I tend to watch the clock that I can see from T's couch where I sit. It's not good for me because I get upset to see the minutes ticking away. Most of my 60 minute sessions seem like 5 minutes! My T said that she is going to move or turn the click around just for me because my watching it is keeping me from being mindful. I think the clock is on the wall so that may not be easy!

Even without my report, there never seems to be enough time! Last session when there was 5 minutes left, I said " This is going to be the best 5 minutes of my life. My therapy life, that is." She smiled. She thinks I sometimes stall and wait until the session is almost over to get started. That's not true. She thinks it's important to talk about my reactions to her, as in how I felt not emailing, goal of my therapy, etc. It's not my fault that then half of the session is over!

[velcro003]

No...i actively try not to look at it because it WOULD distract me.

[junkDNA]

I glance at it but I don't obsess over it

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[stopdog]

It does not distract me. Not knowing the time or having a therapist try to keep that info from me would distract me a lot.

[rainbow8]

Originally Posted by velcro003

No...i actively try not to look at it because it WOULD distract me.

I don't always look at it because I like to look into my T's eyes but I can't help it lately. I hope she WILL move it since watching it just takes more "time" away!

He's never had a clock where I could see it. I never really gave the time much thought. T was very good at bringing each session to closure so that the endings weren't abrupt, so I could always feel the closure coming on and it wasn't something I had to keep track of time for.

[rainbow8]

I think I watch it when I'm anxious to get to a different subject and I'm worried there won't be enough time. I will be curious about that, but I do hope T meant it about moving her clock!

[awkwardlyyours]

No, far from distracting, the clock really focuses me to get through all I need to -- I start watching it every 4-5 mins when there's about 30 mins left in the 55-mins session.

The last 5 mins are the hardest because I don't want to come up with new stuff and often there's nothing else to say on the stuff we've already discussed. I used to just leave at that time but she then started pointing out that 5 mins were left. Then, I'd grit my teeth and try to time the stuff I had to say until there were about 3 mins left before taking my leave but then she started pointing out again that there was time left and did I want to stay / leave?

It's like an exercise in exponentially escalating awkwardness because she's absolutely stock-still and dead silent and just sitting there watching me stew in my awkwardness. And, I have nothing to say but feel immense pressure to say something because the silence feels overwhelming and intense.

She tried doing the eye-contact thing with me once during this time and that was unparalleled hell (and of course, to make matters worse, she pointed out my discomfort with it). So, yeah, right now, I blurt out random crap (like truly random stuff) in the last couple of minutes and then heave a sigh of relief when the clock hits the 55-min mark and get the heck out.

I think it annoys the crap out of her that I watch the clock because she has commented (in a rather irritated tone) that it's "interesting" that I do it so often.

[rainbow8]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

He's never had a clock where I could see it. I never really gave the time much thought. T was very good at bringing each session to closure so that the endings weren't abrupt, so I could always feel the closure coming on and it wasn't something I had to keep track of time for.

My sessions always seem too short but that's part of my attachment issues. Right now we're focused on this body stuff, but when she comes back from her vacation, she's going to first want to know how I was. Hopefully, I can say "fine" and we can move on.

[runlola72]

This has been an issue for me, even with past therapists. I had one T tell me that it was a sign I was trying to control things too much. That I need to trust him that he will tell me when it's over. This current T has a timer go off at 5 minutes before the end, and I find that helpful, but I still sneak several peaks at the clock. T actually will reposition the clock for me so I can see it better, which I feel is very accommodating. I think it is a control thing for me. I like to be able to wrap up on my own terms. Being told to wrap things up (even in a nice way) feels rejecting to me.

[Out There]

He doesn't have clocks where I can see them ( one is behind and to the side if I turned around ) , but I have my watch and keep an eye on the time. He often says " We've got time ".

[atisketatasket]

I look at the clock. It doesn't distract me. It just makes me wonder, "how the heck is this appointment not over yet?"

[seoultous]

Not anymore. One day I looked up at the clock and saw that my t had taped a paper with a smiley face over it. l asked if she did it just for me and she said yes. I couldn't help but laugh. I do look at the clock on occasion but usually when I feel we are winding down. I want to know how much time I have left.

