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  #26  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 04:13 PM
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1stepatatime 1stepatatime is offline
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I think I can be frustrating to her at times. I'm resistant to body work and my therapist feels that I could benefit greatly from it.. Not completely certain why I'm so resistant.Sometimes I sit there in silence for what feels like an eternity. Often it's towards the end of our session that I open up.. typical in the therapeutic setting for some of us.
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  #27  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 04:52 PM
Anonymous43207
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As far as always showing up, on time, paying every time, and working hard I would imagine I am an easy client. I know that I can try her patience sometimes - although she would never admit it.
  #28  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 04:59 PM
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granite1 granite1 is offline
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im sure i am frustrating to her. i tend to be resistant to talking . although i am better than i have been in the past
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  #29  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 05:01 PM
Anonymous37953
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I was the most difficult client for XT. For my current T, I think I am easy. I felt like my XT didn't understand me and disliked a part of me, and I think we both were a part of the difficult dynamic. My current T tells me that he tries hard to be consistently calm with me, he understands me, and validates how I feel. I also think that we both are a part of the easy dynamic.
  #30  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 05:11 PM
Sarmas Sarmas is offline
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I think my T would view me as a difficult client. I don't see myself as a difficult client though. I listened to what she had to say ans I took her recommendations into consideration. However I used my critical thinking as well and I questioned what she had to say at times. I couldn't just take what she had to say and run with it. It had to make sense to me. I couldn't make changes at her speed and if I did my outcomes would've probably been better but that's in the past now. I'm thinking that my questioning and not following through on her recommendations probably made me seem difficult.
Thanks for this!
growlycat
  #31  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 05:38 PM
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I have the impression that my T would say I'm a good client. Although, I'm not sure what the actual definition of a good client would be. My guess is that each T has his/her own thoughts on that. Some clients will naturally more challenging than others. I have been open and honest in our sessions, and I have taken many of her suggestions under advisement. I have tried to let her know what works and what doesn't. She once told me that I take therapy seriously and I take responsibility.
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  #32  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 06:32 PM
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junkDNA junkDNA is offline
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My T is the most patient man I have ever met. It blows my mind when I think of all the sabotage things I've done and how hard I fought him and therapy the first few years
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  #33  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 06:32 PM
missbella missbella is offline
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I suspect there could be a gulf, maybe even an enormous one, between how some therapists consider a difficult client and how clients see themselves.

The therapist called me a "difficult case" in the rebuttal to the case I filed. Yeah, I was difficult in quietly telling the co-therapists that treatment was unhelpful and I wanted to leave. I followed every rule, took my turn, supported other members, was even-tempered to therapists and group, substance free, non-destructive and employed. Yet to read the therapist's affidavit, I was some kind of large-looming raging, irrational monster.

"Difficult" here seems a concealment of the co-therapists'...difficulties.

I wish I'd been far more "difficult." I wish I'd asked a lot more questions and not accepted recommendations against my better judgment.
Thanks for this!
atisketatasket
  #34  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 06:32 PM
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One time I texted him that I think he's a good therapist and he sent back thank you, you are a good client
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  #35  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 07:32 PM
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divine1966 divine1966 is offline
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I don't understand the reason for telling clients there are difficult. I have some very difficult students and I'd tell them that we need to work on XYZ and set up XYZ goals and get better at XYZ but I'd never tell them " you are difficult". It's rude

As about concept of being difficult as clients. I do not understand that but I understand concept of difficult people.

Some people are just difficult no matter in what context: confrontational or argumentative or always negative. Some are just jerks and some are this way due to mi or special needs etc it's ok to address their behavior and help them to get better, but simply telling them that they are difficult people is pointless and unkind.
Thanks for this!
kecanoe, missbella
  #36  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 08:33 PM
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koru_kiwi koru_kiwi is offline
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i am a challenging client. T has confirmed this for me a few times (i refereed to myself as 'difficult' and he re-framed to 'challenging', as he does not like the term difficult to describe a client). in fact, i think he confessed that i am one of the more challenging clients he has encountered in his 20 year career.

and you know what...?? i do not regret or carry any shame for being definded as a 'challenging' client. i use to feel guilty or worry that he would leave me for it, but he has remained committed. in fact, the way i view it, is if he can withstand all the challenges that i throw back at him, like questioning him, his methods, and his reactions towards me in the relationship, than in the long run i am actually probably providing him with some of the best practical training and experince that he will ever encounter. experince that he can use to help analyse himself better as a T and a human being and practical experince to use with future clients.

when i terminate therapy with my T, i would love to be able to hand him an invoice for all the services rendered.
Thanks for this!
growlycat
  #37  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 08:36 PM
Luce Luce is offline
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I think I am a challenging client. There are parts of me (me) that I'd classify as 'easy'. I am straightforward and keen to do the work. There are other parts of me that disrupt the work, and there are some parts of me that are very resistant and block everything. There are lots of 'no talking' injunctions inside. So a lot of the time we just can't speak.
Ex t was / is exceptionally patient.
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  #38  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 08:57 PM
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rainbow8 rainbow8 is offline
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A few of my past T's, and including my current T, have told me that I'm difficult or challenging because of my BPD behavior of crossing boundaries like driving past their houses and researching them. Other than that, my Ts have praised my intelligence, my willingness to cooperate with them, my flexibility if they have to reschedule, and my general attitude about therapy. So I think I'm a mix.
Thanks for this!
annielovesbacon
  #39  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 09:01 PM
Anonymous45127
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I think to ex T (my first clinical psychologist and second T) I was a difficult client.

