[lenjan]

So, I'm curious.

As I'm sitting waiting for T, she walks out with the person who had the appointment time before me.

So I promptly hid behind a magazine and tried to make myself invisible.

Because T's immediately prior appointment....was with someone I was in the nut hut with a few weeks ago.

I didn't say anything to T, and I tried to stay out of sight till this person left, because I didn't know if she would want a reminder of that place.

What is proper etiquette in such situations? Do I say to T, "oh, I know one of your other clients"? Do I say hi to my fellow nutjob? I truly have no idea.

[chaotic13]

I think I would have done what you did. I hate sitting in the waiting room at my T office. I usually sit with my headphones on and avoid eye contact with the exiting patients. I did on one occasion bump into a co-worker leaving the practice one day. We exchanged a brief surprise greeting and have never spoke about it since. I think if I was in your situation and I made eye contact with the other patient, I would just give a friendly smile or head nod. I don't think I would raise the issue with my T, unless she caught the exchange and asked about it.

[sunrise]

I don't think there's a need to mention it to your T, unless it is bothering you and you need therapy on it. If you are going to mention it, your T will not be able to say much due to confidentiality, and keep in mind that this acquaintance of yours may not have revealed to your T that she was in the hospital, and maybe isn't ready to share that yet.

I think if you want to acknowledge the other person, then go ahead. Maybe try to catch her eye first and if she looks away immediately, then that would be a signal not to greet her.

[tulips30]

NUT HUT? I was in the hospital recently and thought I had heard every name. But, that's definately a new one. Funny! I mean come-on, we have to laugh. What else can you do?

tulips

[lenjan]

My other name for it is the ha-ha house.

You're right -- we have to laugh!

T would know this other patient was in the hospital because that's how we both got referred to her -- her boss is the attending psychologist at that hospital and does all the inpatient stuff.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by candybear

So, I'm curious.

As I'm sitting waiting for T, she walks out with the person who had the appointment time before me.

So I promptly hid behind a magazine and tried to make myself invisible.

Because T's immediately prior appointment....was with someone I was in the nut hut with a few weeks ago.

I didn't say anything to T, and I tried to stay out of sight till this person left, because I didn't know if she would want a reminder of that place.

What is proper etiquette in such situations? Do I say to T, "oh, I know one of your other clients"? Do I say hi to my fellow nutjob? I truly have no idea.

It's not a question of etiquette really. Since your T knows you were both in the "nut house" (with other squirrels?) together, you don't even have to worry about revealing something about the other person that they might not want known; thus, it's a non-issue. It's more along the lines of how it makes you feel either mentioning or not mentioning it to your T that you know that person. If it makes you self conscious, maybe mention it to your T so you can move beyond that feeling.

If it were me, it would spark my interest if I saw someone I knew from anywhere, and I would probably mention it to T, but there wouldn't be any discussion about it in my case. If I really got along with the person, I would likely say hello and strike up a brief chat. If I didn't like the person I saw, I wouldn't say anything to them and might be pissed off a little, but it wouldn't ruin my day and I wouldn't try to conceal myself.

Best!

[MissCharlotte]

((Candy))

If it made me uncomfortable, I would ask T to schedule us differently if possible.

You are too funny, girl.

[pegasus]

I would definitely say Hello to my fellow nutjob!

[Ltr2Hermione]

Originally Posted by candybear

So, I'm curious.

As I'm sitting waiting for T, she walks out with the person who had the appointment time before me.
So I promptly hid behind a magazine and tried to make myself invisible.

I do this too.. put my earbuds in.. my Ipod neatly hidden in my bra.. cover my face with a magazine and sit in the most obscure place in the waiting room.

I don't see that there's a need to mention it, but I'm the kind of person who would anyway. If your regular appointment follows this person's regular appointment, there's a good chance that you two are going to catch eyes at one time or another. I'm the type who would smile and nod.. maybe a little wave and wait for the other person to initiate some sort of dialogue.

the "nut hut".. I LOVE it!

L

[MINIME]

I hate the waiting room, My therapists work at a public mental health agency. I hate being in the waiting room and waiting for one of my therapists and see the other. It makes me feel yucky. Then when my reg therapist calls her client and he is a male and scary looking I get nervous for her safety. I have talked to her about it..but its yucky. Also it being a community mental health agency the waiting room is full of people and some are drama queens and others scream at the reception others talk loudly about their treatment,,,yuckkyyyyyyyy

[Simcha]

I don't really pay attention to who else is waiting, because to me it doesn't matter to my life, or my therapy, or whatever. I guess I don't care too much about if I know someone who happens to see the same therapist either for some reason. I think I am the exception to the norm on this matter though. I don't talk about therapy because of privacy concerns to anyone other than here and my trusted circle of friends, which I guess is similar.

I've been with my friend once who did go to the community mental health service where I live, and it was a complete madhouse; entirely unlike the calm atmosphere of my therapist. I might want to hide myself there and make myself inconspicuous just so I wouldn't get pestered! I don't know why that place is so different, but I can only guess that the patients aren't very functional because they probably aren't being appropriately treated by our substandard government community mental health dumping grounds.

[splitimage]

When I'm waiting to see my T I always sit behind the biggest potted plant she has and bury my head in one of her old magazines. One time another client came out, and cheerfully greeted me with hello. I kinda mumbled Hi back, and my T said she was really surprised that we'd talked at all. She's in private practice and her waiting area is at the end of a long hallway, and her office is at the top of stairs so you immediately go downstairs after the appointment.

I hate waiting for appointments to see my pdoc - thank heavens they're first thing in the morning, so not to many people are around, but the waiting area is in a very busy hallway of a psych hospital so there are always nurses and other staff going by. I feel really self conscious.

--splitimage

[MINIME]

Originally Posted by Simcha

I've been with my friend once who did go to the community mental health service where I live, and it was a complete madhouse; entirely unlike the calm atmosphere of my therapist. I might want to hide myself there and make myself inconspicuous just so I wouldn't get pestered! I don't know why that place is so different, but I can only guess that the patients aren't very functional because they probably aren't being appropriately treated by our substandard government community mental health dumping grounds.

Hey........Im functional...lol my therapists are awesome. But the waiting room is very scary.:Noooo: lol

[HALLIEBETH87]

about a few weeks after i was released for nut hut in march i saw my room mate out in a store. we chatted. it was weird but hey.....we're weird lol

[Behindthecouch]

Hi, I think you did exactly the right thing. There's no need to mention it unless either the other client/patient you know says something first after all, you never know what other people are going to be comfortable with. There's no harm in discussing it with your therapist though, if its something you need to talk through.

Love the "nut hut"!

BTC