i don't know .i think you need to go in with an attitude to maks a complete effort to interact with your T and kind of deal with the uncomfortableness of it

thank you granite. i sm trying to do that. but im not good around people. i keep shutting down. its like people are dangerous. and this is how i keep safe from them. i know t is safe. but i dont feel safe. i just hide inside myself.

Hi intheshadows,

I don't think we've met... so welcome. I think the only way to get through shutting down/pushing away is to keep dutifully going. Another thing may be that you don't connect with your T personality wise, and if you feel this may be the case sometimes it can be helpful to try out another T just to see if they dynamic is different. I see two Ts (they compliment each other well) but I have a different feeling relationship with each. I shut down around people too even despite 'knowing' someone or something is safe, you sort of have to feel it on a gut level and that takes a ton of time.

Hi and Welcome!
Intheshadows-I do this shutting down thing too.
I just read an article on mindfulness and have tried it twice in classroom situations in the last 6 months. I think if I could train myself in mindfulness I might be able to overcome the shutting down.
I think I'm going to talk to T about it next session.