advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Mountaindewed
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Mountaindewed's Avatar
 
Member Since Jun 2016
Location: Where the sidewalk ends
Posts: 38,726 (SuperPoster!)
8
9,736 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 08:04 AM
  #1
My therapist asked me if I would be ok if she used her treadmill when we did virtual sessions and I said "yeah thats fine."

Would you be ok with that or would you think it would be weird or triggering?

__________________
I'm Blue
Mountaindewed is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
LostOnTheTrail
Human Feeling
 
LostOnTheTrail's Avatar
 
Member Since Aug 2011
Location: England
Posts: 5,432
13
3,523 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 08:13 AM
  #2
I would consider that an absurd thing for a therapist to ask a client.

Yes, it's a virtual session, but virtual sessions are not meant to be less effective.

If the therapist is working out, then their focus will be on that physical activity, and less on you as the client.

If I'm paying a therapist for their time, I would like their focus to be on what I've brought to the session.

__________________
'Somewhere up above the great divide
Where the sky is wide, and the clouds are few
A man can see his way clear to the light
Just hold on tight, that's all you gotta do...'

Steve Earle - Fort Worth Blues

'You have all the grace you need for today, and today is all that matters.' - Steve Austin
LostOnTheTrail is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Discombobulated, East17, LonesomeTonight, Mountaindewed
stopdog
underdog is here
 
Member Since Sep 2011
Location: blank
Posts: 35,048 (SuperPoster!)
13
1 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 08:21 AM
  #3
If just walking on a treadmill and the noise was not annoying -it would not bother me at all. I think a lot better when I walk and I can listen so I can see where a treadmill would be a good thing. If she was running or huffing or messing with a heart rate monitor or such -then it would probably annoy me -but simple walking on a treadmill would not. I have a treadmill desk myself and used it while talking to clients etc on the phone

__________________
Please NO @

Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.
Oscar Wilde
Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
stopdog is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Discombobulated, Mountaindewed
InkyBooky
Member
 
Member Since Sep 2018
Location: U.S.
Posts: 184
6
225 hugs
given
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 08:37 AM
  #4
Some people finding walking meetings to be really beneficial in terms of boosting their thinking/focus while talking. Maybe it even makes her a better therapist. Who knows?

I'm one of those people that tend to pace when on the phone and sometimes use a walking pad treadmill during online meetings. Here's an interesting article about it: Stanford study finds walking improves creativity | Stanford Report

But if it bothers you, the client, then definitely say something. It's your session and she should only walk during your session if you're okay with it.
InkyBooky is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
LonesomeTonight, Mountaindewed
LonesomeTonight
Always in This Twilight
 
LonesomeTonight's Avatar
 
Member Since Feb 2015
Location: US
Posts: 21,607 (SuperPoster!)
9
76.2k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 09:09 AM
  #5
This would actually really bother me, in part because my therapist is an athlete and the fact that staying physically fit comes much more naturally to him than to me has been difficult for me at times.

I feel like if he was just casually walking on a treadmill--or worse, jogging/running--during our session, it would just sort of rub that in. Like, "Oh, look how physically fit I am--I can jog and still carry on this conversation." I'm sure he wouldn't mean it that way, but I think that would be going through my head.

Now, if we were to go for a walk *together*, that would be different. I've walked briefly with ex-MC and ex-T a couple times in the courtyard of their office when I was having a panic attack. I feel like the walking and being outside helped me to calm down. I doubt Dr. T would ever be willing to do that though--then again, we met outside of a coffee shop a few times during the pandemic, so maybe? Or if he were to demonstrate some stretching moves in the office, which I think he did once before (like ways to calm myself and meditate).

I suppose the difference for me is if it was more something we were doing together, rather than him trying to fit a workout in while meeting with me. I suppose if that was the only way we could meet, then possibly?
LonesomeTonight is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Mountaindewed
 
Thanks for this!
Mountaindewed
stopdog
underdog is here
 
Member Since Sep 2011
Location: blank
Posts: 35,048 (SuperPoster!)
13
1 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 09:14 AM
  #6
I never thought of using my desk treadmill as working out - it was more of a focus and way to keep from stiffening up and walking helps me think. I do use a treadmill in the winter for working out but the desk treadmill or if I am treadmilling while on the phone or something, for me, is different from what I consider working out.

