[Mountaindewed]

I blew my nose on my shirt during one telehealth session because I was desperate and in a closet and I didn’t have any Kleenex. I couldn’t tell if she noticed or not. With another T I wiped my nose on the back of my hoodie sleeve one time. They weren’t looking directly at me when I was doing it. But I know there’s that saying about teachers having eyes in the back of their heads so maybe therapists notice more then we think they do.

I didn’t think my therapist realized how much I was blowing my nose with Kleenex one time in her office until the end of the session when she opened the door for me. I always opened the door myself.

[divine1966]

I am sure they notice. But I think unless it pertains to the topic at hand they see no point of bringing it up.

[stopdog]

Sometimes they do. But what difference does it make to you?

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Sometimes they do. But what difference does it make to you?

I was just wondering. Sorry.

[wheeler]

I’m sure they do. I think they’re always listening and watching intensely. Body language shows a lot .

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by wheeler

I’m sure they do. I think they’re always listening and watching intensely. Body language shows a lot .

Agreed. I think of one time, fairly early on, with my T, where I mentioned something about being particularly anxious that day. I asked something like, "Is it because I'm playing with my bracelet? Or something else?" And he gestured toward me and said, "All of it." Basically, all of my body language together.

My ex-T didn't take many notes, but would generally write a couple things randomly during session. I asked at one point what she wrote, and she said it will often be something like, "seems anxious" or "looks depressed."

So I think they're always observing--it doesn't mean they're making any sort of judgment about what they observe. I've also read before that they're looking for something that might be different than normal. Like if a client always shows up dressed well, their hair done, etc., then starts showing up in wrinkled clothing, messy hair. Or the opposite. That could signify a change in their mental health. Or if they're always on time, then keep showing up late.

[atisketatasket]

I think they sometimes notice little details and sometimes they don’t, just like everyone else. Some therapists are very observant and will see the little details, some aren’t.

When they do notice things, it tends in my experience to be within a certain range, like emotional stuff—and even then it’s very general, like LT’s example of “seems anxious.”

I don’t find them any more perceptive than the average human being I meet.

[Salmon77]

Sometimes if I bring up something like that (fidgeting, runny nose, clothes, whatever) my T will say "I know," or "I noticed that, what's that about?" which makes me think that he notices things but doesn't say anything unless I do. Either he's observant or he's good at pretending he is.

[tnthomas]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

Do therapists notice little details but just don’t say anything?

You mean like snot on a client's shirt? Oh probably not.