So i finally looked around my T's office and it is ugly.

What was T thinking?????

The carpet is ugly, the walls are ugly, the couch is ugly. Maybe that is why I am always in a bad mood LOL

I'm sure T is raking in the big $$, can't T get a pretty office damit!

[chaotic13]

Does it have a ugly floral pattern couch and a leather chair with a big *** print in it? I think together combined we all could create are pretty amusing T office.

My t's office is ugly, too. I think that a number of clinicians share this house that has been converted... Maybe 4 or 5 of them... They typically use whatever room happens to be free, but my therapist tries to get this one particular room every time - the ugliest room as it happens.

I think what he likes about it is that it has the most comfortable chairs and the room is the right size for the chairs to be fairly optimally spaced. Some of the other rooms have nice leather chairs - but they don't look particularly comfortable. Otherwise the rooms are really big (with a kids playpen at one end) which is a little weird... And the chairs look a little too close even though they are the same space apart as the room we are typically in.

But the room is so bare... An okay rug on the floor... But aside from that no pictures, no plants, no personal touches whatsoever. Pictures and plants would really help... Something living...

[Kiya]

lol. my t's is a schmorgesborg of color everywhere... like a painter's palette threw up. There is little rhyme or reason to it. tho there is one bookshelf that looks like it had a decorators touch once and t was told "never touch this corner"... but everything else is vivid chaos.

[ECHOES]

what does it look like?

i wonder if he likes it.

my T's room is odd. half of it is devoted to children's things; one whole wall is shelves of toys and they are loaded with toys. I find it very cluttered looking and I want to straighten it up and weed it out. Other days I just want to sweep all the toys off the shelf to get rid of the evidence of her having other patients and particularly children. lol

Another wall has a huge picture window with vertical blinds and some of the slats of the blind have fallen off and have laid on the floor below, behind and underneath her desk, visible from my vantage point on the couch and have been there since I've been going, over a year. lol. Her large plain desk is in front of the picture window and the view through the window is trees and plants, a huge window of green; once in the middle of a session the green was broken by a brilliant red cardinal resting on a branch and we both delighted in seeing that. On her desk are pictures of her daughter , a phone, and her day planner. Sometimes there is a jar of big chunky painbrushes soaking after being used by one of her little patients.

Beside the desk is a small metal cabinet with a small dollhouse on top and on the front are magnetic squares that each have a face on them representing an emotion. Behind the cabinet on the wall are her diplomas.

The next wall has 2 chairs and between them is a small round covered table with a lamp. Sometimes there is a card or two on the table and I'm always so curious to know what they are and from whom! On the wall are several framed prints.

In the corner there's a table with a plant and several books and next to that on the last wall is the couch. Sometimes the plant grows long and part of it lays on the arm of the couch and I fiddle with it.

In front of the couch is a cheap plastic parson's table with the required box of kleenex.

There's a wide flowered border along the top of the wall at the ceiling.

For the longest time I just avoided eye contact. The I started to take in the room. I think it meant I was getting comfortable there.

[Perna]

My T didn't really have her own office, borrowed other T's offices or was part of a group. I thought I was in "her" office once and it was very bare and utilitarian. They sit and listen to people talk, you need comfortable enough chairs for that and that's about it.

[sunrise]

Riptide, maybe your T's office isn't nice not because he is not willing to spend money on it, but because he has bad decorating taste. I wouldn't hold it against him. Some people just don't have much of an esthetic sense.

The color scheme of my T's office is quite dark and earthy. I think he takes special care with all of the "artifacts" that are there. Lots of stuff from third world countries, and lots of "medicine man" type implements, drums, scepters, brass receptacles filled with mystery stuff, stones and agates out on the tables, sculptures from China and Thailand, all sorts of interesting stuff.... He has a basket of toys for kids, but they are all "earthy" type toys, made of natural materials, etc. No brightly colored plastic in that room. He also has a wall for the props for his psychodrama group, and his desk area is a cluttered mess (which I find comforting). Lately he got a water cooler, which displaced some other stuff which he moved near the window where I usually sit. Piles of stuff. Starting to take over a little. I so relate to him on this... --my problem at home too. His office is a window into him--I like this self-disclosure.

[Dinah]

My therapist also takes a lot of care with the "artifacts" in his office. He once said that nothing in his office was there by chance. That everything had a meaning that was important in therapy. He's explained the various objects, but since he does that to help ground me when I'm upset, I don't really remember any of it.

I like that he puts so much thought into it.

Overall I don't like this office so much. Everything is angular and art deco. It fits the space and view well, but it's not as inviting as his old office.

His desk is always a complete mess, too. I don't mind that now that he doesn't have me stand next to it to write out my receipt. Since I usually scan my environment for things to read, it was hard to stand in front of that messy desk and keep his privacy in mind.

