Do you tell your T about PC?

susannahsays · Apr 06, 2019 at 03:52 PM

I sent her a link to one of my posts once. I may have referenced the forum in passing before, but it's not as if it's ever come up as a topic of conversation in and of itself. I don't remember her expressing any opinion of it.

I doubt she noted my username from the post I sent her and then spent time reading through my other comments and posts. But if she had, I wouldn't care. I'm the same person here that I am in session with the same opinions, although I might express them better in written form. I don't think she'd be shocked by anything I've said.

WarmFuzzySocks · Apr 06, 2019 at 04:13 PM

My very next visit after I'd started posting here, saying things that my t would be able to identify me by, my t said something about a pair of warm fuzzy socks.

The timing was just so odd. I thought uh-oh, and

and

Then I realized that a) it is pretty unlikely that she'd read here so it was most probably a coincidence, and b) if she did/does, that's her business and not mine, as what I choose to post is my business. So there's no need to even mention it.

(Well, and c) on the VERY VERY off chance that she did read and was hinting at my username, best to just come right out and say it. I don't really do hints.)

Omers · Apr 06, 2019 at 04:14 PM

PC has played a significant role in changing how I see and work with T so I am wanting to bring it up. Not sure how it will go over, not that he has ever been negitive or discouraging with me. I know good and well at some point in his office or in an email I am going to call him T and he is going to look at me all funny. So I appreciate everyone’s feedback.
I wouldn’t mind him seeing what I post but I would feel really insecure about it until he told me his thoughts.

Echos Myron redux · Apr 06, 2019 at 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarmFuzzySocks

My very next visit after I'd started posting here, saying things that my t would be able to identify me by, my t said something about a pair of warm fuzzy socks.

The timing was just so odd. I thought uh-oh, and

and

Then I realized that a) it is pretty unlikely that she'd read here so it was most probably a coincidence, and b) if she did/does, that's her business and not mine, as what I choose to post is my business. So there's no need to even mention it.

(Well, and c) on the VERY VERY off chance that she did read and was hinting at my username, best to just come right out and say it. I don't really do hints.)

I remember growlycat saying that her old therapist had said something like "sometimes we just growl" and her having the same reaction as you. But she asked him, and it was just a coincidence. It's interesting that these synchronicities happen though.

Echos Myron redux · Apr 06, 2019 at 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omers

PC has played a significant role in changing how I see and work with T so I am wanting to bring it up. Not sure how it will go over, not that he has ever been negitive or discouraging with me. I know good and well at some point in his office or in an email I am going to call him T and he is going to look at me all funny. So I appreciate everyone’s feedback.
I wouldn’t mind him seeing what I post but I would feel really insecure about it until he told me his thoughts.

Some therapists do react negatively and some positively. I think it says more about their security in themselves than it does about the client. My first therapist said stuff like "I suppose they are all anti-me?" because he was insecure (and in his case, knew he was behaving improperly). And I've heard of other therapists also being against it because they worry about clients being unduly influenced. But my current T is all for it and sees it as a positive support resource for me. Even when people have been critical of him, he can handle it. But he's a lot more secure in himself and okay about not being perfect.

I think Ts forget that they can consult with colleagues and seek supervision, but we as clients are really isolated in this work. Why shouldn't we have a place to consult?

Whatever your therapist thinks, know that their response is a reflection of them, not you.

SalingerEsme · Apr 06, 2019 at 06:45 PM

No way! I get paranoid though that he reads what I write. We have some topics we stalemate over discussing. Like WarmFuzzySocks, he once seemed to have read what I wrote. Meanwhile, he once wrote about me on Reddit Psychotherapy a really very loving post in a way, and illuminating to read BUT kind of a betrayal too. Also making it clear how he is a little full of himself , as if clients are too out of it to read that subreddit that t never crossed his mind. Social media is a touchy subject after that.

LonesomeTonight · Apr 06, 2019 at 08:44 PM

Forgot to mention that my T keeps referring to PC as a "listserv," which is basically something from the '90s, maybe early 2000s? (Maybe they still exist? Not sure.) He finally corrected himself the other day, and was like "I know, it's not a listserv," and I was like, "Forum!"

susannahsays · Apr 06, 2019 at 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

Forgot to mention that my T keeps referring to PC as a "listserv," which is basically something from the '90s, maybe early 2000s? (Maybe they still exist? Not sure.) He finally corrected himself the other day, and was like "I know, it's not a listserv," and I was like, "Forum!"

That reminds me, when I sent the therapist a link to my post, for some reason, she thought it was a screenshot. It sort of boggles my mind how she came to that conclusion. It has been my observation that most therapists are not very technologically proficient.

Apr 06, 2019 at 09:47 PM

I've mentioned PC as "a forum". I've sometimes shared responses I've gotten here, without links to threads. Reddit too, though I'll say it's Reddit.

