[MatBell]

Have you had your t be angry/frustrated/exasperated with you because of lack of progress or you haven’t been able to do your assignments because you were too low snd just couldn’t do them (I’ve been there)?
What did your t do and how did you respond?

[SalingerEsme]

My T gets frustrated if I show a sudden lessening of trust or rapport, bc he feels we have met in a safe space so many times and he has never been unkind or dismissive, and it isn't warranted. He will only show this if caught off guard.

[toomanycats]

My T has not been frustrated at me for lack of progress, and he's never given me any assignments. However, I have absolutely frustrated him, and he has absolutely been exasperated at me.

I responded in multiple ways:

Fear
Grief
Self Judgement
Understanding
A little "well GOOD" harumphing mixed in there too

[zoiecat]

Not really from lack of progress or not doing assignments but I know I frustrate my T repeatedly. I can always tell because he lets out a long, loud exhale. It is his way of releasing stress. My brain is extremely stubborn and set in negative thinking. He has the patience of a saint but I know I frustrate him. The good thing is that he doesn't really blame me. He knows I am the way I am because of my past and it will take a long time and a lot of work to reboot my crazy brain.

[fille_folle]

My longtime T once got frustrated with me because I was blaming myself for something that wasn't my fault. She used some words she hardly ever used and shocked me into submission. It was a good session.

[nottrustin]

There have been times she has expressed frustration bit not because of something I have done or failed to do or lack of progress. She has expressed frustration with people in my lofe and circumstances. If she has ever been frustrated with me or my progress she hides it well.

[velcro003]

I would be highly surprised if my T hasn't been frustrated by me. I constantly refuse any suggestions she makes, I am practically mute some session, I don't know what the he11 I want out of therapy or life, and move at a sloth's pace. It HAS to be frustrating. I am frustrated at myself, which she knows.

Yet, she is the same, week after week. Calm, patient and kind.

[stopdog]

No and I would not put up with it. The woman was paid to stay back and she did not get a stake in my life - there was absolutely nothing for the therapist to get frustrated about.

[LonesomeTonight]

Near the end of when I was seeing her, ex-T expressed frustration with me, that I still had issues with anxiety and depression. That I was an intelligent, competent person but still had those issues. I guess she somehow didn't understand that mental illness can be a lifelong struggle, that therapy and/or medication can help with management, but might not make it go away completely. It felt like she thought I was defective since I wasn't magically better (and yes, I did/do put in effort). That was a contributing factor to why I went to see a different T, her frustration.

[winterblues17]

I'm sure there have been times when I've frustrated her, but she's never really shown that with me! Definitely a patient person because even I'm frustrated by myself and my reactions there sometimes/often!

[junkDNA]

he has told me a few times that he is frustrated... mostly because of sabotage behaviors. I appreciate his honesty. he said he cares and that's why he gets frustrated. of course it's upsetting to know that I am frustrating him

[Loco4]

Originally Posted by MatBell

Have you had your t be angry/frustrated/exasperated with you because of lack of progress or you haven’t been able to do your assignments because you were too low snd just couldn’t do them (I’ve been there)?
What did your t do and how did you respond?

When I was going through a period of withdrawing in sessions, my T did get noticeably frustrated once. She composed herself and went on to be the great T she normally is. It didn’t bother me, if anything I took it as a sign of her caring rather than anger or disappointment.

She also told me once that when I am withdrawn and refusing to engage, she feels powerless. I sense this might be the cause of the frustration.

Not for lack of progress per se, but one of them got very upset and angry when I did not do what he wanted and when I challenged him. I left him after this became repeated too many times.

I think it is normal and natural that people become frustrated for lack of progress, especially if they have invested a lot of effort. I don't think it is right for a therapist to express their personal frustration much though - it can easily make the client hold things back or try to act in certain ways to please the T more than for its own sake. I do believe it is impossible to completely conceal frustration at all times though and that's okay IMO - just try to make an effort that it does not become excessive and condescending.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Sometimes I worry I'm not progressing enough. She always asks by who's definition. Then she reminds me of how far I've come. She says it's my process and it happens as it happens. I even brought up yesterday some things about ex-Pdoc and her expectations of me. I told her how ex-Pdoc said she had 2 clients in remission from BPD. My T said that if she was told that, she would say "prove it". So no, she's never been frustrated with me for my progress, or for anything else.

[may24]

Both my ex-T and current T have expressed frustration at some point by the fact that "I'm too resistant" and usually have a big difficulty opening up and trusting them.

Ex-T once said something like "I want to help you but you're not letting me". Another time (after I had been seeing her for 3 years) she suggested that maybe I could try seeing a new T instead. She said this out of a sudden, and it hurt bc I felt unimportant and like she didn't want to keep working with me. Then the following week she said I could keep seeing her and that she belive she could help me. (though I always felt like she had given up on me long time ago).

Current T said he's been working as a T for 12 years and he's never had a client be so resistant.
We once did an exercise that he said he usually uses with couples; where we had to sit "back to back", without seeing each other's faces and say everything that was getting us frustrated/bothered us about the other.
It felt weird and kind of violent at first, but I found it helpful in the end

[mcl6136]

Originally Posted by stopdog

No and I would not put up with it. The woman was paid to stay back and she did not get a stake in my life - there was absolutely nothing for the therapist to get frustrated about.

I am with SD on this one..I wouldn't put up with it. I can be plenty frustrated with myself without any unneeded help from a therapist!!!