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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 Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 8:08:05
I got a very testy two line email from my therapist telling me he didn't have any plans to terminate me, and he thought he'd made that clear.
I definitely need to put in place a no contact order by email. He's worse at email than he is at phones. And that's saying something. I end up reading into what he writes things he might not have intended, and I can't even check it out in real time. Which is a step down from the phone, where I do the same thing, but can check it out.
Posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 8:41:31
In reply to Whew., posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 8:08:05
Emailed him and told him I wasn't going to contact him by email when he wasn't otherwise available anymore, and asked him to do the same.
Thanked him for trying it, took the blame on myself for misreading, all that good stuff.
I never thought there would be a worse method of communication than phone, but I've found it. :(
Posted by cricket on October 20, 2005, at 8:56:07
In reply to I did it, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 8:41:31
Good for you. So just hold tight until you see him if you can. It sounds like his plans may be falling into place.
Geez, I hope he appreciates everything you are doing to keep your therapeutic relationship in place.
Posted by fairywings on October 20, 2005, at 9:19:55
In reply to Whew., posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 8:08:05
> I got a very testy two line email from my therapist telling me he didn't have any plans to terminate me, and he thought he'd made that clear.
>Yikes! Ouch! I don't blame you for not wanting the email contact! Hurts to feel that way, and worry about what they're thinking. Hope he responds in a thoughtful manner before you stop email communication.
fw
Posted by Annierose on October 20, 2005, at 10:31:00
In reply to I did it, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 8:41:31
It sounds like a part of you doesn't want to accept the truth: your T still wants to maintain a theraputic relationship with you. He is NOT going to terminate you. However, the continous, on-going therapy has indeed changed.
Yes, I agree. The written word can be interpreted in many ways. Maybe he was being direct, as in, "I am not going to abandon you."
You have been on such the roller coaster. I feel for you. Life is hard enough.
Posted by fallsfall on October 20, 2005, at 11:21:14
In reply to I did it, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 8:41:31
I'm glad you are taking steps to protect yourself. You really are doing an amazing job, Dinah.
Posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 15:27:17
In reply to Re: Whew., posted by fairywings on October 20, 2005, at 9:19:55
Actually, he did.
But I was delighted with the terse communication, because it was communicating that he wasn't planning to terminate me.
Notice he didn't say he wasn't planning to be gone a heck of a lot, but still...
Posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 15:33:09
In reply to Re: Whew. » fairywings, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 15:27:17
With such a dense and totally insensitive reply that I was reassured at his familiarity. ;)
He said that he thought email had worked out better than no communication at all. (It hasn't). That I should ask for clarification if I needed it. (I did, and he missed it.) He gave me his phone number, which I don't intend to use. And best of all... He told me to hang in there (I hate that phrase coming from him) because we were headed into the home stretch (BINGO!!!! THE RIGHT WORDS!).
It takes him some time, but eventually he stumbles across the right words.
By the way, I was pretty proud of myself too for taking care of me. I had been thinking of writing this all week, but couldn't give up the hope of seeing that I had mail, and hoping that this time it wouldn't be horrible news from him. I'm really proud that I could put that dependent wish aside and do something that made sense given how our exchanges have actually gone.
Posted by Poet on October 22, 2005, at 16:56:16
In reply to He responded., posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 15:33:09
Hi Dinah,
You should be proud of yourself. Several safe cyber pats on the back.
<< With such a dense and totally insensitive reply that I was reassured at his familiarity. ;)
That is so funny, but comforting. It's like when my T apologizes every week for forgetting to bring me a book she wants to lend me. It's reassuring that she thinks of me between sessions, even though it's when she sees the book on her dining room table and promptly forgets to bring it on Thursday. I guess I should call her on Thursday and remind her to forget to bring it.
Poet
Posted by antigua on October 23, 2005, at 17:20:27
In reply to He responded., posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 15:33:09
I've been reading and following all that has gone on with you after the hurricane and all I can say is that you are just a remarkable woman. The woman who has always said she had to have forever therapy was thrust into this position and you're handling it better than I think anyone possibly could. I admire you tremendously. You are strong.
best,
antigua
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2005, at 21:52:51
In reply to Re: He responded. » Dinah, posted by Poet on October 22, 2005, at 16:56:16
Chuckle.
Somehow the minor flaws are so reassuring. Don't ask me why. I find the same thing about my husband.
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2005, at 21:53:31
In reply to Re: He responded., posted by antigua on October 23, 2005, at 17:20:27
Thanks :)
Posted by Damos on October 23, 2005, at 22:22:37
In reply to He responded., posted by Dinah on October 20, 2005, at 15:33:09
> With such a dense and totally insensitive reply that I was reassured at his familiarity. ;)
Sorry, but I just had to laugh when I read that.
Can't adequately express how much I admire you for the way you have and are managing everything that's going on in your life. Everyday you amaze me.
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2005, at 22:44:21
In reply to Re: He responded. » Dinah, posted by Damos on October 23, 2005, at 22:22:37
This is the end of the thread.
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