She hasn't given any opinion, and she knows I derive a lot of support from online communities, that I don't differentiate between "online friends" and "offline friends".

During some cultural competency ruptures, I've quoted people here by initials. We came to a compromise and I'm not struggling as much with that particular aspect of me anymore.

She's really busy, so I'm not worried she'll look me up. She doesn't have the time, and even if she did, it's clear she rather not do work related matters, and prefers to spend time with her friends and loved ones.

stopdog · Apr 06, 2019 at 10:27 PM

I really don't think 99% of clients are as recognizable to therapists as it may seem. I seriously doubt most therapists would be able to pick any client out from the posts. I could have signed my name and the ones I hired would not have recognized me.

Omers · Apr 07, 2019 at 12:08 AM

I am sure if my T got on here he would know which one I was... but that would be fine by me... it’s not like I am over here bashing him all the time :ROFL: everyone knows what a hard time I have with him. Oddly enough I worry more about protecting his privacy on here. And I think anything that saves him from seeing my name in his email even one less time a week is good by him! He would not totally agree.

LolaCabanna · Apr 07, 2019 at 01:24 AM

How the couch isn’t a sticky at this point is beyond me ... much love to everyone , especially- Stopdog

junkDNA · Apr 07, 2019 at 06:48 AM

I've mentioned it before but not by name

88Butterfly88 · Apr 07, 2019 at 07:07 AM

T knows I'm on some mental health forums but not the names or my usernames.

GeekyOne · Apr 07, 2019 at 11:04 AM

My T knows I'm part of at least one online mental health/illness community, but not where or my username or anything (nor would I tell her). Mostly she thinks it's good to have somewhere to be able to talk and knows that it does help with some loneliness/isolation.

SlumberKitty · Apr 08, 2019 at 01:56 PM

My T knows I'm on a psychology forum but didn't have much to say about it and I didn't go into details.

Rive1976 · Apr 09, 2019 at 09:54 PM

I have mentioned as in I heard this or that here to get her opinion but not mentioned the name just said a forum. She doesnt like it.

sophiebunny · Apr 09, 2019 at 10:16 PM

Both my psychiatrist and therapist know I've written for PC and post on the message board. Both have read my articles. I discuss my message board posts with them. It's not a deep dark secret, especially since I have articles published on subjects I post about.

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LonesomeTonight Always in This Twilight Member Since Feb 2015 Location: US Posts: 20,730 (SuperPoster!) 9 74.9k hugs given	Apr 06, 2019 at 08:44 PM #27 Forgot to mention that my T keeps referring to PC as a "listserv," which is basically something from the '90s, maybe early 2000s? (Maybe they still exist? Not sure.) He finally corrected himself the other day, and was like "I know, it's not a listserv," and I was like, "Forum!"
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LolaCabanna Grand Poohbah Member Since Nov 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 1,573 10 1,231 hugs given	Apr 07, 2019 at 01:24 AM #32 How the couch isn’t a sticky at this point is beyond me ... much love to everyone , especially- Stopdog __________________ Nothing really matters, does it?
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junkDNA Comfy Sedation Member Since Sep 2012 Location: the woods Posts: 19,301 (SuperPoster!) 11 8,149 hugs given	Apr 07, 2019 at 06:48 AM #33 I've mentioned it before but not by name __________________
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88Butterfly88 Moderator Community Support Team Member Since Dec 2015 Location: New Jersey Posts: 54,190 (SuperPoster!) 8 10.5k hugs given	Apr 07, 2019 at 07:07 AM #34 T knows I'm on some mental health forums but not the names or my usernames.
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GeekyOne Member Member Since Jan 2018 Location: USA Posts: 210 6	Apr 07, 2019 at 11:04 AM #35 My T knows I'm part of at least one online mental health/illness community, but not where or my username or anything (nor would I tell her). Mostly she thinks it's good to have somewhere to be able to talk and knows that it does help with some loneliness/isolation.
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SlumberKitty Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jul 2018 Location: CA Posts: 27,329 (SuperPoster!) 5 117.7k hugs given	Apr 08, 2019 at 01:56 PM #36 My T knows I'm on a psychology forum but didn't have much to say about it and I didn't go into details. __________________ Dum Spiro Spero IC XC NIKA
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Rive1976 Grand Poohbah Member Since Mar 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,740 6 144 hugs given	Apr 09, 2019 at 09:54 PM #37 I have mentioned as in I heard this or that here to get her opinion but not mentioned the name just said a forum. She doesnt like it.
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sophiebunny Veteran Member Member Since Jan 2019 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 570 5 77 hugs given	Apr 09, 2019 at 10:16 PM #38 Both my psychiatrist and therapist know I've written for PC and post on the message board. Both have read my articles. I discuss my message board posts with them. It's not a deep dark secret, especially since I have articles published on subjects I post about.
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