Therapy in the Time of Pandemic

susannahsays · Jul 01, 2020 at 03:20 PM

I have a chihuahua. He is utterly devoted to me, as I am to him, and his presence is very soothing for me.

I am really anxious about my session tomorrow. I already had one outburst over text... I think I'm trying to push the therapist away. I can't seem to help myself. I should probably warn her that my demeanor will likely come off as if I'm mad at her or something when I'm not.

*Beth* · Jul 01, 2020 at 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susannahsays

I have a chihuahua. He is utterly devoted to me, as I am to him, and his presence is very soothing for me.

I am really anxious about my session tomorrow. I already had one outburst over text... I think I'm trying to push the therapist away. I can't seem to help myself. I should probably warn her that my demeanor will likely come off as if I'm mad at her or something when I'm not.

I understand your concern about pushing your therapist away. I've had that worry, probably most people are afraid of pushing their therapist away. The thing is, you know how it is...she's your T so she should be able to experience all of the reasons you're in therapy and help you work them out.

I think giving her a heads-up would be fine.

I'm wishing the very best for your little dog

nottrustin · Jul 01, 2020 at 06:59 PM

I think most T's understand the push/pull of the theraputic relationship. Current T and I have discussed it. We call it one of the dances we do. We have a few different dances that we recognize and work with.

stopdog · Jul 01, 2020 at 07:05 PM

I didn't worry about pushing a therapist away. I was much more concerned about the woman trapping me or not staying back. The therapist staying back was very important to me.

*Beth* · Jul 01, 2020 at 10:23 PM

My primary concern would be feeling that I have to censor myself in therapy. To me, therapy is sacred because it's one of the very, very few places where we can say anything we want to.

susannahsays · Jul 01, 2020 at 10:45 PM

I don't feel I can say anything I want to, but that isn't because of anything she has said or done. I don't actually think it would be good for me personally to feel I can say whatever I want to because I have strong tendencies toward self sabotage and manipulation. It's best for me to have some perception of boundaries around what it's permissible for me to say. I also probably wouldn't respect her if I thought there were no limits.

nottrustin · 08:59 AM

For those who tend to push your T away, do you tend to also do in with other people in your life?

susannahsays · Jul 02, 2020 at 08:31 AM

She canceled. I hope she doesn't have COVID...

Disappointed.

nottrustin · Jul 02, 2020 at 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susannahsays

She canceled. I hope she doesn't have COVID...

Disappointed.

oh no, I am sorry.

*Beth* · Jul 02, 2020 at 10:28 AM

Ugh. That's so frustrating.

*Beth* · Jul 02, 2020 at 02:56 PM

Question for those who do teletherapy: Do any of you actually enjoy being on camera? Kind of like you're a performer?

SlumberKitty · Jul 02, 2020 at 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

Question for those who do teletherapy: Do any of you actually enjoy being on camera? Kind of like you're a performer?

Oh no. I hate it. I hate seeing my picture. I just try to focus on Pdoc (T does phone calls).

Lonelyinmyheart · Jul 02, 2020 at 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

Question for those who do teletherapy: Do any of you actually enjoy being on camera? Kind of like you're a performer?

No longer doing teletherapy but God no, I HATE looking at myself. It's just a total nightmare for me.

*Beth* · Jul 02, 2020 at 04:10 PM

If I could actually see myself (not just that tiny image in the corner of the screen) I would probably feel horrible. But my imagination runs on...wouldn't it be fun if we could dress up in our very favorite way...or even a costume? Something that helps us to feel really special and interesting.

susannahsays · Jul 02, 2020 at 05:14 PM

I can't even be bothered to get dressed at all.

MissUdy · Jul 02, 2020 at 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

If I could actually see myself (not just that tiny image in the corner of the screen) I would probably feel horrible. But my imagination runs on...wouldn't it be fun if we could dress up in our very favorite way...or even a costume? Something that helps us to feel really special and interesting.

I was looking at all my dressing up stuff and wigs today, thinking about how I hadn’t touched them since lockdown happened. It would be fun to dress up for therapy. I wonder if they would mention it.

ArtieTheSequal · Jul 02, 2020 at 06:38 PM

I hate it. I turned my camera off yesterday briefly until t said hey turn that back on!

ArtieTheSequal · Jul 02, 2020 at 06:41 PM

I think dressing up would be fun. I have a hippie wig, pink sunglasses and huge peace-sign earrings I totally must put those on before my next session. might lighten things up a little. I think t would laugh and say okay where's Artie bring her back.

*Beth* · Jul 02, 2020 at 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtieTheSequal

I think dressing up would be fun. I have a hippie wig, pink sunglasses and huge peace-sign earrings I totally must put those on before my next session. might lighten things up a little. I think t would laugh and say okay where's Artie bring her back.

~~~~~~~~~~

*Beth* · Jul 02, 2020 at 07:55 PM

I really wonder if they would notice, or if they'd say anything if they did, except maybe "How are you feeling today?"

I've changed my hair color since teletherapy started. My therapist never says anything. But then, neither does my husband, so...

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Therapy in the Time of Pandemic

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nottrustin Grand Magnate Member Since Jan 2014 Location: n/a Posts: 4,819 10 375 hugs given	Jul 01, 2020 at 06:59 PM #23 I think most T's understand the push/pull of the theraputic relationship. Current T and I have discussed it. We call it one of the dances we do. We have a few different dances that we recognize and work with. __________________
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Jul 01, 2020 at 10:23 PM #25 My primary concern would be feeling that I have to censor myself in therapy. To me, therapy is sacred because it's one of the very, very few places where we can say anything we want to. __________________
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nottrustin Grand Magnate Member Since Jan 2014 Location: n/a Posts: 4,819 10 375 hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 06:39 AM #27 For those who tend to push your T away, do you tend to also do in with other people in your life? __________________ Last edited by nottrustin; Jul 02, 2020 at 08:59 AM..
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susannahsays Grand Magnate Member Since Jun 2018 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,355 5 1 hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 08:31 AM #28 She canceled. I hope she doesn't have COVID... Disappointed. __________________ Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. -David Gerrold
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 10:28 AM #30 Ugh. That's so frustrating. __________________
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 02:56 PM #31 Question for those who do teletherapy: Do any of you actually enjoy being on camera? Kind of like you're a performer? __________________
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 04:10 PM #34 If I could actually see myself (not just that tiny image in the corner of the screen) I would probably feel horrible. But my imagination runs on...wouldn't it be fun if we could dress up in our very favorite way...or even a costume? Something that helps us to feel really special and interesting. __________________
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susannahsays Grand Magnate Member Since Jun 2018 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,355 5 1 hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 05:14 PM #35 I can't even be bothered to get dressed at all. __________________ Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. -David Gerrold
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ArtieTheSequal Writing my way through... Member Since Feb 2020 Location: In the desert Posts: 7,211 (SuperPoster!) 4 5,750 hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 06:38 PM #37 I hate it. I turned my camera off yesterday briefly until t said hey turn that back on!
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ArtieTheSequal Writing my way through... Member Since Feb 2020 Location: In the desert Posts: 7,211 (SuperPoster!) 4 5,750 hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 06:41 PM #38 I think dressing up would be fun. I have a hippie wig, pink sunglasses and huge peace-sign earrings I totally must put those on before my next session. might lighten things up a little. I think t would laugh and say okay where's Artie bring her back.
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Jul 02, 2020 at 07:55 PM #40 I really wonder if they would notice, or if they'd say anything if they did, except maybe "How are you feeling today?" I've changed my hair color since teletherapy started. My therapist never says anything. But then, neither does my husband, so... __________________
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