__________________
Please NO @

Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.
Oscar Wilde
Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
stopdog is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
LonesomeTonight, Mountaindewed, unaluna
Discombobulated
Elder
 
Discombobulated's Avatar
 
Member Since Oct 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 5,223 (SuperPoster!)
5
12.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 09:23 AM
  #7
To me there’s a difference between walking on a treadmill (a lot of therapists practice walking therapy) or running. To me, the first can easily encompass thoughtful conversation, the second (running) has heart rate up Adrenalin going, okay for random functional chats only - not thoughtful conversing. Has she said whether she intends to walk or run?
Discombobulated is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
LonesomeTonight, Mountaindewed
Mountaindewed
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Mountaindewed's Avatar
 
Member Since Jun 2016
Location: Where the sidewalk ends
Posts: 38,726 (SuperPoster!)
8
9,736 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 09:31 AM
  #8
She said she will be walking but that her head will be "bopping back and forth."

__________________
I'm Blue
Mountaindewed is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Discombobulated, LonesomeTonight
LonesomeTonight
Always in This Twilight
 
LonesomeTonight's Avatar
 
Member Since Feb 2015
Location: US
Posts: 21,607 (SuperPoster!)
9
76.2k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 10:11 AM
  #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountaindewed View Post
She said she will be walking but that her head will be "bopping back and forth."

I think the head bopping would bother me, but if you don't think it will bother you, it's worth a shot. Is she willing to stop if you find it uncomfortable (for whatever reason) partway through?
LonesomeTonight is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
LostOnTheTrail
Mountaindewed
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Mountaindewed's Avatar
 
Member Since Jun 2016
Location: Where the sidewalk ends
Posts: 38,726 (SuperPoster!)
8
9,736 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 10:17 AM
  #10
Quote:
Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight View Post
I think the head bopping would bother me, but if you don't think it will bother you, it's worth a shot. Is she willing to stop if you find it uncomfortable (for whatever reason) partway through?
Yeah she would.

__________________
I'm Blue
Mountaindewed is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
LonesomeTonight
Always in This Twilight
 
LonesomeTonight's Avatar
 
Member Since Feb 2015
Location: US
Posts: 21,607 (SuperPoster!)
9
76.2k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 10:27 AM
  #11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountaindewed View Post
Yeah she would.

OK, that's good!
LonesomeTonight is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
divine1966
Legendary Wise Elder
 
divine1966's Avatar
 
Member Since Dec 2014
Location: US
Posts: 22,885 (SuperPoster!)
9
1,295 hugs
given
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 11:26 AM
  #12
What’s on the planet 🤦*♀️
divine1966 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Mountaindewed
Legendary Wise Elder
 
Mountaindewed's Avatar
 
Member Since Jun 2016
Location: Where the sidewalk ends
Posts: 38,726 (SuperPoster!)
8
9,736 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 01:35 PM
  #13
I just told my mom and she said "thats one of the silliest and inapropriate requests I think I've ever heard!"

__________________
I'm Blue
Mountaindewed is online now   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
LonesomeTonight, LostOnTheTrail
LostOnTheTrail
Human Feeling
 
LostOnTheTrail's Avatar
 
Member Since Aug 2011
Location: England
Posts: 5,432
13
3,523 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 02:15 PM
  #14
That's a good point.
Her focus should be on you.

"Walking therapy" is something entirely different, generally discussed with the client at length.

__________________
'Somewhere up above the great divide
Where the sky is wide, and the clouds are few
A man can see his way clear to the light
Just hold on tight, that's all you gotta do...'

Steve Earle - Fort Worth Blues

'You have all the grace you need for today, and today is all that matters.' - Steve Austin
LostOnTheTrail is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Discombobulated, LonesomeTonight, Mountaindewed
ArtieTheSequal
Writing my way through...
 
