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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2005, at 10:32:11
In reply to Safe place, posted by littleone on April 21, 2005, at 21:23:59
Hi again,
Saw him yesterday. Boy was it hard to sit in the waiting room. The longer I waited, and I'm sure it was only a few minutes, the more I wanted to just bolt. And on the way there, a couple of times I had this weird throat closing thing go on. Hmm, you think I'm not sure what to say? Anxious? But my throat just closed up a bit like a gag reflex or a very forceful gulp. Kind of freaky when the body misbehaves like that, but always an interesting source of information.So anyway, I sit down and look at him, and I just know he has no clue. Damn it! I know this is a fantasy, but I really wanted him to KNOW, somehow. I started by commenting on how bad I thought last session went, and then I acted out a bit. :) I asked him to tell me what his reactions to the session were or if he had thought about it at all before I told him mine. Of course he wouldn't do that. "I want to hear your reactions." Dude, I've lived with mine for a week. But he won this round. So I launched into it.
I must have said several times that I no longer felt safe. The only way I could adequately describe was that it was like I was perched on a high narrow pole with just nothing around me. No safety net, no stairs down, nothing to hold onto...and it feels like a storm is coming. I really really really don't want to fall.
He never really acknowledged saying any of the things I said hurt me. He didn't deny them, but he just never focused on his own behavior--just my reactions. He even tried humor a couple of times, and when I didn't even crack a smile, I think he realized it was pretty bad.
So his whole interpretation of things was so unsatisfying. He is psychoanalytic, and his whole take was that I somehow needed him to be "the bad guy", and somehow I caused this to happen. Can you hear part of me screaming in rage? Another part of me (the clinically trained part) is saying, hmmmmm, that's kind of interesting. I wonder if I do that with other folks. And a third part, I suppose the whole me, or perhaps the emotional me (interesting comparison..) is saying, well, that may be true, but it still sucks. I want comfort, and I want you to be a human being and admit that you have your own feelings too, that may have bled into the session.
Grrrrrr
About the medical versus psychological issue. My dog, he said he "thought long and hard before making that statement." Think a bit longer, dude. I asked him a couple of times what he meant, but I suppose I set myself up for not getting a good answer because in my question I told him it was b*llshit. He finally said he thinks that I was overemphasizing the medical. I said again that he was the one asking all the questions, and he didn't really comment on that. Grrrr
About the am I suicidal question at the end. He admitted it probably came across "flip", but he said, "I probably also sensed that you weren't." And of course if my answer were yes, we would have sat back down and dealt with it. Not sure I would have...I was out the door without confirming my next appt. Highly unusual for me. I ALWAYS confirm, even though we tend to have a standing.
So he talked more about going to twice a week and what it might entail. I finally told him I felt like he was always warning me off when he did this. Interesting, he thought I said "warding me off." And he launched into this story about another client that I don't quite get, but it had to do with him somehow never allowing the client to get into "scary stuff". And he said sometimes the T does unconsciously avoid going deeper with a client because it's "scary for the T" too. But that's why he gets paid. Grrrrrrrr.
Basically, I think he's pleased, because now we're "mixing it up." And that is what needs to happen.
I really hate this.
Oh, and I didn't talk about anything health-related. Didn't even tell him about my damn toe. Didn't update him about my pdoc appt. which was another interesting experience, although not nearly as intense.
gg
Posted by Susan47 on April 22, 2005, at 10:56:08
In reply to My session yesterday, posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2005, at 10:32:11
Good for you, GG, for sticking it through and bringing up what bothered you. It's really bad when you don't get what you need in the way of an explanation. I tried for a long time to get my therapist to be honest with me, to make me see him as a person, but he refused .. somewhat like yours. I hope this man doesn't drive you crazy. I'm glad you're learning how it feels on this side of the fence, though. Ask him if he knows how it feels.
Posted by cricket on April 22, 2005, at 15:39:02
In reply to My session yesterday, posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2005, at 10:32:11
Hi GG,
Since I also had a very bad session with my T last week, I read your post with a lot of interest.
