[smallbluefish]

I've seen a couple of other threads about your most awkward moments in therapy or your best/worst moments in therapy--I'm wondering if anyone has had any surprising moments in therapy (whether good or bad, or somewhere along the spectrum)?

Today I had a surprising moment where I cried as I was talking about my difficult relationship with my parents. Not the most exciting kind of surprise maybe, but it's usually hard for me to cry in front of people even if I trust them--I haven't cried in front of anybody since high school. I definitely didn't expect it, and I'm kind of glad I was able to cry in front of my T.

[fille_folle]

Yes. I have been shocked every single time I've disclosed something to my T. It's like my mouth is possessed and I can't control what I say.

[smallbluefish]

Originally Posted by fille_folle

Yes. I have been shocked every single time I've disclosed something to my T. It's like my mouth is possessed and I can't control what I say.

relatable! I find it hard to open up to anybody so now that you mention it I guess the whole process of sharing with my T has been a bit of a surprise. interesting that you note it feels like you can't control what you say--hopefully the process has been helpful for you, if shocking!

[RaineD]

I had a surprising moment outside of therapy. This morning I was listening to an episode of Psychology in Seattle while driving to the gym. Something in the podcast got me to think about how I've never told my therapist about my political views because I'm afraid he'd dislike me for it, and suddenly my eyes filled with tears. I was totally surprised--was it really so bad that I needed to cry over it? (I am not a crier.)

[Elio]

I have had several surprising moments either in or from therapy. The first time we played remote control cars, we were doing our own thing and I figured out that we could go over the chair legs in the conference room we were in. I excitedly asked her to watch what I figured out. She stopped what she was doing, watched what I figured out and then tried to do it herself. Later I got stuck and I asked her to help me get unstuck by pushing me with her car. She did. Both of these produced an amazing set of feelings in me. It's kind of hard to describe what goes on during these moments. They are not predictable, they are not something that can be scripted. For me, they are very powerful.

[nottrustin]

This week EMDR T and I were discussing our work. I was trying to explain why I felt thing were taking some time. However, I was trying to beat around the bush. Finally, without thinking, I told her I needed to be completely honest.with her. I told hee that I really struggle with trust and while I know I should be able to trust her I don't trust her enough at this point to discuss some of the details I need to tell her. I told her NOBODY knows any details of my abuse as it has never been needed. I told her before I can proceed with thay part of my trauma, I feel like I need to work on building our relationship. I was mortified after I said it...but she was wonderful and thanked me for being honest. We discussed it a bit and agreed that we have been trying too hard and need to slow down a bit.

Later, I emailed her thanking her for understanding and told her that my lack of trust had nothing to do with anything she has or hadn't done. She was so sweat and said ahe didn't take it personally. She was grateful I feel safe enough to tell her.

[DP_2017]

The one that comes to mind first is the same as my best... my T and I had been discussing how reactions if I ever cried, because I didn't want him to leave but I didn't want to be stared at quietly.... so anyway.... the one and only time I broke down after I lost my pet, he offered to hug me, we were both seated, and he let my cry on his shoulder, for a few minutes and he was quietly talking to me, it was so beautiful and healing because I had never been able to cry in front of someone since I was very young.

The other I guess would be, one of my phobias ended up "being" in the lobby after session one day, I stood in fear and he was standing in front if it so I could get out the door, and a few minutes later, he was at my car, he came to check on me to see if I was ok. That was seriously sweet and the moment I realized, I had a good T

[stopdog]

I was surprised when the woman mocked me and then blamed me for it "I thought we were at place where I could do X, I guess I was mistaken" - yes you ****ing were mistaken. That is when I started seeing two of them and greatly limited what I used the first one for. The first was more useful for venting about my sick person and pets than the second and the second was more useful for everything else.

[smallbluefish]

Originally Posted by nottrustin

This week EMDR T and I were discussing our work. I was trying to explain why I felt thing were taking some time. However, I was trying to beat around the bush. Finally, without thinking, I told her I needed to be completely honest.with her. I told hee that I really struggle with trust and while I know I should be able to trust her I don't trust her enough at this point to discuss some of the details I need to tell her. I told her NOBODY knows any details of my abuse as it has never been needed. I told her before I can proceed with thay part of my trauma, I feel like I need to work on building our relationship. I was mortified after I said it...but she was wonderful and thanked me for being honest. We discussed it a bit and agreed that we have been trying too hard and need to slow down a bit.

Later, I emailed her thanking her for understanding and told her that my lack of trust had nothing to do with anything she has or hadn't done. She was so sweat and said ahe didn't take it personally. She was grateful I feel safe enough to tell her.

that sounds like a wonderful moment of honesty. it sounds like you've strengthened that connection with your T too, which is good to hear :-)

[smallbluefish]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I was surprised when the woman mocked me and then blamed me for it "I thought we were at place where I could do X, I guess I was mistaken" - yes you ****ing were mistaken. That is when I started seeing two of them and greatly limited what I used the first one for. The first was more useful for venting about my sick person and pets than the second and the second was more useful for everything else.

yikes! assuming you meant your T mocked you, I'm really sorry to hear this happened. hopefully the new setup--with two people--has been a lot kinder to you. :-x

[smallbluefish]

Originally Posted by Elio

I have had several surprising moments either in or from therapy. The first time we played remote control cars, we were doing our own thing and I figured out that we could go over the chair legs in the conference room we were in. I excitedly asked her to watch what I figured out. She stopped what she was doing, watched what I figured out and then tried to do it herself. Later I got stuck and I asked her to help me get unstuck by pushing me with her car. She did. Both of these produced an amazing set of feelings in me. It's kind of hard to describe what goes on during these moments. They are not predictable, they are not something that can be scripted. For me, they are very powerful.

that's true, sometimes the tiniest things mean the most.

[annielovesbacon]

Originally Posted by fille_folle

Yes. I have been shocked every single time I've disclosed something to my T. It's like my mouth is possessed and I can't control what I say.

Same! I am surprised every single time I am able to tell my T something I've been keeping a secret or hiding from my friends for years. Sometimes, I even tell her the truth about something I've been lying to MYSELF about for years!