[Rustyfinger]

Hi! There was something that was bothering me a bit near the end of my last session. We are doing phone calls (only audio). The first half went fine, we talked about how therapy was progressing. At some point, when I'm talking, I hear the sound of a knife over cutting board, and that made me think, in one hand, that there is someone else in the room when she's talking to me, hearing what I'm saying, or that she was cutting something while I was talking (I'm not so sure about that one). On the other hand, I thought: "Oh, she must have a partner then, and must be making dinner". The thing is that I'm struggling with anxiety regarding the end of the therapy, added to the romantic transference that it got a bit intense these days. She then asked me a couple of questions that I had a hard time to answer. I felt blocked, taken by those thoughts. Luckily, it was wrap up time, but I have trouble recalling everything that we talked about in the end.
Maybe it would be better if the next session was through video chat, so I would be able to see if she uses headphones, although I don't think that she would breach confidentiality by letting someone close to hear her patients.
Incidentally, do you sometimes get blocked or have trouble putting into words what you want to say to your T? It makes me feel so dumb in front of her.

[Salmon77]

I would ask T exactly what was going on. IMO a T shouldn't be chopping things while in session, because they should focus on the client, and they shouldn't have anyone else within earshot. So if it was a cutting board, that would bother me, too. It would be good to mention it because she should know that you can hear the noise and it's an inappropriate distraction.

If someone else is in the room when you're in session, that's inappropriate whether she's wearing headphones or not, IMO.

However, it seems to me that there are other noises that might sound similar, especially over the phone. Like if someone were hammering nails in another room, it could sound like chopping. So I think it's best to ask and find out what the noise was before drawing any conclusions.

[*Beth*]

I agree with Salmon.

As for feeling blocked during therapy sessions - yes. I always do, to some extent. It's frustrating.

[Mountaindewed]

I thought my old therapist had workers in her house and I asked but it was just her toddler banging a toy really loud on the floor.

I did briefly worry about confidentially. Not because of the toddler just because I thought there were a lot of people in her house who could hear.

[Rustyfinger]

Originally Posted by Salmon77

However, it seems to me that there are other noises that might sound similar, especially over the phone. Like if someone were hammering nails in another room, it could sound like chopping. So I think it's best to ask and find out what the noise was before drawing any conclusions.

Yeah, you might be right. I was pretty sure of what I heard at that moment. I'm not so sure now. There could be other explanations, and I don't think that my T would be the kind of person who would be talking like that, and I'd be difficult for her to concentrate as well. I don't think that I'll ask her, though, because it's in the past now. I should ask if another like this one happens. Thanks!

[Rustyfinger]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I agree with Salmon.

As for feeling blocked during therapy sessions - yes. I always do, to some extent. It's frustrating.

Oh, and what do you do in those situations? How do you deal with that?

[Rive.]

Part of the reason I would not be able to do phone sessions. I need to see that I have their undivided attention. Otherwise, it's easy to get side-tracked doing other things.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Rustyfinger

Oh, and what do you do in those situations? How do you deal with that?

I haven't found a way to handle it, really. I do know that it's much easier in person than on telehealth. Mostly, I just make myself start talking, saying something about what I'm trying to get out, and hope the rest of the words follow - at least somewhat.