Posted by Tamar on December 7, 2005, at 7:26:56
In reply to So.....how DO you sit?!, posted by fairywings on December 6, 2005, at 19:27:17
I used to sit on straight chair, opposite him (he was also in a straight chair). I felt very exposed and uncomfortable a lot of the time and often I wanted to sit on the floor but for some reason I never did it.
I was pregnant when I was in therapy and at first I sat leaning forward with my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands. But pretty soon my tummy got too big and I had to sit up straight. By then I was too big to cross my legs at the knee, so I sat with one ankle on the opposite knee (did I describe that so that people know what I mean?). I think it’s actually a very masculine and dominant position to sit in, and my therapist never mirrored it, although it wouldn’t have bothered me. It was simply comfortable for me. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen another woman sit like that.
I also sat on my hands quite a lot. My therapist never mirrored that one either. But when I sat with my hands on my abdomen he would mirror me. And if I caught him I’d very deliberately reposition myself in one of the positions he never mirrored.
I was constantly aware of my body language and of his. That’s probably part of the reason I felt so exposed. I don’t know a lot about body language, but I definitely was aware of what my body and his body were doing in therapy!
poster:Tamar
thread:586236
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20051206/msgs/586407.html