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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
Hi, this is my first post. I have been checking in and reading messages to see what it's like here, and to learn how to do the whole message board thing. I have never used one before. I'm really scared of people -- I feel exposed even typing this. But you all seem very friendly and it is a relief to know others are feeling things, or going through things, that I am. I don't know anyone else who is seeing a therapist, and it makes me feel really alone.
Anyways, my question was if anyone has ever had their therapist offer to go with them somewhere outside the office. The idea makes me nervous. How was it to be out of the office? I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to act, or what to say or do, even more than normal. But I want to show I trust him.
Has anyone ever gone through something similar? I'd really appreciate your input.
Thanks. (sorry if I sound stupid, I'm pretty nervous)
Posted by happyflower on April 22, 2006, at 17:13:15
In reply to Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
Welcome to Babble Elaine!
I am sure you will fit right in with all of us here. :-)
Has your T asked you to go outside of his office? I have never done therapy outside of my T's office nor has he ever asked. I guess some T's take a walk with a client, but I think most stay in the office.
In any case, I would just be yourself, I am sure your T will lead the way and know what to do. How long have you been doing therapy with this T? Welcome again!
Happyflower
Posted by milly on April 22, 2006, at 17:17:05
In reply to Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
Hi and welcome to babble, don't be scared (i know I was but they really are nice people here)
My T has never asked me to go anywhere with him, where does your T want to go? Is it going to benefit you theraputically?
I know some here have ventured outside the 'office' but personally I never have.
I did want my T to accompany me to Social Services when recovered memories and detangled thoughts made it evident i had to tell someone to keep others safe but I never had the guts to ask him.
Anyway Welcome
milly
Posted by Veracity on April 22, 2006, at 17:46:23
In reply to Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
Hi Elaine,
Early in my therapy, my therapist suggested we spend one session walking a trail through a park that I used to walk on my own but had been avoiding due to severe anxiety.
We met near the trailhead and then just started walking together. She had me talk about how I was feeling as we walked and how it was for me to do it. I felt safe having her there, even though it was only like the fourth or fifth time we'd ever met and I didn't know her that well. I also liked that we were walking side-by-side and not sitting in an office where she looked at me for an entire hour! It was much easier for me to talk then.
Some people passed us on the trail from time-to-time and I wondered if they knew her, knew she was a therapist, and would then know I was probably in therapy with her. That made me a little uneasy but not too bad. At the end of the walk, we arrived back at the trailhead and just said good-bye and went our separate ways.
At the next therapy session we talked about how the walk was, though I don't remember really what was said. Overall, I think it was a good experience. It was done to help me overcome some anxiety and it was successful. There was a purpose for it.
Posted by muffled on April 22, 2006, at 22:18:32
In reply to Re: Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by Veracity on April 22, 2006, at 17:46:23
Hi
I go walking with my T lots.Lotsa times we drive in her car to get to where we gonna walk. She says I talk way better when I walking. Lotsa times she brings her dogs.
Ha I love dogs! First it was freaky, now its good.
muffled
Posted by Dinah on April 23, 2006, at 15:19:21
In reply to Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
Mine offered to visit me in the hospital when I had my baby. I was very unencouraging and he didn't.
He also offered to go to my father's funeral. He didn't and I'm rather glad he didn't. I don't like it when worlds collide.
Posted by Gee on April 23, 2006, at 22:20:18
In reply to Re: Outside the office with your T ? (newbie) » ElaineM, posted by Dinah on April 23, 2006, at 15:19:21
Hey, Welcome,
My t and I go tons of places together. Well my old t. I don't know if she's really my t anymore. But we'd go out for lunch, out for coffee, to her house (she even gave me a tour when she moved), and other places. It was weird at first, but now it's what we do. It seems natural, but then again, I don't really think she's my t anymore
G
Posted by bent on April 24, 2006, at 7:37:58
In reply to Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
I have never been any where with my T other than her office. I am pretty sure she wouldnt go any where. I have however, been 'running' into her a lot recently. Which I dont like - for some reason it makes me angry at her. I commented to her about avoiding any place near her office after I ran into her for the third time in two months and I liked her response. She said something about how things like this are going to happen and I need to get used to it. She is right, and it made me think that she probably isnt uncomfortable like I am when we see each other. I think it would be good for my therapy to get out of her office. Maybe a walk. Her office sometimes feels like her territory and getting outside might be a little more neutral.
Posted by B2chica on April 24, 2006, at 12:09:15
In reply to Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
Hi Elaine...Welcome.
due to some depression my T wanted me to go to the hospital and he accompanied me there.
just knowinig he would do that for me made me feel SO much more comfortable to go.i hope you like babble and find it as helpful as we all do.
b2c.
Posted by ElaineM on April 24, 2006, at 20:07:40
In reply to Re: Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by happyflower on April 22, 2006, at 17:13:15
I've been with him for a year and a half, and am up to four times a week now. He said we should try and take my meetings to another level by trying something different. I think it's cause I'm not improving very much. But he wants to just go for walks outside, or shopping, or help with other things I have to do during the week. I told him that I would try whatever he said, but I'm just afraid of disappointing him. I'm not good at being social, or easy to hangout with. After hearing that some of you go for walks with your T, I might try that first.
Posted by Tamar on April 25, 2006, at 20:40:59
In reply to Outside the office with your T ? (newbie), posted by ElaineM on April 22, 2006, at 15:27:36
Hi, and welcome to Babble!
I would love to go for a walk with my therapist. I’d feel much more free to talk. I mentioned the idea a couple of weeks ago (without asking him straight out) and it’s turned into one of those things that comes up every week. He absolutely won’t consider it. It feels like a huge rejection and I wish he’d agree to think about it for a week and *then* come back and tell me he can’t do it, rather than refusing straight out. Not that I’ve told him any of that, of course, because I don’t want him to know what’s going on in my mind in case he thinks up an even worse rejection. Sorry, I’ve started whining in your thread…
If you think it would help, you might find a change of scene can be pretty useful. I tend to feel oppressed by the institution of healthcare so I’d love to get out of that environment. But maybe it’s not so easy if you don’t enjoy social situations. I wonder if you’d be prepared to try a short walk and see how you feel about it. If you can’t relax then maybe it won’t work, but on the other hand you might be surprised to find yourself enjoying it!
Let us know what happens…
Tamar
This is the end of the thread.
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