[confused4ever]

So my T called me last night and he asked me if I would be willing to come to their staff meeting next Friday. He said they meet once a month as a staff and discuss their cases. They invite a client in and all the therapists try to figure out a way to help this client and help the clients therapist with new idea's. So my T asked me yesterday if I would be interested in coming in next Friday for this, he said he is always looking for ways to benefit me, and that this is a good way to get new idea's for coping and problem solving.
He would be the interviewing T and the others would intervene when they had some idea's to help. He told me it sounds alot scarier then it really is, and he wouldn't put me in a position that it would cause me more stress. It is stickly voluntary. He thinks that it would help me in my current situation, and anything to reduce my stress levels can only help.

So I will talk to him some more today about it, and make my decision, am I nervous......yes! But it can only help me right??? Would you do this??

[Mouse_]

I think part of me would feel also that maybe T isn't up to helping me if she/he is needing group support and ideas on my case...of course this isn't the only way to look at it, but one of the things that would run along with the "yes it can only help me" feelings too...I think maybe I'd really talk about this somemore and take a rain check on this months meeting until you really understand how it will work for you???/

[Perna]

I use to have fantasies of that situation :-)

Just think of them as extensions of how your own therapist treats you. They don't know you so they can't "hurt" you because they don't know how; they're truly only interested in helping you if they can. Just assume they only know what your T knows and think of you like your T thinks of you, etc. T-clones :-) If you like your T and working with him, then I'd definately go for it (and, even if you're scared, your T can "protect" you from them).

I'd like it too because when you're in the waiting room, etc. if you see one of those T's in the future it will be like you "belong" (as opposed to the other clients that only know their own T). You can get an idea of who works there and what they're like and when your T is on vacation, you can suggest who you'd like as an emergency backup, that kind of thing. I got to be "friends" with another T where mine worked and it was nice just thinking about knowing her when my T was away and imagining her being there even though my T wasn't, gave a little more continuity to my feelings of therapy.

[confused4ever]

I like looking it that way, I know my T will protect me, he knows me well enough to know when the limits have been reached. I have walked out on him more then once, twice actually. We have since been able to clear that up, and we have a signal for each other when enough is enough on that particular conversation.

I trust my T with everything I have, I know he isn't out to benefit from this, but simply help me get thru it, he wouldn't do anything that would put me in harms way of me, or give me more stress. I am thinking that I will probably talk with him today when he calls and get alittle more info, how long the session is, so on and so on....do I have to tell them what is going on or will he.........but I trust him to not hurt me.......so it can only help!!

Me... I couldn't do it... sorry...

One of my therapists... told me that he frequently brought my case history file to these group meetings and brainstormed... ways to help me... and I was comfortable with that... he never told me what they came up with....

I think that's a really cool twist on helping :-) I have seen it done at the hospital-- Psychiatrist, several therapists, social workers, etc.... it really works out well sometimes.

[Kiya]

i was really nervous about my t just meeting with my dr. i told t was was nervous (in an email) and tuesday we talked about my being nervous! Then she changed the topic and wasn't going to tell me what was talked about! I finally got up the courage to tell her I needed to know the results... it was all very vague. Why spend the time on a meeting to get vague results and then tell me she wants to be very specific in therapy?!
I do hope this meeing with 7 Ts goes well for you. I would also say not to 'count your chickens before they're hatched" and not put too much into expectations. Just be open with it and know you can take any ideas or throw them all out.
kiya

[Cyran0]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
confused4ever said:
and anything to reduce my stress levels can only help.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

The exhibitionist in me loves this idea. A veritable therapeutic orgy. But then looking at the prospect more realistically, it starts to feel like an inquisition or tribunal. Would that really reduce your stress level?

Did you T give you a clear idea of what to expect?

Cyran0

[confused4ever]

I haven't spoken with him yet today, he is calling at some point. I will ask the questions that I have, I at this point with everything that is going on, feel that not much more could make me feel worse. The only thing I am nervous about with the whole thing, is what if one of them says something that puts me in that panic mode, or sends me back in time physically and mentally. My defenses stayed up for so long with my T, I never wanted to show him how I really was, I have lost the ability to fake it!!! I don't want to go there in a room full of people I don't know.....

[sunrise]

confused, if it were me, I would probably participate. But I can understand how it might be stressful. I would ask for a list of the questions in advance that T planned to ask me in front of all these therapists so that I would not be surprised and could better answer them. If he were unable to give me such a list, I might possibly decline to participate. Also, even if you choose not to be there, they could still have their meeting and discuss your case, relying on your T for all of the information. So your T can still get the feedback he needs whether you are there or not. BTW, from what you have written, I think your T is doing a great job of supporting you. So I wonder what he needs help on? If it were me, that is a question I would ask my T. I would say something like, "T, you have been supporting me so well in these difficult times and I really appreciate it. What aspects of my case are you uncertain about and feel you need the advice of other therapists on?"

