[populus tremuloides]

curious to know whether you have a routine/ritual/something you always do at either the start or end of sessions. ("we take 3 deep breaths" etc).

if so, what is the purpose, and does it work for you?

[DodgersMom]

in the start we usually cover any emails i may of sent, or he will ask how my week was. at the end its always light hearted because he doesn't want people leaving the office feeling too stressed or anxious... so its usually something about our pets or a tv show or something.

its fine for me...

[junkDNA]

no official starting ritual. he asks if i want to walk even though its blazing hot outside. lately i just say no and we go into the room and he asks how i am and then we just go from there

[junkDNA]

oh, i forgot HIS pre session ritual which is to hang out in the bathroom for about 5-8 minutes

[atisketatasket]

DBC always started and ended the same way - "Good to see you" at the beginning and "I'll see you next time, looking forward to it," at the end. Since she was a horrible actress it usually came across as cliched and insincere. To the point where I would respond, "no you're not" and we'd be off to the races.

1 and 3 always walked me to the door. No. 2 said take care (seemingly sincerely). CW is all over the place.

I don't need a ritual, but if they're going to do it it needs to not be rote.

[BayBrony]

My T and i have a pretty elaborate ending ritual .. We hold hands, each recite things, etc

[ScarletPimpernel]

At the start, when we're walking down the hall, she always chitchats. When we sit down, she normally asks what I want to talk about. Although sometimes she has something to start with. When we end, we schedule our next session, then get up and hug. She always wishes me a good week and I always thank her.

[ElectricManatee]

My T usually asks "So how are you doing?" at the beginning, although as she has gotten to know me better I can tell that she's trying to figure out how I'm feeling before I say anything. Then when I leave she usually says either "Take care" or "See you soon." Nothing too elaborate. I would definitely notice if she changed either thing, though.

[ruh roh]

She greets my dog, sometimes says hello to me, gives cookies to dog, I set up recorder, etc., and then start talking. No ritual ending.

Kind of like DNA's T, RoboT goes to the bathroom after every single client. Is this a grounding thing?

Then we'll chitchat while I pay for the session. After that, all bets are off.

No purpose to the routine for me, but there is for T.

[smileygal]

Originally Posted by daisydid

Kind of like DNA's T, RoboT goes to the bathroom after every single client. Is this a grounding thing?

Then we'll chitchat while I pay for the session. After that, all bets are off.

No purpose to the routine for me, but there is for T.

I'd imagine the bathroom thing is so they won't ever have the need to go in the middle of a session which would distract them from being present with you?

My T comes out to the waiting room which is at the end of a really long hallway. She says Hi and asks me how I am doing.... Sometimes depending on how fast we walk there is time for brief chat about something like weather etc...sometimes not.

[feileacan]

My sessions start by my T opening the door of his consultation room, saying hi and letting me in. I will take off any overclothes I have and sit down. Then there is silence. I'm supposed to start talking but I won't. I stare out of the window or the edge of the carpet. If I haven't started talking in couple of minutes then my T starts himself, trying to make an observation about I look like am feeling or anything like that. No questions because I wouldn't answer them anyway.

In the end, when the time is up, he tells me that we have to stop for today. Then couple of things can happen. Either we have been able to connect, in which case I get up, put on my clothes, turn to him and look him in the eye, we shake hands, I go out and still keep his gaze while closing the door. If we haven't been able to connect and I feel detached or angry then I just go out without any handshake or looking at him. If we haven't been able to connect but I feel that I can't leave without it then after his time announcement the feelings come in rushing, I do still mostly get up (but not always, sometimes I just keep talking hoping to get something to hold on to and if I get this something then I can leave as usual), put on my stuff and while shaking hands I will grab with the other hand around him and he will give me a short hug. After that I can leave.

The strange thing is, although sometimes it seems very difficult to leave and I might leave crying or very upset or whatever, after 15 minutes is almost always totally fine. In the rare cases it isn't I will call him and after the call it is mostly fine. I guess I have reached the point where I think that the difficult young feelings accessed in therapy session should stay to the therapy room and I don't hesitate to use any means I've found to work for me to leave them there. Short calls work for me quite well because when I'm calling I'm a different person than the one who leaves the therapy session angry and/or detached.