In the two agencies that I have seen my T at, he does not have a permanent office at either one. At the first place, we would move around all the time. At our current place, we don't move around as much, but sometimes we are in a different office. So none of the rooms I have ever seen T in have been decorated by him. I couldn't care less what the office looks like or if it's his or not, or if we move around every week. I could have therapy in a freaking haunted house with him and I'd be happy. I just want to be with him

Also a a sidenote-- Most T's do not rake in the "big bucks" that a lot of people think. And if they do-- as T's we are actually taught (or at least I was in school) not to be showy with things, even if we have them or can afford them. Plus, even if some people do have the money, they may not value decor as something that is really important.

One day when I have my own practice, I would like to have a fishtank. I think that would be really cool.

[kessa19]

How funny! Okay, I used to have to meet with my first therapist in a cheese factory (he did outreach)--it smelled HORRIBLE. It was so bright with florescent lights and plain white walls and only a table and two chairs. It felt like I was in a police interrogation room! But when we finally got to go to a "real" office I missed the "cheesy" one. Go figure!

My T just got a new office that is his own. It's really nice. His office has a couch, a desk, and a lot of stuffed animals including a hippo, lol. However, it is a long walk from the waiting room to his office. Lately, since our sessions have been so devastating, it feels like I'm walking the green mile. Also, he walks behind me which makes me very self-conscious. But it's really classy.

[MissCharlotte]

Well, aside from the assprint leftover from the client before me, my T's office is actually beautiful. It is a very soothing room. The walls are a soft beige, mustardy color, and there are books along one wall.

T's chair and the assprint chair are both brown leather and they face each other. At a right angle to the chairs, There is a nondescript couch with an orange toss pillow and a pretty Indian teak wall hanging over it. To the right of the bookcase is a knotted eastern looking fabric wall hanging. Across from the couch is a framed, silk screen framed floral print that is lovely.

There is a pattern on the rug on the floor that I can't conjure up even though I have bored a hole through it from staring at it! There is a big window and I can see trees in the distance but only if I turn around.

T's desk is in the corner with his phone and fax and stuff.

sigh--I wish I was there now--so peaceful.

About two weeks ago T and I were having a session in another therapist's office. She must see a lot of children because she had a lot of toys in her room. I loved the room because it was large and had a couch (the other rooms don't). This happened to be the first session in which I really started to talk about about sex with T and I was going into intimate details about sex with my husband. All of a sudden I stopped talking in midsentence and looked around. T asked, "What's wrong?" I said, "I'm sorry, but it's a little awkward, even for me, to be talking about sex in such a raw manner and knowing that Elmo and Big Bird and everyone are staring at me!" He said not to worry; that they wouldn't tell, but it still felt weird, hahahahahahaha.

[Lemon]

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pinksoil said:
I would like to have a fishtank. I think that would be really cool.

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Pink, I really like that idea. I would find it very soothing if my T had a fishtank. I used to have one in my room growing up and it was relaxing to stare at it or just listen to the bubbler.

I like my T's office. It is kind of cluttered, but gives me stuff to look at instead of her! Its interesting to wonder why she has chosen certain things to have in her office. I'm curious to see if it is the same when I go back next week.

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Lemon said:
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pinksoil said:
I would like to have a fishtank. I think that would be really cool.

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Pink, I really like that idea. I would find it very soothing if my T had a fishtank. I used to have one in my room growing up and it was relaxing to stare at it or just listen to the bubbler.

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Yeah I guess it comes from my history of growing up around fishtanks. It was always a big hobby in my family. My dad was, and still is, into maintaining tanks and we always had at least two and then at one point I got my own for my room. My aunt and grandma had fishtanks, too, and I find them to be so soothing.

Does anyone think its odd that I cannot recall anything about my pdocs office from when I have been there? I have been there twice, but I am not even sure of the colour of the couch lol.

I bet this is me dissociating.

[jbug]

My T's office is cluttered. She has two chairs with a table next to each one and a couch on the wall. She has this EMDR thingy between the couch and one of the chairs. She also has her desk and a bookcase. Her office is rather large so it doesn't seem cluttered with furniture its just all the stuff on the furniture. She has books, toys, games, her computer and stuff like that. Where I sit I can see her computer and I saw that she was playing solitare before she saw me and I wanted to ask her about it so bad but felt like I was prying into her business by looking at her computer. I mainly just look at the floor under her desk and try to get the guts to ask to play one of the games under her desk.

Jbug

[SingDanceRunLife]

I like my T's office.

It's got her desk in the entrance, then as you go in, two wall mounted bookshelves (one on each side), a coffeepot and tea, a couple lamps...A big comfy chair, a couch on the left side (where I always sit), and like a loveseat on the other side (where T always sits). There's also a window and a couple nice paintings.

