[SpottedOwl]

I had my session with T today. A lot of emotional stuff came up, and a few tissues were used.

Then, I look at the clock, and notice it is time to end the session. I say to T "Well, its that time, and you have someone waiting...here is the check, thanks."

T stops me and says -- 'We have time, that is my worry." And I just lost it. The floodgates opened. I just sat there and let myself cry with T supporting me (and letting me squeeze the heck out of his hand.)

But....I feel bad about the timing. I don't like going over time because I feel guilty about it. But, I shouldn't really feel bad because T said it was ok. I didn't mean to leave it to the end of the session -- I was engaged the whole time, I just hadn't hit the whole emotional tipping point until I was about to leave. Or maybe, T telling me we had time was what triggered the catharsis. I don't know.

Do any of you guys go over time in your sessions? Am I worrying too much?

[HALLIEBETH87]

my T cuts me off exactly when its time and i leave

[Christina86]

I've gone over time sometimes... sometimes we need it to get our bearings or feel better before we leave.

Don't feel bad, it happens.

[MyBestKids2]

me too Hallie....no ifs, ands or buts.........

[emilyjeanne]

I've had the experience that if time permits, and it was an emotional session, going over is not a problem.

I want to congradulate you on your good session.

(((((((((((((((((((( spottedowl ))))))))))))))))))))))))

We tend to go right up to the very end...and then may go over a couple of minutes with me paying, etc. There is almost never anyone after me - I'm his last appt on Friday, and I think he takes a break after me on Monday (he probably needs one after me - lol).

The only time we went way, way over, I was in crisis, and I think he wanted to give me as much time as I needed to be okay, and give himself as much time as he needed to be sure that I would be alright over the weekend.

I think it was sweet of your T to give you that extra time. It was HIS choice. Think of it as a gift, if you can. He sounds like a really caring T.

[SpottedOwl]

Thanks for the feedback -- I really like the idea of it being a gift. That feels right.

I didn't check the clock when I left, but it was not more than 5-10 minutes over, and it was all just crying and T being there with me. He is a great T. I feel so thankful to have found him when I really needed help.

back for the support!

[SpottedOwl]

..and I forgot (isn't that typical for me) to say -- thank you, it was a great session. I so often think of it as just T doing a good job, but I did a good job too!

(I'm a bit wrung out now, but feeling pretty good.)

ty emilyjeanne

[sunrise]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
SpottedOwl said:
I so often think of it as just T doing a good job, but I did a good job too!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">You are absolutely right. The therapeutic relationship has two people in it, and it sounds like you are really contributing. Good job!
</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Do any of you guys go over time in your sessions?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">We frequently go over time. So do the clients ahead of me, lol. To me, it is no big deal. It's just the way my T is. I leave monitoring the timing of the session completely up to him. I don't look a clock or a watch. He controls the rhythm and decides when to start winding down. If he goes over, that was his decision. Today, for example, we started about 15 minutes late. I don't know when we ended but I think the session was about 65 minutes long. I'm not sure, maybe it was less. It felt just the right length to me.

[Sannah]

Hi Owl, do you feel guilty or something if anyone does something nice for you?

[Mouse_]

yeah I hate it when T kicks me out of bed when times up LOL!

[SpottedOwl]

Hi Sannah,

Yes, I do. It is something I've been working on with T. I am, what you might call, the classic pleaser -- more than happy to do nice things for others, but when someone does something nice for me I have a hard time just saying 'Thank You' and accepting it.

[Sannah]

Hi Owl, whenever I had an issue like this that I couldn't move beyond it always helped me to understand where it came from. If you can understand where it came from you can correct it from its source. Most likely it is an illogical belief which isn't helpful at all. If you can understand the whole thing you can discard it and it will stop causing you trouble.