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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lifeworthliving on May 16, 2004, at 14:36:57
i have an appt this week with my therapist and massage therapist. i laughed outloud to the comment from another poster here about being a "pathetic therapy junkie." i've thought that about myself regarding the upcoming appt. i won't be taking off any clothes, so that will be different but will also increase my comfort level. i'm both excited and anxious to reap any possible benefit. when i asked therp about her expectations she said she has none. i anticipate an intensity i can't quite articulate... like i get to combine two selves: the part of me that goes to therapy and the part of me that does body work. i signed a release so that they could talk about me. i wonder what's been said?
--life
Posted by pegasus on May 17, 2004, at 21:57:36
In reply to body work, posted by lifeworthliving on May 16, 2004, at 14:36:57
Hi lwl,
Have you done your combo session yet? I don't think you mentioned which day. I'm dying to know how it went. It sounds very unusual, but potentially really helpful. If you haven't gone yet, please post when you do.
pegasus
Posted by lifeworthliving on May 18, 2004, at 0:13:18
In reply to Re: body work, posted by pegasus on May 17, 2004, at 21:57:36
> Hi lwl,
>
> Have you done your combo session yet? I don't think you mentioned which day. I'm dying to know how it went. It sounds very unusual, but potentially really helpful. If you haven't gone yet, please post when you do.
>
> pegasusi'm so glad someone is interested to know how it goes. i'll be anxious to talk about it. if i can't post wed night i'll be sure to let you know on thursday morning how it went. i've been thinking about the appt a lot... wondering what it will look like, will i cry, etc.
--life
Posted by gardenergirl on May 18, 2004, at 12:53:47
In reply to Re: body work, posted by lifeworthliving on May 18, 2004, at 0:13:18
Posted by lonelygirl on May 20, 2004, at 12:27:32
In reply to body work, posted by lifeworthliving on May 16, 2004, at 14:36:57
Hmm, I don't know if I'm understanding this correctly or not, but it sounds like you are seeing your therapist and your massage therapist at the same time? So you will be getting a massage while talking to your therapist? Now THAT sounds interesting! Perhaps this will catch on and you'll start a new form of therapy! :)
Posted by pegasus on May 20, 2004, at 15:14:19
In reply to body work, posted by lifeworthliving on May 16, 2004, at 14:36:57
So, I'm dying to know how it went! I hope it wasn't so traumatic that you don't want to talk about it now!
pegasus
Posted by lifeworthliving on May 20, 2004, at 22:45:38
In reply to Re: body work, posted by pegasus on May 20, 2004, at 15:14:19
not traumatizing at all. sorry it took me so long to respond.
hmmm, where to start?
it was weird to see my therapist and the massage therp together where the massage t works. it was awkward initially, and i did ask my t to leave and let m t get me set up on the table. not sure why that bugged me or was important but i felt better after she left. i loved having my clothes on! i had been banned just a month prior for not doing it right (i think i mean for complaining a lot, and when given an opportunity to "find, feel and express" i didn't perform - lol). it was new territory for all of us so didn't feel very natural (that isn't the right word but i can't think of anything more suitable right now). it was just ok, kwim? i'm not dying to go back and i wouldn't refuse to do it again. i'm willing to play guinea pig for a bit. i didn't like paying the massage t for getting "less than" what i usually get. the idea this time was to let my t sort of run interference but also do lifespan integration work... if it seemed to be appropriate. the m t was more of support person even though this is her territory, generally. it was thought that my traumatic past is what made massage t appts difficult? i continued to go because they felt constructive to me. i did feel better when i left, etc. i just pissed of the mt one day not too long ago when i didn't do what she wanted me to. like i'd been given this fabulous opportunity and wouldn't yeild to her knowledge and authority or something. my t probably felt responsible because she recommended her? at this point i would probably not do it again right now. maybe because i'm cheap? i love seeing my t in her office and maybe this outside encounter was too much? i do run into her often (probably at least once a week) out in the real world and i do handle it ok but that wasn't always the case. i never knew if i should run the other way or run up to her and start drooling all over her. it's so weird to be an adult and have these childlike wants, wishes. if i didn't answer something feel free to ask. i'm still thinking about it all and would love to answer any question you might have. i have an appt with my t in the morning and i'm glad we'll be back in our regular space.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 21, 2004, at 10:13:49
In reply to Re: body work, posted by lifeworthliving on May 20, 2004, at 22:45:38
That sounds like a really interesting and thought-provoking experience. Thank you for sharing it with us. I think it was perfectly fine that you wanted your T to leave when you were getting on the table. Do you usually have the massage without your clothes on? If so, then it makes sense that getting on the table is usually more private for you.
Also, seeing your T for service outside of the office would be odd. That's one of the reasons I try to always see clients in the same therapy room (we have multiples at my clinic)--for continuity. And seeing your T outside of the office fairly regularly must be hard. It would stimulate so much, I'm sure, even if it was a very brief encounter.
I have one question. What is lifespan integration work? I have not heard of that.
Thanks again for sharing this.
gg
Posted by pegasus on May 21, 2004, at 16:05:27
In reply to Re: body work, posted by lifeworthliving on May 20, 2004, at 22:45:38
Interesting. It sounds like it was somewhat helpful, but not wildly helpful. Is that what you'd say? So, how exactly did it go? Did your mt start by just giving you a massage? Or did your t start by talking about something? When I get a massage, I never want to talk about anything, so it's hard to imagine having a massage with my t there.
I've done a couple of sessions lately with an art therapist, where I play around with art supplies while I'm talking to her. Then at the end we discuss what I've made, and how it could be expressing aspects of my thoughts and feelings about what we've been talking about, or about my experience in general. I'm really getting a lot out of it. Partly just because when I'm doodling away with the pastels or something, I'm less anxious and much more forthcoming in the conversation. But it's also interesting to see what comes out. I think eventually we may design particular art projects that will help me work on specific things that I need to work on.
I just brought it up because it's also a kind of alternative way to do therapy, and I've been really interested in that lately. Just regular talk therapy has not been motivating to me lately.
pegasus
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