[growlycat]

•••title should say last patient of the day!•••
My new-ish t (Kashi) recently told me that when he was in training to be a t he was given the following advice to avoid burnout: for the last patient of the day always schedule a client that you have good rapport with and a have a positive solid connection. Being his last patient of the day I'm overly flattered.

Has a t ever shared thier Wiley t secrets with you on how they practice therapy? I've been seeing t's forever and I had never heard this tidbit.

I'm glad to read that tidbit from Kashi, growlycat! When I'm first of the day, I wonder if it's my Ts wanting to get patients they hate out of the way. If I'm the last of the day, I think they're leaving the least enjoyable patient for last.

I am not a T or a T in training but I took a short counseling course to explore if I'd prefer counseling or social work.

A T in private practice who does clinical supervision once told my counselling class that he has an elderly client who cooks for him and brings the food to his office.

He was telling that anecdote because we were wondering about the ethics of accepting gifts. He said his go to rule was "if it affirms the client".

[growlycat]

With sparky I was the first of the day instead. I wondered the same thing, if I was the challenging person he wanted to get out of the way ?

Thanks for your insight on gifts. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when training t's het thier advice.

[retro_chic]

I used to be T's last client of the day but I just realised tonight T has a client after me now . I really hate seeing other clients particularly ones of the same gender and age as me.

I am not only the first client of the day I am also the first client of the week and like QM and growly I thought he might do it to getr the challenging clients out of the way my t never shares anything even when I ask him outright

I get the idea behind this. Don't go home and to sleep confused and upset for the day. But I think one could say something similar about other appointments times, eg. maybe schedule a particularly interesting and stimulating client as first of the day, or an easier case in between difficult ones. I also think that scheduling is most typically decided collectively between T and client so it's not just that the T places us wherever s/he wishes.

I always had morning time slots in therapy, my preference and I asked for it. With my last T, in one session I had the feeling that he appeared less present and connected to me than usually. I brought it up in an email afterward and he told me that my feeling was correct as he was very tired that morning since his sleep the night before had been disrupted. And that he actually became very alert during our session (there was also another client before me). He often told me that our conversations were particularly active and engaging, so I guess I can be a good wake up call

[junkDNA]

maybe thats why my T sees me in the middle of the day. takes all morning to prepare for my hot mess, then all afternoon to decompress from it. haha

[LonesomeTonight]

I generally see both T and marriage counselor mid-day, but I think it's partly because I work from home, so have a flexible schedule (and H works 5 minutes from their office). MC usually has his break right after us rather than another client, so it's nice that we don't feel as rushed out of there. They get buzzed by the receptionist when their next client arrives--even if that client is early--so I find it jarring when that buzz comes through. Like, is the T's mind already shifting to that next client? Are they trying to wrap things up with me/us because that client is there, even if we have time left? So I just like not having anyone right after us, whether because it's their break or last client of the day (which I have had with T a few times--we don't have a set time).

[atisketatasket]

The paranoid side of me is wondering if it is also part of their wiliness to claim to be exposing their wily trade secrets.

[stopdog]

I am not sure they all have that much control over their schedules. Plus I have been the last client of the day at times - and there is no way I am a client they have good rapport with by anyone's bar. I am not doubting they were told such thing in school or that some of them believe it, I am doubting it is possible for them to enforce, so I would view any claim of such as an attempt at manipulating the client

[gothicpear]

My t has no choice but to see me in the late afternoon, as that is the only time I have available. My guess is that they schedule people according to when they can come in and work with the client's schedule, and most t's don't have the luxury of scheduling according to which client is this or that. I'd like to think they aren't that gamey.

[ruh roh]

Thanks, growlycat. My therapist doesn't volunteer anything like this. I get the sense that her days in the therapist factory were more irritating than anything, but I can't say for sure.

I was generally the last client of the day, but that was solely because I asked for the last appointment because it was the only time I could make. I've never had therapists schedule me; I've always scheduled my therapists.