[happysappy]

It is fun to read about how everyone therapist office is like. My T's office looks like he has been their a long time, stuff all over. He has this cool block calendar that says, let the stress begin. It is never on the right date, but it does change sometimes, maybe I will work up the nerve to change the date sometime.

My T's office is very comforting.

Space wise, I think it's perfect.

The walls are white but have things hanging on them so it doesn't seem so 'sterile and cold'. The carpet is a light blue color, but has a big area rug that is mostly a maroon with a type of "floral/twisted" pattern.

One wall has a small table with pictures of her daughter and grandkids, the couch where I typically sit which is blue with maroon/golden stripes with a golden soft pillow (which I always hold, even if I have to travel across the room to retreive it), and a soft blue pillow. On the other side of the couch is where there is a table of pamphlets about different issues and a place to lay keys/a drink/tissues, etc. Next to that - the table with the CD player to play soft, soothing music, and a coat rack.

From that wall I sit on the couch and face her - there's 2 chairs (she always sits on the one to my left) and a small table that has tissues and a little bowl of cough drops and wipes.

The wall with the door has a table against it with pictures of her grandkids. Her diplomas are over her desk (which is like 2 desks creating a right angle) along with her certifications. Her desk has her computer, and little knick knacks. One is Crockett the teddy bear we gave her! Her desk has her planner, business cards, pens, etc.

Behind her desk is like 3 small file cabinets, one having a small TV on top, a microwave, a lava lamp and above the cabinet is a picture of her and her husband, and her daughter with her husband - this area is kind of 2 feet back further then the rest of the wall. There's another 3 or 4 tall filing cabinets, along with a shredder. That wall also has a bookshelf that holds a poem we wrote to her - and a door that leads to a private bathroom.

The last wall has 2 semi big windows. It has a plant, toys, a bookshelf with tons of material and little magnets (she likes them!) etc. There's also a little pile of games.

Gosh I never knew how much we paid attention to her office while trying not to make eye contact!

[chaotic13]

Rainbowzz I bet the next time you go, you will look around and take note :-)

Pink, your comments about toys and kids stuff in the room made me laugh. Last week, my T looked a little worn out. As I entered the room and sat down I just looked at her for a second and kind of smiled. She laughed and shook her head. Her previous client was a 4-5 yr old boy and he had clearly kept her busy. He had rearranged a lot of things in the room like her mug, clock, etc.. She was clearly knocked off her game a bit. I couldn't help but laugh.

Supposedly they say if you are noticing your T's office, you are becoming more comfortable. I read that somewhere.

[Brian37]

my place is actually on the internet now....they have a web page with a virtual tour..........not sure if I should throw out the address or not.....

[ECHOES]

I had to revive this thread after thinking about it today.

I was doing my weekend cleaning that included more de-cluttering than usual. I realize after I'm done that clutter makes me edgy, anxious and I feel so much better when the surfaces are neat.

That got me to thinking about T's room. It's cluttered. (I forget what I said in my other reply..). I have wanted to ask to sit in her chair once, to see what she sees. She faces me on the couch and on that wall behind the couch is a huge framed painting of a peaceful garden scene. What I see is a wall of shelves full of toys--dozens and dozens--and one shelf is askew and has been the whole year+ that i've been going (and yes I asked if it was on purpose. lol), two tables, one with a plant that takes up the whole table and one that's covered with a lamp and some other object, a filing cabinet with the magnetic vinyl squares with faces on them showing different emotions, the doll house on top of that as if there's no place else for it, her desk which doesn't have a lot on it but isn't neat either. Then under the desk is a rug that's edges are curled, slats from the vertical blind that fell before I began therapy and still lay there, and her purse and her shopping bag(s). (always at least one shopping bag! No wonder she has so many clothes I think she must have a home with 50 closets!)

T is a calm and sturdy presence amongst these things. It seems like she and her demeanor are at odds with the room.

So I wonder if the clutter there affects me. I spend a lot of time looking at these things as if I can neaten them up with my mind. I've fantasized cleaning her room with her, talking and having our session as we had fun cleaning.

I wonder waht it would be like if her room was different.

I am finding peace and acceptance there regardless.
Maybe that's okay.
Maybe that's good.

[Izzyparker]

I think my t's office is ugly too. I even have problems with the waiting room. I think she has bad taste in general. That is evident by her taste in clothes. I often have a "what was she thinking moment?" when she comes and gets me from the waiting area.

I must suppressed my laughter or smirks. Once she asked me, "What's so funny?". I very well couldn't tell her I want to call the fashion police.

I agree that therapists don't make a ton of money. But in her case, it isn't even the money. You can buy fashionable clothes at Target. It's just not important to her. I still love her. I won't ever ask her for any decorating or fashion tips.