I like it when T knows that there's something I'm holding back or need to say, without me saying anything.

I don't like it when T tries to reassure me.

[Out There]

I like it when T responds appropriately to me and understands me

I don't like it when T fails to see me and hear me ( which fortunately is not that often )

[Ellahmae]

I like it when T actually lets her feelings for me show instead of hiding them.
I don't like it when T talks about other clients.

[Waterbear]

I like it when T is warm and nurturing, when she says comforting things and puts her hand on my arm or hand.

I don't like it when T misses the point or doesn't seem to understand.

I could go on and on for both sides but it seemed that trying to pick one main thing was the theme here!!

I like it when my therapist is able to handle a crisis so calmly and appropriately and professionally.

I don't like it when my therapist tries to sneak in his obsession with mindfulness. He knows I cringe at that stuff. Fortunately, once I called him on it a few times, he finally gave up (for the most part - persistent little bugger).

[stopdog]

I find it tolerable when the woman does not talk

I find it intolerable when the woman tries to give advice or tell me her thoughts

I like it when my previous EMDR-T would describe what she'd like to do to the people that medically tortured me.

I dislike it when my current T goes on and on about trying things I've already tried (and given a serious, long-term effort).

[1stepatatime]

I like it when my therapist gives me a warm hug
I don't like it when I cringe when she gives me a warm hug

I like it when she understands me and engages/ connects more
I dislike it when she thinks I should just pull my socks up and reinvent my life *snap* just like that

I like when t is kind and empathic.
I hate when t is challenging and blames me.

[atisketatasket]

I like it when they show signs of intelligence.

I don't like it when I have to define words like "gist" and terms like "gaslighting" or "cyberstalking" for them.

[WrkNPrgress]

I like it when...

• T laughs at my jokes,
• ... shares an insight that I hadn't thought of before,
• ... shares my exasperation and validates my pov on something with her own experience,
• ... sits next to me on the couch.
  

I don't like it when...

T is a bit late receiving me.

... falls back on the same tag lines again and again.

.... T pretends not to know or doesn't confirm or deny she knows a subject we might have in common and waits for me to tell her all about it. i.e., "Do you know this book..." (Blank stare waiting for me to talk about it. )

... Starts to reveal something about herself but then clams up. Leaving me to wonder what she was about to say!

I like it when my therapist takes off her glasses, leans deep in and shares an extremely insightful interpretation.

I don't like it when my therapist gives an unsolicited lecture that ends with "and now you cannot say no one ever told you this".

[speckofdust]

I like when T laughs at my quirky sense of humor.

I dislike when she wears shoes that don't cover her feet. Her feet look fine, I just have a general dislike of seeing people's feet in a professional setting. Maybe this is a topic for a future session?

[growlycat]

I like it too when I can genuinely make my therapist laugh out loud.
I like it when they hold my hand, pat my shoulder or hug me.
I like it when they lend me books
I like it when they lean in or sit next to me
I like it when they soften their tone of voice
I like it when they humble themselves by self disclosing something personal
I like it when they can tell me something I haven't heard before
I like it when they bring me coffee too
I like it when they do a relaxation excersise along with me so I feel less stupid about it

I don't like neutral facial expressions and body language because I tend to read it as negative
I hate long silences
I don't like running into the previous patient
I don't want to see pictures of or be aware of their kids
I don't like it when they pull rank
I can't stand being scolded

[awkwardlyyours]

I like it when they are not -- at least outwardly -- disconcerted by anything they consider as being my quirks / weirdness.

Not that I don't like it but more that I'm perplexed when they appear to be perplexed by some things about me -- E.g. Current T's first reaction was multiple-exclamatory-points type surprise that I drove alone for a total of about 1,400 miles over this past weekend (to attend a silent retreat, the strictures of which seemed to make her noodle further explode it seemed but at least that I guess is understandable).

But, not sure why driving alone for long distances would be considered out of the norm. Almost makes me wonder about Ts' sense of 'normal'. Hmm...

I like it when t gives me a warm hug.

I don't like it when t pushes me. (not the same thing as challenging me - I see challenging me as a good thing, but when she challenges too strongly, that's pushing, and that I don't like.)

Originally Posted by speckofdust

I like when T laughs at my quirky sense of humor.

I dislike when she wears shoes that don't cover her feet. Her feet look fine, I just have a general dislike of seeing people's feet in a professional setting. Maybe this is a topic for a future session?

now that she works out of her home, my t doesn't wear shoes at all. that took a little getting used to! but i did and now i kick mine off too as soon as i walk in her office.

[speckofdust]

Originally Posted by artemis-within

now that she works out of her home, my t doesn't wear shoes at all. that took a little getting used to! but i did and now i kick mine off too as soon as i walk in her office.

I probably wouldn't mind as much if we were at my T's house, or at the pool or beach. I highly doubt I'll ever see her in settings like that, though!

[divine1966]

I like when t doesn't insist I share something I don't feel like sharing

I don't like when she talks about meditation and asks me to do it. Well to all honestly she did stop. I hate meditating or talking about it

oh i have another set:

i like it when t closes her eyes when she's self-disclosing. i don't know why i like it. she's probably just 'mirroring' me, because i often talk with my eyes closed, but still.

i don't like it when t forgets something. it's very rare, at least.

[kecanoe]

Crap. I read this and thought about T2. And I seriously can't think of a thing that I like. I have a session scheduled with her next week, then nothing for 3 weeks. I am tempted to cancel next week. I am not sure what is keeping me from doing that other than I don't like to burn bridges.

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by awkwardlyyours

I like it when they are not -- at least outwardly -- disconcerted by anything they consider as being my quirks / weirdness.

Not that I don't like it but more that I'm perplexed when they appear to be perplexed by some things about me -- E.g. Current T's first reaction was multiple-exclamatory-points type surprise that I drove alone for a total of about 1,400 miles over this past weekend (to attend a silent retreat, the strictures of which seemed to make her noodle further explode it seemed but at least that I guess is understandable).

But, not sure why driving alone for long distances would be considered out of the norm. Almost makes me wonder about Ts' sense of 'normal'. Hmm...

I've driven across the whole country multiple times by myself. I find it relaxing. Although No. 1 seemed quite taken aback when we ended last December when I said I was driving a friend's car from New York to Montana. She also advised me not to stay at Motel 6.

[Gavinandnikki]

I loved it when my therapist told me she loved me.

I hated it when she refused to touch me, in any way.

[runlola72]

I like it when T speaks to me in his loving, fatherly voice.

I hate it when he answers my emails with brief one sentence replies.

Not sure how I feel when his posture becomes informal (slouching forward with legs open, or today, one leg fully over the arm of the chair). Part of me feels uncomfortable and part of me thinks he's just trying to get me to relax and not be so formal.