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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 9:41:55
That news clipping gg put up started me thinking.
Do you ever tape your therapy sessions? Do you do it secretly?
The last 2 therapists I saw, I asked their permission to tape the sessions, and I sometimes did so. My plan was to play the tapes and transcribe them (!), to make sure I was getting as much out of the sessions and not forgetting any gems the T might've given me.
Both agreed to it without any problem.
But sometimes, I would bring the recorder, but I'd be afraid to take it out and use it, even though they'd approved it. I really appreciated that the one T offered me an extension cord and said if my recorder didn't work well, I could use one of his!
I was sort of afraid that they would think I was taping them so I could later sue them or something, which was not it at all.
Posted by happyflower on May 26, 2006, at 9:57:38
In reply to Ever tape-record your T?, posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 9:41:55
There is an idea! LOL I have a mp3 player that also records and I could hide it. Hey If I am paying for my session I can record it if I want to, I don't have ethic guidlines to follow. LOL But I think I would be too nervous that sudenly my music would come on instead. LOL
Posted by B2chica on May 26, 2006, at 10:22:11
In reply to Re: Ever tape-record your T?, posted by happyflower on May 26, 2006, at 9:57:38
>>But I think I would be too nervous that sudenly my music would come on instead...
THAT is my luck!!
b2c
Posted by susan47 on May 26, 2006, at 11:46:38
In reply to Ever tape-record your T?, posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 9:41:55
Wow, that is kind of weird.
I mean, I can understand it because I've felt that way too. But I just couldn't see carrying anything like that through. I know why I felt that way. Why did you feel that way, like you wanted to do it? I didn't trust myself.. I thought that if I listened, later, and the physical attractiveness part of him being in the room with me like that... I thought maybe the way my mind was translating things wasn't accurate. I thought that maybe what I was hearing and seeing was influencing what was actually being translated in my mind. I thought that if I taped and listened later, without the seeing, without the intense attraction I was feeling, without the melding of character and form and being-ness I felt, I would hear the real message.
Also, I didn't trust myself to remember anything, because sometimes what i thought were really valuable things he was saying, were going whoosh, right through that space between my ears, and I was forgetting half of it as soon as he was saying it. I was so intensely mesmerized by him... he was yummy ...
Posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 12:01:34
In reply to Re: Ever tape-record your T?, posted by susan47 on May 26, 2006, at 11:46:38
> Also, I didn't trust myself to remember anything, because sometimes what i thought were really valuable things he was saying, were going whoosh, right through that space between my ears,
Yeah, that's it, basically. I was never attracted to my Ts, not at all, but my mind wanders and I could mis-hear things or forget them or whatever, even without an emotional involvement. Or unconsciously suppress them, maybe, especially if they went right to the tender heart of the matter.
Plus, I kept thinking about the money. I have to pay for all of it myself, and at $95+ per session (or even $40 at the one place) I didn't want to miss ANYTHING. LOL!
PLUS… I'm still thinking about grad school to become a psychologist, so I thought it might be good to have a transcript of my own sessions to refer to, for perspective.
Posted by orchid on May 26, 2006, at 12:57:50
In reply to Ever tape-record your T?, posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 9:41:55
Interesting idea, but wonder if the therapists would be authentic and free if they know they are being recorded? They might be much more guarded (not only in that session but in later ones as well where they might be afraid of the possibility). I think it might become counterproductive for the client. I wouldn't feel like recording.
Posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 13:23:39
In reply to Wouldn't that make the Ts more guarded? » pseudoname, posted by orchid on May 26, 2006, at 12:57:50
> wonder if the therapists would be authentic and free if they know they are being recorded?
I wondered that, too. I've seen professors order tape recorders turned off in class.
But my two therapists seemed very comfortable and ignored it. They never brought it up again and suggested places to put the recorder where it would pick up better. I myself eventually forgot that it was on during the session. So, I dunno.
But I think using it caused stresses for me. In retrospect, for my own sake I should've talked about those issues with the Ts at the time.
LOL. I was afraid that if I said, “I'm not going to use this to sue you,” they *would* think that!
I'm a little surprised that no other obsessive types have reported doing it.
Posted by susan47 on May 26, 2006, at 13:24:44
In reply to Wouldn't that make the Ts more guarded? » pseudoname, posted by orchid on May 26, 2006, at 12:57:50
Yes I think it would make for an un-natural session, depending on whose more uncomfortable with that scenario. It could be perceived by the T as the client not trusting him or her .. and definitely, it would make for a more interesting session knowing that your client was going to have access to making it all public one day .. which is a pretty scary thought really, it puts on the pressure to be pretty damn perfect.
Posted by susan47 on May 26, 2006, at 14:27:21
In reply to Re: Wouldn't that make the Ts more guarded? » orchid, posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 13:23:39
I kind of remember bringing that up with my "therapist" at the time, too .. i got the impression he was a bit concerned by open to it .. a lot of things I said seemed to unnerve him. The sex bit just got him interested though and I appreciate that. You know, trying to make it seem natural and normal as though it were normal to be intimate strangers, because of course that's what the whole relationship is. Very very weird.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 26, 2006, at 14:31:10
In reply to Re: Wouldn't that make the Ts more guarded? » orchid, posted by susan47 on May 26, 2006, at 13:24:44
I've encouraged clients to tape sessions in the past as a way for them to remember what was discussed, and/or to have a copy of the relaxation exercises we did. This way, they can use the tape at home to practice.
I've also had to record sessions for training, so you get rather used to it.
gg
Posted by muffled on May 26, 2006, at 21:04:59
In reply to Ever tape-record your T?, posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 9:41:55
Posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 22:25:21
In reply to yes, felt guilty and told her (nm) » pseudoname, posted by muffled on May 26, 2006, at 21:04:59
Posted by muffled on May 31, 2006, at 14:34:55
In reply to Wow! What happened? (nm) » muffled, posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 22:25:21
Not much. She don't let me record though.
I don't blank out as much now anyhow.
Muffly
This is the end of the thread.
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