Hi About... my T's favorite gift that I have given him is a battery operated candle that works on a timer. It goes on each day at my appointment time and then shuts off 4 hours later. He says when he sees it he always thinks of me and he loves that. For me it feels as if I am there with him even when I am not. Like "our" light still burns even when we are apart. That our relationship still exists when I am not with him. It gives me comfort.

Anyway, that is my idea. If you are creative you may want to make her something but I'm not good at that sort of thing. Aside from any gifts I have given my T... his favorite thing to get from me is a card or letter where I talk about our relationship and the progress I have made with him. I write him a letter each Christmas about the previous year and what I have learned or how I have changed or grown.

I hope things work out for the best for you.

Good luck
TN

I've seen your artwork! Nothing more personal and precious than that!

Oh yes About - your artwork is amazing. Surely anything you put together for your T would be wonderful.

Hi About,
I want to join the chorus recommending a piece of your art. I think its really powerful and I think such a personal gift would carry a lot of meaning for your T.

I actually custom designed and made a counted cross stitch for my T (not nearly as talented as you but I can count! There's an old thread about it somewhere on here. ) The center was a favorite quote of mine "Everything will be ok in the end. If it's not ok, then it's not the end." I also choose design elements that represented how I felt about him and our journey together. I gave it to him with a (very long!) thank you note. He was really moved by the gift (he literally told me he was overwhelmed) and hung the piece right next to his desk. I look straight at it over his shoulder during our sessions. It means so much to me to know its there. So I think what you want to do is really lovely.

And speaking of quotes, feel free to use that one. LOL. It used to be my signature quote and then Liese started using it. Without getting permission from me. So go for it!

AG

Thank you all for your ideas and encouragements (I am always afraid of giving handmade things, of accidentally giving a noodle without realising it.... )

I love your ideas (TN, your candle is just so wonderful! I am not sure I would dare to give something ... reminding my presence to the T, I guess I am not at that point yet)

And AG, thank you for your "quote" blessing, I can thus steal it and keep my conscience clear ^^

and... here are the first "drafts" for the gift (I want to make a mini thank you notebook)

(I still haven't mastered the subtle art of controlling the size of the pictures on this forum, so, you can see them on tumblr)

Wow... just wow...

I think any gift that is straight from your heart, and especially one you made yourself, with all yr heart and soul put into it (like art) can never ever be a 'noodle'

quote:

Originally posted by Elsewhere:
Wow... just wow...

That is so feeling awesome!!!!!!

About,
Your talent abounds. I think your "drafts" are pretty amazing.

Hope you're doing ok...

Thank you!

Some therapy thoughts, on the importance of having support/a person even when it is dark and scary, and how therapy provides that, and helps me facing the ... bad moments.

stuck for words... just a silent wow...

Amazing pieces. I love them all, especially the booklet on tumblr.

Wow...the monsters genuinely made me tear up. They express, perfectly, how I feel and a lot of what therapy is about. Beautiful <3

You are extremely talented About!!! I am always impressed with your art

Thank you so much for all your comments!

So, Thursday was the last session before flying back to France. By a … funny turn of events, I learned I was actually allowed to come back to Canada approximately 20 minutes before the session…. let me tell you about adapting to new situations….

So I had prepared to say goodbye, as I had told my T, and she had too. And it was a very good ‘last’ session, warm and fuzzy. We began with organisational things, and I did tell her immediately about coming back (instead of first having her saying nice things to me as if I was going away… but yes, I thought about doing that… ^^), then contact during the break… and then, we both had gifts.

I had asked her, or more exactly told her that I wish she would give me something, like a gift, while knowing that therapists don’t do that, but something that would… tell me she cared and that I would be able to keep in spite of leaving. And she had, surprisingly, thought about that and wanted to find something, did I have any idea? I was flabbergasted. Like…. she would …. do something more? For me? She would accept to… be a real person? Like she actually really cared? Really? I just could not believe it.

So, we both had gifts and we had to decide who would go first. The T suggested we would play rock paper scissors to decide (of course we first did the same “paper/rock…” three times^^), and she won and went first. I won’t describe exactly what the gift was, but it was both a representation of the therapeutic relationship and an encouragement to take risks, which was very relevant for now (deciding to stay in Canada instead of following academic prestige…. ). And there was a small card, and… it is probably logical from a therapist: but she knows me very well, and wanted to do something that would make me happy (which is such a weird concept) and succeeded, while staying perfectly clear that she is my therapist, not my friend.

I gave her my gift too (and she asked whether she could show it to her supervisor because she wanted to share it with someone, which was very touching.

So the whole thing was very connecting, and warm and fuzzy, and I am so blessed I have such an awesome therapist, who accepts attachment and sees it as an integral part of the therapeutic part (while I die with shame every time, but I guess that as a client, that’s my job^^).

Here is the final version of my gift, I tried to thank her and represent the therapy:

Really incredible, About. Just so beautiful.

Wow About, this is absolutely amazing. I imagine your T was very moved by your gift.

I'm glad you'll be able to return to Canada as well. That was good news to read.

Hi About,

Wow, that is one incredible gift. So unique and touching! I'm sure it must have taken many hours to put it together. I'm glad to hear that your last session went so well.

LongRoad

About, that's an amazing gift! You are so talented!! I'm sure your T loved it!

Love it!!!

Thank you all