Posted by ShelliR on November 23, 2002, at 19:05:26
In reply to HELP! déjà vu all over again, therapist slacking, posted by Medusa on November 21, 2002, at 14:25:27
Hi Medusa,
You've only been to three sessions; it might be best to hold off in discussing time issues until you are a bit more sure that it *is* her pattern.
It's not that I'm one for avoiding conflict with therapists (afterall, if they can't handle it, that's a pretty bad sign); however, you've made a good start with her concerning your issues, and it would be a shame to pull you off track for no reason.
If the time issues continue to come up, then to avoid discussing them *would* distract from your therapy.
The general protocol where I live is 50 minute sessions. Sessions are set on on the hour or half-hour which leaves therapists ten minutes between sessions to use the phone, the bathroom, whatever. Some years ago, I began seeing a therapist whose sessions were only 45 minutes, AND she left no time between appointments. So included in that 45 minutes was her last client leaving, then me coming in. I figure we were losing at least five more minutes each session. I already hadn't liked the idea of a 45 minute session; I found 40 minutes unacceptable and terminated with her after just a couple of sessions.
Aside from the time issue, are there other ways that therapists act to make you perceive that they are losing interest after a limited number of sessions? If this comes up with your present therapist, I would think it would be very important to talk about, to reality check. I find it very hard to believe that after a few sessions, therapists simply don't find you interesting anymore. I mean, they're there to help you; you're not there to entertain them.
Shelli
poster:ShelliR
thread:1621
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20021109/msgs/1634.html