[Tbhimscared]

The majority of times in sessions with my past therapists, I don't cry or seem overly upset and actually end up laughing a lot of the time. I feel like since I've established this with my current T, that I can't let myself cry in session now. I have a lot to bring up in my next session but I avoid topics because I know that I'll become emotional. Have you experienced this before? how did you overcome it? and how do T's deal with crying? do they make you leave even if you're still crying or do they let you stay until you're alright or what happens?

[LostOnTheTrail]

I've experienced the avoidance bit, even though R has repeatedly told me that 'It's OK to cry. It's OK to cry, especially when you've been through something as traumatic as what you've told me.'

I made sure to set out how we would deal with it before it came up, and that eased my anxiety over it some. Not sure about the last bit, as a) R comes to my home, and b) it hasn't happened yet.

[DP_2017]

Same probably, I only cried first time 6 months in

Anyway, we spent countless sessions going over my issues about emotions and discussing how I WANTED him to react, and then when it happened, i knew how to prepare and it was good.

I would maybe ask as every T handles it differently

[ScarletPimpernel]

My T only gets me tissues when I cry. She doesn't change her facial expressions or tone. It's the same as if I'm not crying. She tried to change her facial expressions when I cried (I asked her to), but it was too hard for her to concentrate on her facial expressions and pay attention to what I'm saying.

Sge always helps me calm down before I have to leave.

[chihirochild]

I asked mine former t what she'd do if I started crying. She thought about it for a moment and said, "I'd let you cry."

Even though it was a pretty generic answer, the fact that we'd talked about it at all made me feel waaaay more comfortable about bringing up stiff that I thought might make me all gooey inside.

[winterblues17]

I've not done emotion in session, and to be honest I don't think I will. The times I have felt it I have managed to shut it down and carry on. A couple of weeks ago, she said something that kind of hit home on a few things, and I think that was the closest to crying I came, but I was well aware we were on 5 minutes to go so I knew that the timing wasn't right took a breath and ignored it. I would have felt awful if I had started crying and had to leave, and at the same time if we had to run over a few minutes I'd have felt guilty.
We have talked about it, she knows I have issues around emotions in session and out of session. I'm sure she would be ok if I did oneday cry and would probably just wait it out with me. Rationally I know that for then they probably deal with the on a daily basis so wouldn't think twice about it, but for me it would just be too far out my comfort zone. Saying that if I had to pick a person to be able to cry with, she would be the top choice.
Maybe talk to them? So you know what to expect? Might put you more at ease if you do get emotional oneday!