[justbreathe1994]

I overwhelmed my therapist and basically told her a pretty difficult struggle I had. She said she had so many things she could say, but she didn't even know what to say. I felt overwhelmed after sharing so much and then the session just ended and I'm left to deal with all my overwhelmed feelings. I feel like I'm too much for her or she just can't handle it or both. I'm sad because I didn't get the support I needed or feels like I needed. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this common in therapy?

[Purple,Violet,Blue]

Yes. It's a horrible feeling.

[ruh roh]

I don't know if it's common, but it does happen to people. How long have you been seeing this therapist? Do you know if she's open to contact between sessions?

[AllHeart]

My t is always cognizant of the time so when I have been overwhelmed in session, she makes sure to take the last 10 minutes or so to calm me down and remind me of coping skills I can use during the week. Sorry your t let things end the way she did.

[Fuzzybear]

Yes, something similar happened to me. It sucks

Originally Posted by justbreathe1994

I overwhelmed my therapist and basically told her a pretty difficult struggle I had. She said she had so many things she could say, but she didn't even know what to say. I felt overwhelmed after sharing so much and then the session just ended and I'm left to deal with all my overwhelmed feelings. I feel like I'm too much for her or she just can't handle it or both. I'm sad because I didn't get the support I needed or feels like I needed. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this common in therapy?

Well, at least she was resonating with how overwhelming your situation was.

[CantExplain]

I hope your T has something better to contribute next time you see her.

[SalingerEsme]

Originally Posted by justbreathe1994

I overwhelmed my therapist and basically told her a pretty difficult struggle I had. She said she had so many things she could say, but she didn't even know what to say. I felt overwhelmed after sharing so much and then the session just ended and I'm left to deal with all my overwhelmed feelings. I feel like I'm too much for her or she just can't handle it or both. I'm sad because I didn't get the support I needed or feels like I needed. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this common in therapy?

This is one of the worst facets of therapy, and I am so sorry you are undergoing it. You took a brave step, you made yourself vulnerable, and then - oh we have to end no more time. I have no advice to offer, but just to share my struggle with that situation with yours. It sucks, it hurts trust, it feels horrible, and I just don't know why they let it happen or why they don't reach out to check on you. However, I think it is training, and she probably is upset too and is worried about you. Their training in boundaries is so extremely stylized, that simple human connection and compassion gets lost on days like you describe, along with the chance to positively reinforce you for opening up. I'm so sorry. It hurts, and it is hard to be left alone to contain the bad feelings.

[mostlylurking]

Originally Posted by justbreathe1994

I overwhelmed my therapist and basically told her a pretty difficult struggle I had. She said she had so many things she could say, but she didn't even know what to say. I felt overwhelmed after sharing so much and then the session just ended and I'm left to deal with all my overwhelmed feelings. I feel like I'm too much for her or she just can't handle it or both. I'm sad because I didn't get the support I needed or feels like I needed. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this common in therapy?

I'm really sorry you weren't supported and now you're left alone with all of it.

Is it possible she meant to say something a bit like this? "There are many things I could say, many directions we could go in here-- but offhand I don't know what's best to say first and I need time to think."

It would not excuse the fact that she left you hanging, but it might suggest she's not overwhelmed, she just was proceeding carefully. I'm hoping it's something like that, or just that she was emotional, and that she'll be much more supportive in the future. If you do have contact out of session, this may be a good time to reach out as it seems like she's left you in the lurch here.

[justbreathe1994]

Thanks everyone. She doesn't really allow for out of session contact. She does allow me to leave as many messages as I want/need to on her voicemail and we have an agreement that she can leave me one supportive voicemail a week, if I let her know what skills I've practiced to help regulate myself. She left me the voicemail last night which was helpful and caring, but still left a lot unfinished/unresolved. I feel grateful for the communication she does allow and these forms of communication help me not to be so dependent on her or think about her every waking second. I think her silence/overwhelmed feelings probably had something to do with her being emotional, so it's comforting to know she cares. She did say that she was human too and had her limits and I understand that... I suppose I'm just triggered still because she's human and she's my therapist, so it's hard to have grace for her limits sometimes. I'm still just sad I didn't feel like I walked out of the session with any relief or get any constructive work done.

[ECHOES]

I don't hear her as saying she was overwhelmed. That was you I think she wanted time to think about where to begin, what to address first, for your greatest benefit. Your feeling overwhelmed is understandable - what else comes with that? Fear of ?

I hope you 2 talk more about this