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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by friesandcoke on July 27, 2009, at 13:22:29
I would like to hear from others "any" thing that has shocked or surprised you in the course of a therapy session. It doesn't have to be some form of malpractice, although if it was, that counts! I am just sort of taking an inventory because while therapist shopping (interviewing therapists) 2 out of the 3 slipped their sandles off and were interviewing me for the first time they met me in bare feet and I found that astoundingly unprofessional for a first time visit. Maybe after you know the client and then ask "would you mind if I slipped off my sandles?". So, what you can you think of that has shocked or surprised you in a session? It can be anything. Major or minor, anything. Thanks.
Posted by pegasus on July 28, 2009, at 10:03:37
In reply to something in a session that shocked or surprised, posted by friesandcoke on July 27, 2009, at 13:22:29
For what it's worth, seeing a T slip off her sandals during a first interview would not have shocked me in the least. I probably wouldn't even have noticed.
I've seen Ts wear all manner of "professional" and "non-professional" attire. I had one T who showed up in the most awful dumpy frumpy dress from the 80s once. And she was usually very well dressed. It changed my whole view of her.
If you want to talk about really shocking stuff, though, I had a T one time who told me that he'd just had a vasectomy. No lie. In the context of the session it actually made sense. Although, if I could go back and revise that session however I'd like, I'd probably have him not tell me that. But it didn't have a big impact on our therapy. He was probably taking a big risk, but based on the solid relationship we had knew it would be OK, and maybe even helpful. I don't suppose he would have blurted it out to a new client.
I think therapy is all about being shocked, frankly. The best moments of my therapy have all been shocking in one way or another. I remember most the moments when I got stopped in my tracks, in response to some "crazy" thing my T just said or did. It reveals so much about the way we tick.
For example, this sandal thing seems really important to you. I've seen you mention it in several posts here. You're working hard to process it. Is it a problem with the Ts? Is it something that's a particular issue to you? Does it matter? Is this telling you something important about what you require in a T? This kind of struggling is exactly what therapy is about a lot of the time. Especially if you can then talk about it with your T (shoeless or not). In my experience.
peg
Posted by Dinah on July 28, 2009, at 13:22:03
In reply to Re: something in a session that shocked or surprised, posted by pegasus on July 28, 2009, at 10:03:37
I doubt I'd pay much attention to the sandals either. Here backless sandals are the norm for even casual professional. Most stylish women wear them, and naturally they often slide off. Taking them off completely would barely even register, as long as her feet appeared to be prepared for uncovering. I think I see manicured feet as being part of an outfit.
On the other hand, I felt highly honored when my therapist eased his feet out of his brand new shoes once, and finished the session in his socks. He so loves his shoes that I realized he must be horrendously uncomfortable. I might raise my eyebrows if a new therapist did that, because men's bare feet around here aren't generally considered part of a stylish presentation. I don't think I'd be overly upset about it though, unless it was accompanied by other behaviors.
Posted by Maxime on July 28, 2009, at 14:52:43
In reply to something in a session that shocked or surprised, posted by friesandcoke on July 27, 2009, at 13:22:29
I was talking to my T about sex and told me that he couldn't remember the last time he had sex it had been so long. That was too much information for me!
Posted by sassyfrancesca on August 10, 2009, at 9:04:42
In reply to something in a session that shocked or surprised, posted by friesandcoke on July 27, 2009, at 13:22:29
Well, this is about as shocking as it gets (long story behind it)....been in love with my t for 5 years, and he has led me on emotionally and physically (no sex)...
2 months ago, "it" happened (no, not sex), but headed in that direction......ran his hands across the top of my breasts, took down my bra straps....in other words, sexual foreplay....I know....quite a shock; too long a story to go into here.
This is definitely in the "major" category; I could write a book on what has happened between us.
I have kept a journal fr 5 years, though, LOl, LOL
He says he "trusts me with his life." He should. I could destroy it in a heartbeat.
Posted by emilyp on August 18, 2009, at 11:53:56
In reply to Re: something in a session that shocked or surprised » friesandcoke, posted by sassyfrancesca on August 10, 2009, at 9:04:42
Just out of curiosity, are you going to continue in this relationship - as patient and therapist? If I am reading this properly, he did everything else except sex. Or am I misreading what happened?
This is the end of the thread.
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