Another thought... for those clients in long term therapy, I am sure there are periods for everyone when they are easier and other times when they are more difficult. I don't think that the experience of therapy is too predictable for anyone involved, so a client who is typically relatively easy can turn into quite a challenge at times, and vice versa, I believe. Of course there are those basic, default personality traits when someone is generally quite agreeable, or the antagonistic.

[ruh roh]

Growly, I want to just say I think it's great that your therapist enjoys working with you and wants you to know that.

[growlycat]

Stopdog has a good point about potential manipulation of the client. Kashi is overly fawning over me at times and I even tod him maybe I don't act up enough. But on the other hand no one in my life seems as happy to see me not even my pet.

I'm not saying this is a standard therapist practice just something Kashi was advised to do. I don't know what standard advice new t's are given.

since my sessions have lasted as late as 5 a.m., I am probably the last one of the day

[MBM17]

Originally Posted by Xynesthesia

Another thought... for those clients in long term therapy, I am sure there are periods for everyone when they are easier and other times when they are more difficult. I don't think that the experience of therapy is too predictable for anyone involved, so a client who is typically relatively easy can turn into quite a challenge at times, and vice versa, I believe. Of course there are those basic, default personality traits when someone is generally quite agreeable, or the antagonistic.

I just have to say, I read your post and felt tension release that I didn't know I was feeling. Your description of long-term clients as not black and white in pleasantness and so forth was a relief to me. I guess I was subconsciously worrying about what my therapist had labeled me, but you are right that it's not a final decision. When therapy last that long, things change within that time.

I think it was his way to show you his fondness for you. I think its sweet.

However, i think its more of a work thing than a therapy thing. It doesnt seem much different than those who tackle their most difficult tasks first, etc. Plus, people who work from 9 to 5 will most likely be last.

I had a therapist who really liked working with me too, a little too much. I totally understand your leeriness, i had similar feelings. However, my therapy turned out to be a very helpful experience. (BTW-I was a last client of the day too )

I dont know if this was the case with you, but I used to feel uncomfortable around those who were giving of me, always thinking in the back of my mind that id have to give something in return. I realized later in therapy that i had unconscious fears of this happening in therapy too.

You sound vigilant and self aware enough; intelligent and capable of protecting yourself from Kashi if he ever steered too far from his therapist role. You're not a newbie in therapy anymore.

Sorry no one seems happy to see you. I am always happy to see a post or hug from you and can see why Kashi or any therapist would enjoy working with you.

[waterlogged]

I am T's first appointment at least 2 out of 4 appointments. I am pretty sure that at least 2 days a week, she goes from doing therapy with me to either her own therapy OR a supervision appointment. I think she has made concessions in her schedule for me because she knows I can't come later in the day due to childcare constraints. For a long time, she saw me at 8:15am on Fridays when I am pretty sure she doesn't normally start with patients until 10.

I think that sometimes she's probably glad to start with me (and get me out of the way) and sometimes would like to start with someone easier. I am easy to work with (I think) but I have a lot of intense trauma to work through and it gets pretty intense.

*not necessarily tackle hardest task first, just using that as an example. People have organizational, motivational, productivity work strategies, and I was trying to say that this is related to work rather than a therapisty thing. You know, like Frank Covey and such. Kashis supervisor was likely just sharing his personal strategy, not some sort of clinical guideline.

(Not sure why i couldnt explain this before. Tired brain.)

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by growlycat

... Kashi is overly fawning over me at times and I even tod him maybe I don't act up enough. But on the other hand no one in my life seems as happy to see me not even my pet.
.

Those psych guys always think that us computer girls are just brilliant and sexy and independent. They are smart enough to realize how cool we are.

[growlycat]

Haha we are una we are.

And skies thank you. Your posts made me happy!! Thanks for the kind thoughts.

No never. But what if that last client that the T has a good rapport with, have a flashback and the session becomes intense? How can you even measure stuff like that?

[ABC1357]

I'm usually one of the last, but the sole reason is that's my only availability. I specifically looked for who was available in the evening.