If you do participate, just remember it is voluntary and you can leave at any time if things get uncomfortable for you. Just push back your chair from the table, thank them for their time, and excuse yourself.

not me. nope. never. no way, no how.

sorry. i hope you do what you feel is right for you.

i wont even let my T and pdoc talk without both asking me first.

i would feel very intimidated and i know that would bring out the agressive side of me. It would not be productive for me.

your situation is different though and there are already more than one professional of various flavours involved right? maybe you will feel ok

[lauren_helene]

I didn't realize T's did this sort of thing. Is yours in private practice or with a clinic?

I'd participate for sure although I'd walk through some 'what if' scenarios with him first. I'd also like to know how personal his questions might be. I wouldn't be comfortable necessarily talking about my intimacy issues for example...

I think it's a great idea and am glad you are going!

[confused4ever]

Yes I have my T and a trauma T and also the psychiatrist that prescribes my meds. I am nervous, but I also am not naive to think that my T doesn't already confer with his colleagues about my case as they all probably do anyway, now it will be a face to the case so to speak.

I talked with T, this is how it works, I go in, I had a choice of sitting in the room with them all or sitting in a room with just my T and the other therapists in another room with a two way mirror between us, I agreed to do this, but would rather have them in the room with me, as uncomfortable as it may be at first, knowing that there are 6 other T's on the other side of the mirror watching just makes me freak......I would rather see them and their faces.......not sure if that makes sense, but it feels to wierd to think of not seeing them and knowing they are listening.........anyway my T will be asking the questions, we both agreed that I do not want to have to re-tell my story, so my T will write up a outline to give to them before hand, so he askes questions, we take a break and then we resume where the other T's will ask me questions, give me input, give my T input, so on.......now if I do not want them to ask me anything I can chose that also, that we are going to discuss more next week, after my T has done his outline and showed it to me.

I am scared, and my T does a great job, but sexual abuse survivors is not his field, so I know he has already consulted two of his colleagues about me, so he feels if I am working so hard at getting better he should also work as hard, and if it means more resources for him or me, then that is what he is hoping for.

Good point on the questions, I think I will do that. I figure this though, he isn't going to ask anything we haven't already gone over in sessions, right!! So most of the stuff from him will be things already out on the table so to speak. He told me it is done in a very gentle way, that none of the other T's are there to make me feel on the spot or questioning, and he would not allow any of them to say something that would hurt me, and I told him that I always have the option of walking out also!!!!!!!!!!!! he agreed!!! But said it isnt going to go there, he would stop it first..........so I am going to do this, under the right circumstances........knowing the questions and so on........it can only help me........and I need it right now.........nothing else is working at the moment......

[lauren_helene]

I really admire his persistence and desire to help you! Great T there confused

[Kiya]

I totally agree with sunrise on the list of questions in advance. That way, you can take your time with it, write out or brainstrom some answers. I need a lot of time on things and then ponder them further. In person, i just tend to say "I dont know!!!"
=)kiya

[toffeellen]

IThis is your private life. Perhaps you are willing to go through with this because you havent developed good boundaries? Just because they are therapists doesnt mean they arent people too and this is a whole group of strangers you are going to go and talk to about very private stuff. would you feel comfortable about having a cervical smear test in front of seven doctors - in that situation you coud emotionally detach from the lack of privacy and objectifying of you, in this there is no possibility of that.

[Perna]

I don't know how you normally are in session, whether you can look at your T or not? I was asked to be an "example" for a Georgetown University Medical School psychiatry class where I sat up on the "stage" with the psychiatrist professor (whom I didn't know) and he asked me questions which I answered. The med students could come in or go out, etc. as they liked. Anyway, I remember I had a "rubber band" with me or a paperclip (???) and that was wonderful, having something to keep my hands occupied and to "focus" on. Maybe you might like to "hold" something or twiddle :-) with something like I did.

[Cyran0]

OMG Perna, I'm a spotlight hog and that would weird me out. On the other hand, I could finally get some good use out of my "I'm with crazy" tee-shirt.

Cyran0

[confused4ever]

I do that already Perna, I always have a paper clip on me during sessions so I can focus on it, my T says I talk more when my hands are busy doing something......I look at him, not all the time.............sometimes the stuff is to painful to look him in the eye and say.......then I stare at my paperclip and shape it and so on........

I know this session sounds scary.......it scares me, but at this point, my feelings of suicide and hoplessness are overwhelming me......the situation at home with my husband is just getting worse, and some where there has to be a way I can learn to deal with things.......

[tsha]

I would do it if I could set some rules, but that would probably defeat the purpose.
I know my EMDR therapist has reveiwed my case with her colleagues to find ways to get me over a hump or to prevent me from becoming retraumatized...I'm OK with that.

[Kiya]

OMG Perna that would freak me out - i have a hard time feeling "gunea pig" with the constant student that has to be in my sessions.

[wickedwings]

wow. i've never heard of this before. i think i would do it. you never know what good ideas you might get out of one of the 7. that's just my opinion for my own self. then again, that is if i could follow everybody with my deafness. following a group conversation is impossible for me.