Em You make a very good point here. I have wondered if my son felt anything for his current therapist. He used to have a man, who I thought was pretty nice, but my son finally said he wanted to stop seeing him because it was boring!?! So, we stopped. His T now is a very energetic, hot looking woman. Seriously, any teen age boy could get MAJOR transference for her! But, he has never said anything (and I really don't expect him to). I just also wonder if it is different for teens. Your input...Read More...

FYI SD (and anyone else interested), there are some used copies of In Session at Amazon.com right now for about $12.00 and up. I paid $30 with shipping so it's a pretty good price! -CTRead More...

Thank you Scott et al! : )Read More...

This is so hard and frightening and necessary. I'm not doing very well at this yet, but intellectually I understand how much it will help me to overcome those monsters. Each time I am a little bit successful, and things turn out ok, I know I am building that bridge to happiness and health. It is important for me, and my T points this out quite often, to look at how far I have come. How I have changed many of my behaviors, even if only slightly. I know I still have a long way to go, but the...Read More...

Interesting. The reason I went into therapy was because I was waking up with horrific anxiety/panic attacks in the wee hours. I've had less since starting therapy but I still occasionally wake up drenched in sweat without remembering what I'd been dreaming about. Or, I'll wake up in the morning with just a general sense of fear/dread without really knowing why. According to my T, sometimes we don't remember our dreams for a reason. Not a conscious reason of course, but a reason nontheless.Read More...

There's a really good book out (where I got my profile quote) by Marianne Williamson titled, "A Return to Love." She defines love, in the introduction, as "...what we are born with. Fear is what we have learned [in this life]. The spiritual journey is the relinquishment -- the unlearning -- of fear and the acceptance of love in our hearts. Love is the essential existential fact. It is our ultimate reality and our purpose here on earth."Read More...

I do keep a journal...for years. Although I have had times when I've had a book burning party. I always have one around for alters that do not use the computer, and it does help especially with the very young/little ones...but I'm sick of toting it around with me...with a laptop, a bunch of pencils, crayons, markers and sketch books...it's breaking my shoulders! I use a flight case sometimes...but feel a bit like a pharmaceutical rep when I'm walking around the hospital with it. The session...Read More...

Hi Summer, I just wanted to point you towards an old post of mine that was a epiphany one day while I was struggling with why the boundaries in therapy are what they are. Hope this helps. Boundaries, I finally think I get 'em! AGRead More...

AG First of all, thanks for all the great information you have given us. It gives me so much to think about, and a different perspective of what I need vs. what I want from my T. Of course I want that to be the same thing, but I realize that is not healthy or possible. The other thing is something that I am having a hard time coming to terms with in my mind. I know that my mom had so much good flowing from her, and because of being adopted, I am so grateful for the life she gave me. And I...Read More...

Totally agree! Thanks for your replyRead More...

I'm up for a chat- can't do Tuesdays and Thursdays cause of school, but am realatively open other than that. BTW, I'm in Central time zoneRead More...

yes, this one has always gotten me into trouble. firstly by wanting to hand responsibility for my wellbeing over to others altogether (usually boyfriends and you can probably imagine the desasters ...), but at the same time not accepting any real help/love from others at all. isn't that such a paradox??? so i'm working on taking care of myself whilst also accepting the care of others 'cause i ain't superwoman (tho i would like to be, independent, neending nobody .... ahh would life be...Read More...

I usually give gifts to therapists and teachers, I always have. Its usually on there birthday or christmas. I have only had one therapist who declined to recieve a gift it was just a card and chocolates, Then she tried to give me a christmas card and some candy, so i said "Oh, Im not sure if i can accept this I took the card and left the candy. She was just a weirdo though. My current therapist is very nice about accepting gifts, she has a few things that i have brought for her sitting on...Read More...

Jo, I know sometimes that things seem tough and the burdens seem heavy but you will get through this. I know we can't be there "in person" for you but we are here to listen and support you through this difficult time. We like having you here with us in this group so please keep posting and sharing. Let us know how you are doing. I'm sorry that you now have identity theft to deal with. Just take things one step at a time. Do you have any family support? I know it can be difficult to ask for...Read More...

Yeah I think Therapists have freudian slips all the time. mine says things by mistake and it always cracks us up laughing.Read More...

thats great.Read More...

This ^ is why it is called Gradual School ! Thanks TN...and everyone.... It's nice to know that SOMEONE understands...and feels the way I do. I've been afraid that what I did was totally inappropriate and off base. When in reality (I know)...it was not. I have even asked her if she had a personal issue with casual touch. She did flinch a bit...so I may have hit a nerve there. hmmm.... Anyway...she denied having such an issue, which I thought was really strange. After all...I had just offered...Read More...

I don't have much time to chat right now, but I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you today Jo. I hope your appointment is what you need for it to be. I look forward to reading about it when you feel like posting. Sending good thoughts and strength your way, -CTRead More...

we got a scott who is big, an a scottie who is lidl. and lidl scottie talked our T abut it, but first him loked her outa her office! HA samyRead More...

*GULP!* Thank you Russ, I am amazed at how all of you here in just a few short months have taken more time and shown more concern for me than my foo ever did in my entire 43 years! I am so moved by this experience I can never go back to their lies and evil plots to hold me in their internment. Thank you all so much. And Russ, you're right about the psyche being the hardest kind of therapy. Because it is our soul that our parents have hurt, that is why the hurt is so deep and takes so long to...Read More...

Sure thing Robin... I'll let you know what I come up with. I'm sure it will be weird, but we are used to weird and have even learned to embrace it! SDRead More...

When I was going to therapy many years ago I saw my therapist in my apartment complex. I was living in a pretty big city at the time, so it wasn't AT ALL expected. It turned out she lived there, in the same apartment complex as me. Our mailboxes were in the same spot. That was waaaay awkward for me, and I always made my roommate get the mail from then on. And it seemed every time I left my apartment, I was on the lookout to make sure she wasn't walking to her car. Now, I see my son's former...Read More...

Hi Incognito- I'm glad that you survived through your session! I have to say that you seem to have made an amazing breakthrough with your T. I want to reiterate what everyone else has said just because it is true and worth saying a million times until you believe it: You were a child. It was in no way your choice or your fault. Your body reacted the way your body is made to react and there is no shame in that. In addition, I wanted to take a sec to comment on the paternal transference aspect...Read More...