Posted by LG04 on April 18, 2004, at 13:51:29
I have a question:
I often speak to my therapist on the phone between sessions. She has a lively (noisy) household -- 3 sons. There is often a lot of noise in the background where they are yelling, having fun, etc. It is very hard for me to talk with my therapist when I am hearing this. Not because it's her real life, but because I feel minimalized. I also feel that she must be a bit distracted. Also I can't think straight with all that noise in the background.
I talked to her about this once and she told me that she does not get distracted from the background noise, that she is giving me her full attention. But for me, it is very distracting. It is hard for me to concentrate on what I am telling her and also to feel that she is really listening. Especially if I'm calling her when I'm in a lot of pain, I feel very trivialized. I told her about it again (it happens often) and I think she got frustrated with me. I am not asking her to ask her kids to be quiet, but rather if she can go into a quiet room. She said sometimes it's possible and sometimes it's not. (I don't understand why sometimes it wouldn't be possible, she has a portable phone.)
On the one hand, I feel that it's nervy of me to ask her to speak to me from a quiet place when after all, it's me calling her at her home, in her home environment, and she is very flexible about how often we talk. On the other hand, it feels so bad to me when I am trying to talk to her with all that noise in the background. I would feel the same way if it was a TV or a party or anything else in the background.
Is it okay for me to ask her to go to a quiet place when I call? Do any of you ever experience this issue? Any thoughts?
Thanks,
LG
poster:LG04
thread:337437
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040409/msgs/337437.html