What happened the first time you cried in therapy?

My t will get a really soft look in her eyes. She will lean forward and be very attentive. She will ask what I am thinking and when she talks to me it will be very gentle and soft. She sometimes will ask if I want her to come sit by me and sometimes she just comes over to sit by me because she knows it is ok. She will ask what I need sometimes and it is hard for me to answer that question. She will hold my hand and put her arm around me and even hold me when I am really distressed. We have talked about this though and she knows it is important to me and I am comfortable with it. Touch is not for everyone but it is helpful for me. It has been the most healing thing I have experienced in therapy. I am fortunate to have her.

T wrapped her arms around me and held me a long time til I calmed down.

My first "homework" from my therapist was to go home and cry in the shower. (It sounds odd, but was appropriate advice for me and to the situation. She saw before I did that I needed a safe place where I wouldn't be overheard.) We also discussed crying and the physical-emotional impact occasionally in sessions. I remember saying I was afraid to cry because I was afraid I'd never stop.

The first time I cried in front of my therapist was a doozy. She handed me tissues and let me cry, and reminded me when I sniffled an apology that there was no need to say "Sorry" for crying. I felt like her presence, her witness was comforting even though she just listened and handed me tissues.

The first time I cried - which was at the first session I believe, she handed me tissue as it was out of my reach. From then on, she pretty much made sure it was within my reach until she moved to new location. Now, it is not within my reach and the last time I cried I had to ask for it (just last monday).

I cry or tear up often. She usually just waits, watches, and allows me to continue talking usually at my pace, sometimes she'll prompt for something if I've been quiet a while. On monday, I was lost, losing it on the road to disassociationville when she said Hey. For some unknown reason that caught my attention.

She does use a lot of non-verbal "holding" and deep breathing with me (I started the deep breathing thing). Touch right now is very limited.

Thanks for all the replies!! I can definitely understand why there seems to be the general rule of a polite stare and tissues. I guess I can't really comment on this as I've never experienced it, but just the thought of it makes me want to run.

I guess this is an example of why it's important to talk things through with your T. I personally would definitely be okay with a small amount of touch. And in my mind, I can see this as welcoming the tears, not shutting them down. Again, should probably discuss. But probably won't anyway! Hah

I'm usually too wrapped up in my own misery to really care what T is doing while I snivel. I think it would be infinitely worse if he made some effort to comfort me.

It's totally acceptable to ask your T what she would do in the event that you cried. She'd probably appreciate the opportunity to know what you'd find helpful rather than guessing.

I totally lost it near the end of session today with my t. First time ever I have cried without shame in front of a t. Surprisingly, it felt good. My t asked me to stay an extra few minutes, asked me what I needed (I had no clue), made sure I wasn't too dissociated, offered to let me hang out in a room designated for clients to chill until they are ok to leave, then told me to call her if I needed her. It was all so totally safe. I think I'm in shock right now.

I don't remember the first time I cried in therapy. I am dissociative and have memory problems. But I cry here and there. Last time we met, I bawled for 1/2 hour straight.

My defenses lift very quickly, I don't hold back.

He doesn't change his behavior when I cry. It can be uncomfortable as yes, he just sits there. I am used to it. There are times when I really want him to comfort me, but in my case, crying doesn't always seem to be associated with need for comfort.