I came up regularly in her peer consultation meetings and a couple of times in her supervisory sessions.

She admitted that she felt helpless and unable to formulate a treatment plan due to my many presenting problems.

She also admitted she felt regularly irritated, frustrated, overwhelmed with me, because I am very talkative in session and for other reasons.

I required much more work from her out of session than most of her other clients.

I was also her first LGBT client and she was completely ignorant about the basics...I had to educate her that sexual orientation, gender presentation and gender identity were completely different things.

Current T... I don't know if she considers me easy or difficult.

I know she thinks I am talkative. I still require that T do a lot of extra work outside of session.

I'm also likely am the only client who private messages her out of session via her public social media profile, though I may not be the only client with out of session contact.

I'm her first LGBT client as well and she has no training or experience with LGBT clients though she has stated she has LGB friends.

Honestly, I'm always fearing T thinks I want to be a special snowflake and is disgusted by how needy I am.

Last edited by Anonymous45127; Sep 04, 2016 at 09:15 PM.
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  #40  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 09:06 PM
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precaryous precaryous is offline
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I'm difficult and high maintenance- though I am working not to be...
  #41  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 09:18 PM
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ScarletPimpernel ScarletPimpernel is offline
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My T probably thought I'd be a difficult client because of the termination with ex-T. But I don't think I am difficult. I'm honest, consistent, show up on time every time, pay my bill, get along with her, respect her boundaries, etc. She did tell me I'm stubborn, but she said she is too. I know she would want me to follow her advice/homework more, and she probably wishes I'd take bigger steps towards socializing. But she doesn't really worry about me. Even when I email her saying I feel like dying, she knows that if I was in danger I'd call her. And I've never had to. So I'd say I'm a relatively easy client.
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  #42  
Old Sep 04, 2016, 09:37 PM
Anonymous37926
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My therapist said I was "complex". Past therapist/ psychiatrist said I was in his top 3 favorite patients in 40 years. I'd say both relationships have been 'rocky', but they also brought out PTSD.

Overall I think difficult to one could be challenging or rewarding to the next. It's subjective.
  #43  
Old Sep 05, 2016, 12:03 AM
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annielovesbacon annielovesbacon is offline
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I think I am an easy client in that I am always kind and respectful; I don't get angry very easily and I never ever yell or lose my temper. I do listen and I make a big effort in therapy.
But I am a bit difficult in that I have some serious trust issues and it takes me a looooong time to open up to a therapist and I sometimes lie because I'm too apprehensive of the therapist to tell the truth. I'm sure that can be frustrating -- but as others have said, the "difficult vs. easy" factor in this case largely depends on the T.
When I terminated with my old T, she said she enjoyed working with me and that she appreciated that I never skipped a session. So there's that.
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  #44  
Old Sep 05, 2016, 12:38 AM
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therapyishelping777 therapyishelping777 is offline
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I hope I'm not difficult.. I show up each week, rarely late, pay on time mostly, take notes, pay atten, ask alot of questions, I try not to bug him between sessions. But i do forget things in the office now and then lol.. phones, glasses, feel like a bother going back to get them or ask. Sometimes I've felt difficult because of my past negative tapes.. but.. hopefully he doesn't see me that way.
  #45  
Old Sep 05, 2016, 12:42 AM
Anonymous47147
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fairly easy, but mostly because my T is a pro at handling my issues.
  #46  
Old Sep 05, 2016, 12:42 AM
Anonymous45127
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Food for thought - https://whatashrinkthinks.com/2012/1...e-good-client/

Not everyone likes the therapist author, I found the post interesting.
Thanks for this!
Daisy Dead Petals, growlycat
  #47  
Old Sep 06, 2016, 08:23 PM
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runlola72 runlola72 is offline
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Quite difficult, with a complex history and unstable sense of self which complicates everything. I sent T a series of not-so-nice emails over the weekend and I'm dreading seeing him. I think he must hate me.
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YOLO Lady
  #48  
Old Sep 06, 2016, 09:16 PM
stopdog stopdog is offline
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I would not particularly care if the woman thinks I am difficult. I am not there to make her job easy - it is easy enough no matter what I do.
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  #49  
Old Sep 07, 2016, 11:07 AM
justafriend306
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I suppose I am easy. I don't like to rock boats.
  #50  
Old Sep 07, 2016, 11:11 AM
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junkDNA junkDNA is offline
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I apologize to my T a lot bc of how I behaved in the beginning. I said I'm sorry I was such a pain in the ***. He said you were a lovable pain in the ***. He also said he understood why I was doing what I was doing bc of my abusive experience with the T I saw before I met him. He put it like I was allergic to the medicine I needed (therapy)
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