Does your T explain what they’re doing while they’re doing it?

Does your t tell you why they’re taking a certain approach with you or using a certain technique, and explain what it is? Do you feel them sharing/not sharing this helps or hinders you getting better? My current t does tell me what he is doing and why, and I like that he does it. My other Ts never did. I think it helps me trust him and trust the process more. A lot of times I already know why he said something, but I still appreciate him being open with me.

My T doesn't. If I was to take my sessions on a basic surface level it seems like all I am doing is going in for a chat and he is just listening. I know there is value in this alone but I am hoping there is more going on than just that. I'm guessing there is as I have seen changes and improvements over the time I've been in therapy. I would like if he did share more of what he was doing as I feel it would help the trust and stop me always wondering ..but maybe sometimes it's better not knowing for some people.

Nope. Not at all

Yes my T does, and I agree with you SummerTime, it's really important for me and it helps me to trust t. I also really think it helps me to get better and achieve my goals, because T and I are working as a team on my therapy and working from the same page.

I agree! My t has told me that he doesn’t describe what he’s doing with other clients because he doesn’t feel it would benefit them the same way it does me. I guess it just depends. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I’m studying social work.

I'm not sure whether my T does this. Can you give some examples about what it looks like?

Do you like that way or prefer he did?
Yes I think it helps me reach goals too. It also helps me to remember what my goals are and see the progress since he’s pointing it out often!

Of course. For example, my t told me the other day that he specifically told me he has a pet early on to build rapport with me. Another example is when he stopped talking to force me to think about something, he told me exactly why he did it.

I had regular therapy for countless years and very very few explain the style of therapy. Some worked some didn’t. Not until many years later (after being properly dx) did I start EMDR. My T explained everything very clearly. It was a long process but I’m here to say it worked for me.

Many clients I believe hi in therapy “blind” just needing help with their lives; I did this sad to say and had little clue what was happening. It would be wise to ask questions. This alleviates stress and needless hours of confusion.

I do understand most seeking help just want relief; grant it I did too but I learned in the long run having knowledge of ones struggles and mental health basics helps a lot.

My T explained about how the imagery exercises we do are designed to target the amygdala because the CBT part of therapy is helpful but doesn't always target our emotions. He explained how when I gradually hear his voice in my head instead of my abuser then it helps me have a healthy adult schema. He talks about when we should go over flashcard (CBT stuff) and when it's better to just distract and calm down. He also asks for my input all the time. So it feels like he is the professional but we are both driving the therapy and working together on it.

He doesn't say "I'm talking in a soothing voice at the moment because you're very upset". But I know he does that kind of thing too! Also if I asked him I think he would share what he was doing. I like that my T is very open.

i don't mind, things are good as they are. only thing that sucks really is his memory, i wish it was better but I'm also very used to it

I think I'm more interested in my T helping me make sense of me.

Yes they do, but I'm a pain in the neck client and I ask. "Why did you say that?" "How am I supposed to do that?" and sometimes if I'm feeling particularly annoying, "How many placebo controlled research studies support the efficacy of this method?" I don't get along well with psychodynamic therapists. They seem to have more trouble explaining things or I have more trouble understanding/believing their explanations. I'm the same way with medical doctors. I have a real pet peeve about being "talked down to," so when I feel like a professional is doing that I pull out my GRE words and start talking down to them.

She often offers to explain the theoretical framework which underpins what we are talking about or what she is doing. I like it, but it equally seems to reassure her that she's "right". She would categorically refute that of course if she were to read this.

My T uses a person centered approach, and way back when I started seeing her she never explained to me what she was doing. Ever. That made me very nervous. I felt helpless and powerless and frequently started dissociating. We / I noticed that when T explains to me what she's doing (or why she is doing something) it helps me feel safe, gives me back some control and helps me to trust T. I

My T and I have a deal that she tries to remember to keep me informed and that I ask her whenever I'm not sure what she is doing or why she is using a certain approach. Works quite well.

I don't know what approach she is using. Once she said I could ask. Not sure how to actually do that (well, besides the obvious of just saying those words out loud!). The entire process can just seem confusing. To trust or not to trust. To care or not to care.

MyT has never explained to me any of what she has done or is doing with me. I’ve improved tremendously. However, I had never thought about this before. It makes me curious now.

No, my T doesn't inform me of what she's doing. My previous T didn't, either. Personally, I would find it strange if my T told me she was trying to build rapport with me, and might even distance myself out of confusion. That's not to say that I've never noticed her doing things that I suspect are aimed at building rapport, she just doesn't announce it. However, I can see how the added dialogue would be helpful to some people, especially those who have had negative experiences in therapy or for whatever reason, are suspicious of their therapist. Sometimes I wish I knew why my T says or doesn't say certain things, but I chalk it up to her theoretical orientation.

I am very surprised by the number of people in this thread who aren't offered explanation of, or insight into, the therapy process or orientation. I thought it was quite standard.

My T sometimes explains things to me. I have mixed feeling about it because I have very similar training to her and know all the explanations anyway. But it is reassuring to the little part of me inside that's just hurting. If she tries something new she explains it first which again is good in building and maintaining trust.

He has suggested approaches to something.

He doesn’t really “explain” the direction he’s going and I like that. I feel safe in following his lead/direction.

It kind of feels like, if he explained everything my analytical part would come forward and would cause much stress in trying to figure it out.

ETA: I wanted to add that if he suggests something, he always give me the right to say, “I think that’s a horrible idea.” and he respects that.

I'm in schema therapy like you are and I WISH my T would explain things like yours does! I'm highly resistant to imagery due to my past, so T giving psychoeducation like in your post would really help me.

As it is, I read all the schema therapy clinician books I could find and other literature on imagery rescripting as it's used in several modalities but am still on the fence...

If T explained, I'd feel like we're a team of equals, not her as a guru doing things and expecting me to blindly trust.

My T explains if I ask a question but I usually don't ask

Rarely. The only thing I can remember her saying is teflon mind from DBT.

I don't have any psychology background but do have an interest in it especially since starting therapy. I notice some of the things that my T does but he doesn't explain. I'm not sure if he would explain if I asked but I do think it would help me. Maybe I will ask in the future. For example, when he chooses to self-disclose something I have asked him I know it is generally because he has assessed that it would be useful to do so and rarely is it off the cuff but he doesn't explain that. When he chats back to me I know it is in order to build rapport and increase trust etc....There are other times I feel like he might be doing other 'things' but am not always 100% sure. e.g. saying something on purpose to evoke a certain response or making sure I know he remembered something. The suspicion and wonder of whether what he did was on purpose or not does bother me at times which is another reason why I thinking knowing would be helpful.