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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DAisym on March 11, 2009, at 19:55:00
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/03/08/12-most-annoying-bad-habits-of-therapists
I think we've mentioned all of these here! Hmmm...wonder if someone is lurking.
Posted by BayLeaf on March 11, 2009, at 20:40:08
In reply to Article about annoying habits of therapists, posted by DAisym on March 11, 2009, at 19:55:00
That article is a result of this thread at PsychCentral:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=93132&highlight=annoying+habits
Bay
Posted by Dinah on March 11, 2009, at 21:03:49
In reply to Article about annoying habits of therapists, posted by DAisym on March 11, 2009, at 19:55:00
I don't really have a problem with casual dress, at least not jeans. I might mind if my therapist was in sweats, dripping wet from his lunchtime run, or in shorts. But jeans don't seem that unusual around here. In fact, I always liked casual Fridays in part because he seemed more comfortable. Maybe that's a region specific thing?
In our one session, the only thing I actually liked about the hypnotherapist I saw was her pet. It gave me something to do with my hands and gaze, so I was more relaxed than I usually would be. Plus, it was one positive thing about her before we even spoke. No one who has a cute dog at work could be all that bad. She did ask if I'd rather the dog in or out when I was there. Or something like that. If I have a choice, I always choose dog in.
Ideally, I'd bring my own lapwarmer to occupy my hands. :)
My therapist does a couple of other things on the list. I can't say I like it, and it probably does take a bit away from therapy. Both with me and with his other clients I'm sure. At this point I feel comfortable addressing the issues, but there was a long period of time when I didn't.
Posted by DAisym on March 12, 2009, at 1:09:24
In reply to Re: Article about annoying habits of therapists » DAisym, posted by BayLeaf on March 11, 2009, at 20:40:08
I was sort of joking about the lurking. I think lots of us here are also somewhat active "over there."
Over the years, we've had a running joke about writing a handbook for therapists - the dos and don'ts from the client perspective. It just struck me funny, especially since not too long ago we had a whole thread about eating. Goes to show how common these feelings about therapy are.
Posted by DAisym on March 12, 2009, at 1:15:09
In reply to Re: Article about annoying habits of therapists, posted by Dinah on March 11, 2009, at 21:03:49
I'm Ok with casual but this is California...
I'm usually dressed in skirts, jackets and heels but I come directly from work. He sometimes notes when I arrive in my jeans and tenny-shoes. I think it worries him. He did tell me it would be OK to come in my PJs if I ever felt like it. Yeah, like I'd ever leave the house that way.
I think he has only yawned a few times and I can't say he does much else on the list. I feel lucky.
Posted by FindingMyDesire on March 13, 2009, at 2:58:03
In reply to Article about annoying habits of therapists, posted by DAisym on March 11, 2009, at 19:55:00
This was a fun article. Very validating. I have experienced a few of these with previous therapists, but not so much with my current.
I worry that she is tired, but when I ask she mostly says she is not. A few times she was and told me so which makes me trust her all the more. Sometimes her eyes do look tired, but I'm starting to think that's something else. Maybe she is listening and thinking at the same time in that moment. She seems to un-focus from me partly. However, she always follows my every word. So, I don't know.
She totally dresses appropriately. Perfectly down whatever middle they are describing here. Of course I have the burden of a very active fantasy world and have to admit that I often imagine what she would look like in other kinds of clothes. But thank god that doesn't actually happen in there. I'd freak out. She is just way, way too beautiful.
I wear whatever I wear to work that day. Sounds easy. But that morning I must spend 1/2 hour picking out my clothes and stressing about it. I feel so ridiculous. I'm not a clothes person. This is usually a 2 minute exercise based on my gut feeling for the day. For therapy... I want to be comfortable, but look good. I want to feel confident but not take up too much space. I don't want to wear what I wore the last two times I saw her. I don't want to show off too much of my body (like she even cares...) Fact is, she probably doesn't even notice what I'm wearing. But I sure worry about it a lot. Sometimes I'm even running late in the morning and get totally stuck changing in and out of clothes. This is the point my partner starts to get annoyed... understandably. She knows what's up and usually says something like, "Why don't you care what you wear around me that much?" I don't know. The nine year marriage? The fact that my therapist occupies a HUGE amount of space in my head - mostly having to do with the part of me that controls my own sense of self-worth? Can't really say either one of those two things... haha
Guess that article got me going!
:-)FMD
Posted by LibraryGirl on March 26, 2009, at 9:41:24
In reply to Article about annoying habits of therapists, posted by DAisym on March 11, 2009, at 19:55:00
Hm, mine does about 7 out of the 12...
Posted by Dinah on March 27, 2009, at 17:01:09
In reply to Article about annoying habits of therapists, posted by DAisym on March 11, 2009, at 19:55:00
Or one that should be one of them. He walked ahead of me to the office as usual, and when I sat down and started the usual preliminaries, he was clearly texting or something on his phone. He said something like "let me finish this..."
It was as I walked in!! He could have called me back two minutes later, and finished the text or email first!!
I told him that that was probably on this list, and if it wasn't it should be, and he cheerfully agreed and asked what else was on the list and how many he did.
Sometimes I think my therapist is just a bit too comfortable with criticism.
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