[rainbow8]

I think T would have told me in the session but I didn't have one this week, and won't next week either. She's not telling me good news about her daughter but she shared that she had to put down her dog. I never had a dog, so it's not something I relate to, though I know how difficult it is to lose a beloved pet.

I think T is comparing her feelings to my loss of people. I'm not sure why she is sharing about her dog. A few months ago she had to rush home to take care of her, and I asked if she was sick. Just old, T said.

So, this the second time I feel like comforting T. The first time was when I heard about her divorce. I looked up doggie poems people wrote when a dog dies, but I think I will just say I'm​ sorry.

Would your T tell you about their pet? Just wondering.

I don't think telling you about the dog is really about you. I just think she feels more free to talk about a pet as a pet is not the same as a family member who might not want to be discussed with strangers. Your T may not discuss family members, in part, out of respect for their own privacy as much as her own.

My T and I talked pets all the time. In fact, after he had to have his beloved German Shepherd put down, I was an avid follower of his quest to find a reputable breeder and new German Shepherd puppy. When he finally had a pup on the way, he shared pictures, etc. He was so excited. He's a big dog person.

[musinglizzy]

My T had to have her 21 year old cat put down last week. She told me about it.

[growlycat]

I adore animals but I personally would be careful not to compare my pet's death to anther's loss of a person. I know pets are family to many of us, it just seems a little insensitive to make conparisons. I'm sure your t meant well.

I think Kashi would tell me if he had to put down one of his dogs or his cat. He is crazy about his cat.

[Waterbear]

Did she ever mention her dog in sessions? My T has a let, and we talk about him. Especially as the beginning, when I couldn't talk about much, it was just a way of us connecting. I even held him one day. I would notice if he want there, I think, and I would ask. She would probably tell me, yes.

My last T mentioned once that he had a cat, after I talked about my cats a little. That's all we have ever talked about pets. No idea if he would bring up the loss of an animal but I certainly would not appreciate comparing it to my loss of people. He mentioned human losses in response to my stories.

[atisketatasket]

Did she actually make the comparison to you losing people?

[rainbow8]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

Did she actually make the comparison to you losing people?

Not exactly. She said something about it being difficult but it was a relief. "Complicated feelings as you know." I've never had a dog so I don't know. But feelings of grief mixed with relief I DO know. I think that's what T was referring to.

[rainbow8]

I emailed her back ONLY about her dog and not about me. That was hard for me to do. She emailed back "thank you."

I sort of wish therapy could always be like this -reciprocal,
But I know it wouldn't be therapy then.

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

Not exactly. She said something about it being difficult but it was a relief. "Complicated feelings as you know." I've never had a dog so I don't know. But feelings of grief mixed with relief I DO know. I think that's what T was referring to.

Then I don't think she's saying the loss of the dog is equivalent to your loss of your husband. Just that both events can spark similar experiences of grief, which has been true for me.

Have you never had a pet? Do you want one?

[stopdog]

The first woman is quite fond of her dog. In fact, dogs and my person were the two areas she does not totally suck at. When my favorite dog died suddenly this winter - I did grieve a lot. He was there every day. I took care of him. He was mine. It was not all that different in some ways - not all but certainly some- when my person unexpectedly died. Shock, disbelief, missing them etc. Granted, the dog eased quicker. I still miss him but a new pup helped in ways that I cannot do with a new person. But for me, the losses are not dissimilar. The dog was more similar to my person than some other people would be. Even my sibling, while I don't want him dead, would not be the same deep grief as the dog. The sibling is not in my daily life. I don't know him all that well on a regular basis sort of way.
So for me, a therapist telling me her elderly dog she had loved and taken care of and been with through old age and death would be similar in many ways to the loss of my dog and my person.

My t and i boh love animals, so she has always shared a lot about her pets with me, pets she had in childhood, pets she has now,etc, and shows me pictures.
in fact, when she had to move , she gave me her favorite cat, so i have him to take care of for my t.

[healed84]

Yes, my t told me about putting his t down. Once because he had to cancel on the day that he put the dog down and another time because we were talking about identifying feelings and he was relating our he was really irritable and realized it was probably because of the loss of the dog.

I am betting she told you about her dog, b/c you have a more open kind of relationship like that.

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by healed84

Yes, my t told me about putting his t down.

I know this is a typo but it made me laugh and perked me up.

[healed84]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

I know this is a typo but it made me laugh and perked me up.

Omg.. that is hilarious.

Freudian slip?

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

I know this is a typo but it made me laugh and perked me up.

It was a typo? Bummer.