I really need to ask her about the placement of the clock. It's on the little table next to her chair, but it faces me, but yet when I am into talking about something I am not noticing it because I'm usually either looking at her or out the window as I talk, and then I suddenly remember to look and see that we're out of time, and she invariably says "it's my responsibility to mind the time" well if that's true, then why is the damn clock facing ME? Things that make ya go hmm.

ETA: I also hate when I look at it and see we've been talking for only 10 minutes and I relax and think oh good I have plenty of time for X and then seemingly within seconds, it's 45 minutes later and we've run over. How does that HAPPEN?

ETAA: I hate that damn clock.

[nottrustin]

This is not an issue for me because her clock is placed so that I have to turn and look over my shoulder. There wad one appointment it was where I could see it the entire time. It was very distracting. T noticed what was going on and got up and moved the clock to its normal spot.

[velcro003]

Even though I don't look at the clock, I notice when my T sneaks a glance at it...even though i mostly stare at the floor. When the glances become more frequent, i know it means the session is ending. She does wind it down though and usually concludes with something that makes it so i can get off her couch. At my last session she must have seen how tired i was (therapy is so exhausting!), and went "If you didn't have to feed your cat, I'd let you sleep here," which made me laugh, and then get off her couch.

[laxer12]

When I first started seeing my T, the clock was on a desk to the side of the room and I would often catch a glimpse of it. I hated knowing what time it was so I tried my hardest not to look. Eventually the clock moved to the end table next to the couch I sit on so I can't see it unless I lean forward and turn my head. I much prefer the clock on the end table than the desk.

Just a couple of weeks ago I got a new smart watch that shows the time pretty big so I always took it off before I went in. However, my T also just got a new smart watch (coincidentally, the same style as mine...) so I can sometimes get a glimpse of the time from her watch. I wore my watch to a session a couple weeks ago and checked it multiple times. I definitely won't wear it again unless I'm wearing long sleeves that can cover it up.

[Waterbear]

I can't see one and I am glad of it. This T is the only one I saw who didn't have a ticking clock. Those that were possibilities I had to ask them to take it out of the room. They drive me crazy. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. I just want to smash it up into pieces until there is no way on earth it will ever make that horrid noise again.

Sorry, yeah, I don't like ticking clocks. Anyways, my T always wraps things up and I am grateful for that. I am usually a control freak so it is a good lesson in handing over responsibility to someone else. We always go over though but seemed to have settled on an hour and a quarter which is about right for me I think.

[MobiusPsyche]

I have had a couple sessions where I left feeling very vulnerable and it did not go well for me after. Ever since then, yes I do watch the clock and start buttoning up my feelings again when there are five or ten minutes left. She has noticed this recently so I'm sure it will come up again soon.

I think she would be able to help me manage this but I don't always let her know how raw I am feeling. I agree it's probably about control, for me, and trust. And being willing to let someone else take care of me, trusting her to do that.

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[itjustis]

No. It's not where I can see it. It's on the wall behind me.

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t and i dont have a clock or wear watches. which is why we are always sayng things like merda! where did the time go!! because we talked two hours longer than we intended

[ScarletPimpernel]

I can't see the clock from where I sit. Same with group therapy.

[Ad Intra]

I look at the clock so that I can have a measure of how long I could have on a topic. I'm sure if my T knew I did that she would rather me not, but I know there are some topics best covered when you have plenty of time to do so.

[annielovesbacon]

My old T didn't have a clock in her office, which I appreciated, because I would be distracted by it all the time. She wears a watch which I peek at sometimes because I do like to know what time it is but she is very good at closing out sessions well

[musinglizzy]

I do not usually watch the clock, but I don't usually look at T either. I often gaze out the window. The clock does distract me, however, because the ticking of the second hand is quite loud. I do start watching it close to the end, so I an initiate myself, leaving on time. There was a time she accused me of not wanting to leave on time, violating her time boundaries, but it was not the case at all. I was dissociating a lot in session, and I knew I had to be in a "good place" prior to leaving. she was not good at helping me get there...so sometimes I'd just kinda sit, zoned out. So....watching the clock at the end helped me "come back" and stay focused on something else, and I was able to prove to her that I had NO problem leaving after 50 minutes if I was ok to do so. So yes, I will watch the clock at the end, and leave EXACTLY the minute I'm supposed to. It drives her nuts.

So, the ticking of the clock is loud, and it's annoying, but I don't watch it until I feel we're getting closer to the end of session, usually.