ArtieTheSequal's Avatar
 
Member Since Feb 2020
Location: In the desert of my soul
Posts: 7,591 (SuperPoster!)
4
6,004 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 07, 2024 at 03:58 PM
  #15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountaindewed View Post
I just told my mom and she said "thats one of the silliest and inapropriate requests I think I've ever heard!"
I agree with your mom. The t's focus should be only on you. Even if it's "just walking" on a treadmill, you still have to pay attention to what you're doing so you don't accidentally step off the side or something (my h has actually done that while watching TV and walking on it) so the t's attention would have to be split between you and what she is doing on the treadmill. So yeah it would bother me. I'd be like, I'm not paying you to work out. I'm paying you to be present for me.
ArtieTheSequal is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
comrademoomoo, Discombobulated, East17, LonesomeTonight, LostOnTheTrail
Brown Owl 2
Member
 
Member Since Sep 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 182
4
11 hugs
given
Default Sep 08, 2024 at 06:20 AM
  #16
I would fear that the therapists focus on me would be diminished. I expect a therapist to be really tuned in and responsive to my emotional state as shown by my body language, tone of my voice etc, and I would fear that that their focus would be less if they were walking. I think I’d find their movements distracting too and I think this would affect how ‘present’ I was in the session. I need moments of stillness in the session too. I would say no.
Brown Owl 2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
LonesomeTonight
Brown Owl 2
Member
 
Member Since Sep 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 182
4
11 hugs
given
Default Sep 08, 2024 at 06:22 AM
  #17
Also, my T responds to my emotions with her body language. If she was walking on a treadmill, she wouldn’t be able to do this.
Brown Owl 2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
CANDC
 
Thanks for this!
iheartjacques, LonesomeTonight
amandalouise
Wise Elder
 
amandalouise's Avatar
 
Member Since Mar 2009
Location: 8CS / NYS / USA
Posts: 9,162
15
888 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 08, 2024 at 11:53 AM
  #18
I would have no problem with it. when you think about it during 2020-2023 therapists were doing telehealth, virtual sessions, we are not in their homes. they probably did do their dishes, sat at their desks moving their legs exercising, some may have been using self power biking pedaling pedals at that feet, some may have been using self powered tred mills, some may have been writing notes we couldnt see, heck for all we know they could have been soaking their feet and legs in a foot soaker, foot massager or sitting against a mini back massager or other exercising. my own therapist was sitting there lifting cans of soup to keep her mind and body active during sessions.

bottom line its their home that they are in and I dont have a right to tell my therapist whether or not they can or cant move their off camera body parts during our sessions. sometimes she even sats on a yoga mat and does some meditations with me during sessions over covid shut downs.

we live in a world of telehealth and virtual sessions so its normal that our therapists may be actively trying to keep their minds and bodies grounded during sessions in what ever ways helps them to pay attention to the sessions. be it tread mill or yoga, doing dishes what ever Im all for it. lol
amandalouise is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Rive.
mote.of.soul
Lord Sasquatch
 
mote.of.soul's Avatar
 
Member Since Jan 2018
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 13,585 (SuperPoster!)
6
22.3k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Sep 08, 2024 at 06:55 PM
  #19
No, not unless I agreed to it. Otherwise therapist should give full attention, not doing other stuff at the same time.

__________________
"A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it."- Dōgen
mote.of.soul is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
iheartjacques
TheGal
Poohbah
 
Member Since Aug 2022
Location: The House
Posts: 1,198
2
819 hugs
given
Default Sep 08, 2024 at 09:32 PM
  #20
I wouldn't be cool with her working out or walking during a session. I find that request to be very bizarre and rather unprofessional.

The only thing that might pass is if she were to invite you on a walk outdoors. A stroll and talking, but even then that might be too distracting...

Btw, what type of therapy is it? Talk-therapy: psychotherapy, CBT???

And what are this "therapist's" credentials? Is she a trained, fully-liscensed psychologist?

I ask because, from observation, there seems to be a lot of people parading around as therapist who perhaps shouldn't have the title.
TheGal is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
Discombobulated, LostOnTheTrail
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to know if therapy's working or need new therapist, etc? Tryingtoheal77 Psychotherapy 6 May 30, 2018 09:47 PM
Is it acceptable of a therapist to tell you next session is last session BlueJeans00 Psychotherapy 17 Jan 10, 2018 05:50 PM
Working with another therapist to process feelings for main therapist Deer Heart Romantic Feelings Toward My Therapist 10 Jun 24, 2016 05:58 PM
Session today (3rd to last session with current Therapist) RTerroni Psychotherapy 9 May 21, 2014 09:44 PM
Is my therapist working against my recovery? goldshift Psychotherapy 13 Aug 13, 2012 01:39 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:15 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.