Dear Client

Dear Butterfly,

Why don't you trust me? You make my job difficult.

-T

(She'd never say the second sentence to my face but I bet she thinks it.)

Annie,
Enjoy being okay. I'll see you in August.
T

Lost,

Remember...'I will not desert you.' As long as it's in my power, I will be present, I will be with you to help you.

Be kind to yourself...(and breathe!)

R

Dear LT,
I knew you'd be willing to change times! And of course you know I'll probably be late to the new 9:30 time, right? But you'll put up with it because you love me. I know you're saying you're less attached, but we both know that won't last. I just need to use the--what did you call it?--the "super caring voice" and hug you from across the room and look deep into your eyes and--bam!--the transference will come roaring back. Just like my son can say he hates me but he's obviously going to love me again.
--MC

Please don't do it

Your angry thoughts disgust and frighten me.

Stop saying I don't know! What's wrong with you?

Oh Art. Just call me. It will be fine.

You really don't know that I already know what you've decided? Don't you remember 3 weeks ago when I said that it seemed like coming weekly for a bit helped you solidify things?

Call me, Art. We'll schedule a couple final sessions, and all will be well.

Yes, I'm still thinking of you. Not as much as you are thinking of me, but I promise I won't forget you while you're gone. I hope I see you again when you get back.

Argo,

You do know I have caller ID, right? Stop calling my voicemail and not leaving a message. It's weird.

Beavers

I do have open time slots I just don't want to see ur pathetic ***

"I care about you",
t

Fern,

If there's anything you want me to do, then please well me. You are hard to read,a nd im there for you, but you need to share what's going on.

Annie,
Please don't throw away your sobriety. You do not have to hit rock bottom to "deserve" to get better.
T

Dear LT,
You know why I was breathing so weirdly on the phone? Because it took all I had in me not to tell you to go to hell. Why did I ever promise never to abandon you? That's the only reason I'm still here, you know. Not because I care or love you back--but because I don't like breaking my word. I want to cancel tomorrow but I won't. I want that $175. Because that's what you really are to me--a paycheck.
MC

Art, it's that song again, huh. Why you haven't called yet...

U are so dumb.

You would have been happier and more successful of a therapy client if you had learned to submit and love Big Brother.

Fille folle, I need you to open up more. I'm not going to try to drag each word out of you, it has to be your decision.

Annie,
You're coming up on a time in your life when you need to be more mindful than ever. Pay attention, soak it all in! Feel your feelings! And remember what I said: Enjoy being okay.
T

N

Boundaries ARE scary but you can do it. I have confidence in you and I believe you can do it.

(He actually said that tonight and I wanted to put it here to validate it.)

It still scares the crap out of me.

QM,

Don't push away the anxiety, it'll linger. There's a limit to how anxious someone can get.

Comfort the scared child inside of you with your adult self, your chosen sibling and me. You can ask for help at the airport. If someone doesn't understand your accent, try another person. People will help.

I look forward to receiving the postcard at our next session in January. With a drawing on it, from you.

TR, you've a right to boundaries. I'm learning that too since I was not allowed any boundaries.

However badly your H reacts to your boundaries, it does NOT make your boundaries wrong. My parents get angry when I set boundaries and they escalate in order to try to force me to give in.

On the reddit group "raided by narcissists", that escalation is called "an extinction burst".

My T and them tell me that as I keep enforcing boundaries, eventually they'll learn. Or if they won't, there's the option of leaving. Which I know is harder than people say.

You're right, it will be better for everyone

You're trouble, but that's okay.

You told me that you felt strong at the end of our session today. Hang on to that.

Love,

R