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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TherapyGirl on July 30, 2009, at 19:00:09
No energy in mine. Again. Sigh.
Next week she's out Thurs. and Fri. and there's no room in her schedule for me to reschedule. I *love* how committed she is.
Did I sigh yet?
The bright side is that your T should be wide awake and raring to go for your next session.
Posted by Dinah on July 31, 2009, at 12:11:48
In reply to Dinah -- your turn for a good session, posted by TherapyGirl on July 30, 2009, at 19:00:09
Well, I wouldn't say it was good exactly. But he stayed awake and focused on the topic. Unfortunately the topic was my mother. He really likes that topic, because it's very practical and he can suggest things to fix it, even while he simultaneously admits that it really can't be fixed.
I have no power so trying to think of what I can do just causes me needless anxiety. It's better to go to sleep and forget it. Until my mother allows me to help, there's nothing I can do.
We did however get a few laughs imagining my brother and his family living with my mother. Or my mother tormenting the staff and fellow patients at a nursing home.
I told him how our therapists seemed to be on opposite schedules. He was very sorry you had a bad session yesterday, and so am I. I hope the next one is better for you, and not so bad for me either. :)
Next week I have to see him on Monday instead of Tuesday because he has a doctor appointment. And I can't schedule an extra day because it's summer vacation. Speaking of vacation, he's off the following week. Then he's home for a week, then off for a good part of the next week. Sigh.
Posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 12:00:25
In reply to Dinah -- your turn for a good session, posted by TherapyGirl on July 30, 2009, at 19:00:09
It was just too short a time to see him again. My mind is calibrated to twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays.
We talked a bit about the assignment with the egg. And he said he was looking forward to his vacation and getting away from it all. But when I reminded him that I was part of the all he was getting away from he quite properly and untruthfully said he'd miss seeing me. Then he forgot I was going to see him on Friday before he left. :)
It was neither bad nor good. He didn't fall asleep.
I hope yours is much better than last week.
Posted by TherapyGirl on August 3, 2009, at 15:17:31
In reply to Hmmm... It could go either way... » TherapyGirl, posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 12:00:25
It won't be -- she's "out" on Thursday and Friday this week and is "unvailable" the other two days. Amazing how full her schedule suddenly is. There's no way she's accepting new clients, so I can only guess it's full of other sh*t.
I'm not feeling very charitable right now.
Sorry yours wasn't a slam dunk, though.
Posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 15:25:13
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way... » Dinah, posted by TherapyGirl on August 3, 2009, at 15:17:31
:(
I had misunderstood what you said. She doesn't have any time for you this week? Despite the fact that you have a long time standing appointment? That s*cks.
I'm feeling oddly tearful. Weird, since half the time I don't even know if I need to see him. And it's really just nine or ten days.
Maybe we could open Camp Comfort in a pet friendly environment. I'd take my guys, and you could take your guys, and maybe they could divert us from highly unsatisfactory therapists.
He did at least say he didn't mind telling me where he was going on vacation, so I have a picture to put in my mind instead of feeling like he just poof! disappeared for a week.
Sometimes it feels like this is a very stupid investment of emotion. :(
Posted by TherapyGirl on August 3, 2009, at 18:35:28
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way..., posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 15:25:13
Yes, on all counts. I didn't ask her why because I figure the answer is she's going to the mountains to visit her granddaughter and plan her f*cking retirement.
Apparently she doesn't view me as a long-term client anymore. And her standard 3.5-day weekend every week is not enough. Now she needs 5-day weekends.
The dogs are actually better therapists, when they are not annoying each other or me. Right now, they're chillling and in about an hour it will be time for my little sick guy's nightly massage.
In my next life, I want to be a dog.
Posted by emilyp on August 3, 2009, at 18:55:10
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way..., posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 15:25:13
In light of many individuals on this board who sometimes have difficulty dealing with the therapeutic relationship - especially when therapists are on vacation or cannot provide as much time/attention - is it worth posting a thread that tries to provide (i) better coping skills and (ii) alternatives to therapy so individuals do not feel so dependent on their therapist? Is this a valid thought? Would people be interested in this?
Posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 19:44:30
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way..., posted by emilyp on August 3, 2009, at 18:55:10
Sure, I think that would be a good thing.
Although I daresay I'll cope just fine. A week isn't all that long.
I'm just feeling a bit sad. Maybe not so much because of the time he's away, so much as the "can't wait to get away from it all" aspect of it.
But I'm feeling better about that. He called today for something that could have probably waited till Friday. (Although he might have forgotten again that I was seeing him Friday.) For some reason, it made me feel like I don't disappear for him when he goes away. Just like knowing where he's going, even in general terms, anchors him in reality even when he's away. Since I feel better about the vacation, I'm thinking that may have been the issue. A variant on the object constancy issue.
Posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 19:47:56
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way... » Dinah, posted by TherapyGirl on August 3, 2009, at 18:35:28
I've been spending too much time on computer problems, with my constantly crashing computer, and not enough time with the kids. I've got a very sad looking pup following me and sinking by my feet without trying to capture my attention. Most unlike her.
Are your two not getting along?
I am soooo lucky right now to have three dogs who all like each other and none of whom are dominant. It's a joy that I've experienced too seldom in my life. :)
Posted by TherapyGirl on August 3, 2009, at 20:50:42
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way... » TherapyGirl, posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 19:47:56
They get along some of the time, but Bayleigh doesn't understand that little guy is sick. She keeps trying to play with him and she plays too rough. The more she tries and gets nowhere, the more determined she gets. Tonight she bit his leg and hurt him. She didn't mean to, but she did. I just can't make her understand. The alternative is for him to never come out of the crate, which doesn't seem good either. I'm just letting him out to take potty breaks, drink water and get massages from me.
I think it will go better once he's healthy. I hope so anyway.
Posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 22:16:35
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way... » Dinah, posted by TherapyGirl on August 3, 2009, at 20:50:42
Uh oh. That doesn't sound good. Did she draw blood?
I hope it sorts itself out over time.
Posted by TherapyGirl on August 4, 2009, at 6:29:07
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way... » TherapyGirl, posted by Dinah on August 3, 2009, at 22:16:35
No blood and she really was playing, she just doesn't understand that he's as frail as he is.
Posted by Dinah on August 4, 2009, at 14:28:59
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way..., posted by emilyp on August 3, 2009, at 18:55:10
Did you have any thoughts?
Posted by emilyp on August 4, 2009, at 23:01:42
In reply to Re: Hmmm... It could go either way... » emilyp, posted by Dinah on August 4, 2009, at 14:28:59
I started a new thread below.
This is the end of the thread.
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