Posted by wittgensteinz on January 28, 2009, at 8:17:38
In reply to Gifts, posted by emmanuel98 on January 27, 2009, at 20:28:53
I would ask you T what his policy is on accepting gifts, this way you know where you stand and don't risk being rejected. I don't think there is a fixed 'rule' about this. Some therapists are strict and won't accept gifts of any kind but I think most would be very happy to accept something special from their patient - such as something hand-made.
Of course, your T might well want to know the meaning behind the gift, why now, why this particular gift? These can be good things to think about - personally gift-giving can open up some interesting discussions in therapy. I had it easy, because I had read a book by my therapist and he mentioned receiving gifts from a patient, so I knew he probably would not 'reject' mine. I've taken him flowers a couple of times becuase he always has flowers in his room. I've also taken him a small painting I made and the last time I took him a CD and some chocolates in a box I'd painted.
The good thing of giving gifts is the possibility of opening up certain topics relating to the act of giving and the significance. That said, people shouldn't infer from this that giving is at all necessary or expected by therapists. The potential negative of giving is that the therapist doesn't receive the item as one would have hoped. I was the tiniest bit disappointed the last time I gave a gift (the box of chocolates) becuase he never asked what the painting on the box was about and so I assumed he found it rubbish (probably he didn't but that's my warped thinking). I've never brought it up though with him.
Witti
poster:wittgensteinz
thread:876644
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090109/msgs/876716.html