Couch 176: The happy cake couch

"I'm sorry but I don't think this kind of talk is appropriate for work. if you'd like to bring it up with our manager I'm sure they'll agree".

I would take it as a positive. My other side would go "awwww it shows that he cares". I liked the fact that he still had phone sessions with you despite being away.

Such is the power of online peer pressure- I bought 5 figs which were on sale.

I was thinking she might be lying when I first read that line. xDDD But in all honesty I served David Mitchell the guy from peep show when he came to the pharmacy where I've worked on and off since I was 16 and I went on a school trip where JK rowling gave a talk.

On the stage perhaps- or indirectly at poetry reading.

Continuously too without any students interrupting?!

I hope you're feeling better. How do you feel about his comment at the start?

Welcome to the fig fellowship. I’m getting some later and trying stopdog’s suggestion

My T sent me an e-mail 10 hours ago and I am too scared to open it for some reason

You won't get me up in one of those things. The wings might fall off!

Our Big Boss participated actively in the discussion
We're all friends here, we know a lot about each other - who is a gay, who is a drug addict, who was in prison etc. They also know a lot about my mental issues and so on. But I don't want them to know about my miserable personal life

Captgut, everyone moves at different paces, and that doesn’t make anyone a loser! I know it’s easy for me to say through these virtual walls, but you’re not a loser! Though I really understand how it can feel so isolating with a group of people all in relationships and talking about them when you’re not able to fully participate. I was a late bloomer in the dating department, and I had to field many of those questions (I was also gay and fielding a whole other set of questions). I think the “I haven’t really found the right person yet” avenue is always perfectly legitimate. I used to say, “I’m so busy with other things, and I have great friends—a boyfriend will only slow me down! I have too much going on for that kind of distraction!” People usually don’t contest things like that. Especially when it’s said in a good natured way. I met my first girlfriend through a conversation like that where someone said, “Well, let’s try to make you more distracted, then!” It became a fun thing and opened me up to help/advice from others that I wouldn’t have been open to if I’d displayed shame (but that’s all a story for another day!). Anyway, I hope that wasn’t overstepping boundaries with the unsolicited advice. (I have three teenage daughters, so the emotions run high in my house, and we have these conversations often) Many hugs to you!

My old t/pdoc was like that Except once when he was trying to get me to return as a customer. Then i was like, whoa, why are you being so nice to me and smiling all of a sudden?! It was kind of creepy.

Thanks, Lemon. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about it. I mean, part of me likes that he admits that I have an affect on him (how I felt when he said that before), but it also scares me in a way. As for the intense part, I'd agree with that--I guess I just hadn't thought of that word to describe him before. I see him again tomorrow (then not for 11 days, but we are doing 30-min call while I'm on vacation), so I suppose we'll continue the conversation a bit then? Or maybe just talk about survival tips for 4 days with my parents and avoid the T-relationship stuff--that's probably the better way to go. I don't want to end session on a really awkward note (though likely I'll manage to do that anyway, knowing me!)

T has said the same thing.. our’s is a type of intimate relationship. It felt weird to hear but it makes sense. And I am on with it.

I have had one of those guys directly tell me she was not impervious to me and the two recent ones said similar things (I have no idea how it came up - to me it seemed as though they interjected it willy nilly). If how they did it had not been so odd, I doubt I would have remembered. I think most therapists tell their clients those sorts of things. I don't think it is all that big of a deal for them and I don't think it is anything to get concerned about. They can take care of themselves.

Upper 70's. And she's lived quite a life if all her stories are true! She was a practicing psychologist for a long time before she started teaching.

Oh, I wasn’t thinking she was making stuff up, just she must be pretty old.

I know. I just forgot to say she was getting up there in years lol

I'm sorry Artie if I've put my foot in it.

You didn't at all! (((Lemon))) it was a little unbelievable the people she's met, but then again she's old enough to make it likely! I really like her I guess y'all could tell...

And you all wonder why I consider them shady, wily and manipulative.

Hmmmm is that a private group just for T's or an open page advertising their therapy service? To be honest I guess I can the point though.

I'm glad you had fun!

Private group. But with thousands of members. I would be embarrassed even to think such a thing.

I would argue that therapists already do something like this, consciously or not, with words and phrases like process and journey and bravery. It’s all designed to make the client think they’re a hero on a quest. And who wouldn’t want to think of themselves like that?

So I don’t find it creepy. Just refreshingly naive. Guy should read some Psychology Today therapist pages.

Thanks! It was also nice to see that I'm not the only older-adult student in there...