Yep. Mine does.

I know my T does, I'm not entirely sure if all the time.

My T was in analysis for four years when he was studying. I do not think he has a T now. I think he dealt with his stuff years ago. If he has an issue I think he would consult a colleague but not in the sense of someone being his T.

Becca... glad your T's sharing was so helpful to you.

TN

My T had therapy for years, but isn't in ongoing therapy as far as I know. I do know he consults with other Ts when stuff comes up that he needs perspective on. I asked him once and he gave me a specific example of a time he consulted regarding our work together. The other T's advice led to our biggest rupture and a serious decompensation on my part, lots of dissociative crisis...but ultimately led to my getting the dissociative stuff diagnosed, so it wasn't entirely negative.

Yes, my T said she's still on her journey! Added: T made it very clear at the start she has supervision as it’s a fundamental aspect of psychotherapy. She also discusses aspects of her work with other colleagues for supervisory purposes without identifying the client/s. T is open, she keeps me focused and is not afraid to mention her weaknesses (not that there has been many or significant for me to worry about) which to me are strengths and it makes her human.

As for ex C who is a clinical supervisor I knew nothing about, when I asked her if she had supervision she clearly told me it’s for her to look after herself and not for me to concern myself with which I silently disagreed with. Her unethical abrupt ending has made me question whether she is/was being supported as surely with a supervisor she would have ended the counselling relationship humanly and professionally!

Yes My T had pre-training therapy (4yrs) Her training organization mandates a minimum of one year of personal therapy prior to applying to the course and on-going therapy while on the course at no less than 2 times per week). For what its worth T says that one year prior to the course is to little. She also had 7 years of therapy whilst training (5 days a week therapy no less!!!) - When she told me that I was and told her she was hard-core.

Her actual training was 4 years in total and a further 5th year for registration.

She has a T that she sees as and when needed. In addition she has regular and on-going clinical supervision even though experienced and qualified. This is a requirement to practice and also part of her registration with UCKP and also for CPD purposes for which she has an annual review and report done. UKCP registration means she has to evidence and demonstrate certain requirements in terms of personal therapy, client hours, supervision hrs etc not just to register in the first place but to remain on the register too.

T has always said she is on a journey, no-one is a finished article. Her having access to a T, supervision, CPD activities shows to me as her client that she cares about what she does, attends to her own internal world, and works ethically and responsibly.

I dont know, but it's something I frequently wonder about. However, I do know that my T is part of a 12-step recovery group for addicts. 35 years clean, and he's keeping it that way.

My T has shared with me that he had his own trauma and sought out treatment for it, using some of the modalities we work on together. I'm not sure if he's seeing one now. He's CEO of his company and is in a supervisory role for many other psychologists, so I'm not sure if he currently sees a T of his own. I don't know...he may after meeting me...lol.

LJB

i know he is a consultant/supervisor, and i know he's had his hardships and has been through 8 years of his own therapy. i also know he has a peer group of professionals that he bumps heads with on a regular basis.

Mine told me recently about her T. She said she started seeing him in college after her dad died. It's so weird the things you can find out about your T during sessions

my old T didn't go into details, but i knew that she had 'been through stuff' and had done a lot of therapy work herself. For me, it dint work knowing that. It left me worrying 'what if her trauma was bigger than mine - she must think I'm so pathetic'.

it made me incredibly uncomfortable. she had also told me she had a 9 year old daughter - that triggered me pretty bad and definitely affected my work with her.


I've had other Ts where i have known things about them that is highly private - including one T i saw - i found out her partner was cheating on her (with another nurse i saw as part of my treatment!). I was told about my T being two-timed on by yet another nurse (WHY they thought it was in ANY way appropriate they share this gossip with me

not only did i know before my T knew, she then went on holiday with her cheering partner (who managed the psych hostel i was living in), and got dumped on holiday ( i found that out two, when 'the other woman'asked how my T was etc…).

since those experiences, i have fought to NOT know a thing about any T i saw.

i am so incredibly grateful my current T has told me NOTHING. she really is a complete blank slate. from what I've read, isn't this better, for therapy work? honestly, all i know about her is - her name, her qualifications, that she works one day a week where i see her, and most of the rat of the week in another centre (where i had seen her 2 years previously for something else). Oh, and her car, i know what car is hers in the carpark. that is all i know. i don't even know her age, if she has a partner, is married, had kids, or will have kids.

i live in feast of finding out something about her that i don't want to know, i do plan to talk to her about this one day (its on the long list of things to bring up). id certainly hate to find out she was having or had had, problems and needed therapy. I get the impression she hasn't - and for me, that suits me perfectly, i really need to feel she is 'strong' and doesn't have 'her own stuff', least i feel the need to 'protect' her or something …

I'm sure she has supervision, so i guess technically she does 'see' a T, but not in the way meant in this thread ...

((Becca)) That sounds like it was a really touching and perhaps bonding moment. I'm glad your T shared that note with you so you hopefully felt less alone. Your T sounds great!

I have really strong feelings about this. I really do think that all practicing therapists should have had (or presently have!) therapy themselves. I really respect those who have been in the field for several decades and still seek supervision, consultation, etc.

My T is close to 60 and she has told me that she was consulting with an expert in the trauma field. She has also referred me to some Ts who use other modalities (EMDR, SE) so I can work with them as adjuncts to my main therapy. She knows that she doesn't know everything, her training/knowledge has limitations...and she's not afraid to seek guidance from others. She's also said that it doesn't make sense to her to not seek your own therapy if you're in the field. So, I didn't ask directly but I can assume that she's been in her own therapy over the years. All of that combined makes me trust her so much more!

I will definitely be continuing therapy and adding in peer supervision/consultation when I start to practice on my own. Glad to hear your T feels connected to you enough to share part of her own journey with you, Becca. That says a lot to me!

Yep, mine has regular supervision; I am glad she does, I am sure it's important for them to have somewhere to take stuff to.

fishy

erica, good to hear from you. I do love my T and if I LET her, I know she will come closer. It's the letting part that is hard but the other day really helped.

I guess, I was a little surprised she revealed that and also surprised that she had a T. She is in her upper 60's and I respect her for still working on herself. It was the first time, after many years with her, that I finally openly cried. Not even when my mom died and I went to see her, did I cry. Funny how little gestures make a huge difference.