Don't you hate those waiting room jitters! For me it's every week. Last week I was certain my T wasn't going to be there and on a metaphorical level he certainly wasn't. So a bit of a premonition on my part.
You said, "He never really acknowledged saying any of the things I said hurt me. He didn't deny them, but he just never focused on his own behavior--just my reactions."
Is this typical of your T? I guess in some ways it's what they're supposed to do, focus on the client and their reactions, but sometimes it just feels like a wily trick on their part. Client feels hurt, okay get out it by making client think it is part of their issues and why they are in therapy. I'm not saying your T was doing this, but I'm wondering what you think.
I don't get "mixing it up." What does he mean by that?
Do you still feel as hurt by him? Do you feel like you will eventually work this out? I am curious because even though it seems like nothing was resolved this week, you seem a bit calmer in your post.
Posted by fallsfall on April 22, 2005, at 17:05:18
In reply to My session yesterday, posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2005, at 10:32:11
>I somehow needed him to be "the bad guy", ...well, that may be true, but it still sucks
I hate these interpretations. However, I have found, in the past, that they are accurate. In any event, they do suck.
>He finally said he thinks that I was overemphasizing the medical.
We've done this one, too. And my therapist was right.
>So he talked more about going to twice a week
I think you would find it an interesting and enlightening experience.
I'm proud of you for addressing this head on. This is hard stuff.
Hope to chat later with you about it.
Posted by Dinah on April 22, 2005, at 19:26:31
In reply to My session yesterday, posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2005, at 10:32:11
Clearly things aren't fully resolved. But the big issues aren't really suited to fifty minute happily ever afters. That's one reason twice a week therapy has its benefits. ;)
It wouldn't have been my therapist's choice of reactions, I don't think. He is always really careful not to use the transference excuse that they have built in. He generally acknowledges that there are two people in the room, and he may have screwed up. Then gently probes as to why I reacted the way I did, which I guess is the transference part of it.
But my therapist is a counselor, not analytically trained. I think those differences are probably to be expected.
Do you feel you made any headway at all? Or at least a direction to take at the next session?
Posted by annierose on April 22, 2005, at 21:13:15
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by Dinah on April 22, 2005, at 19:26:31
hi gg -
I agree that you do sound less angry, but still frustrated. How are you feeling? It's so hard when they don't admit to having a part in the conflict ... even a tiny part.Did you make a decision on going more frequently? I'm surprised that he is psychoanalyically (sp?) trained and never encouraged you to come more often earlier. Do you see him again next Thursday? That does seem like a long time to hold onto your feelings. For me, I was so anxious to work out my conflict with my T. I was looking forward (and dreading at the same time) to going to get some resolution.
A week later, I am feeling warm and cozy again. So there is hope for all of us in T struggles. It's such an amazing process. Our brains are forging all these new connections and wanting MORE, MORE, MORE.
As a personal aside, I am in deep denial, and plunging into despair over the weather forecast of 2 - 4 inches of white stuff by morning and another 6 - 10 of snow in the evening! Seriously, I had all the boots and mittens packed away. Wasn't it just 80 degrees last week??
Posted by Susan47 on April 23, 2005, at 13:07:16
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by Dinah on April 22, 2005, at 19:26:31
Transference excuse built in? For some reason that really hit me Dinah. I know what you're referring to in therapy. But it's what my therapist told me when he terminated me, my transference is too strong, to me that always sounded like an excuse, so you saying that really took my breath away. One of the reasons I was so angry with him. It did feel like an excuse.
Posted by Susan47 on April 23, 2005, at 13:09:52
In reply to Re: My session yesterday, posted by annierose on April 22, 2005, at 21:13:15
How awful, the weather you're having. Here on the west coast it's beautiful and balmy yesterday and today. My flowers are all blooming on the patio, it's so beautiful here, the trees have been in bloom for a couple of months now. I feel so blessed. Virtual hug, maybe to keep you a bit warmer.
Posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:32:18
In reply to Re: My session yesterday, posted by Susan47 on April 22, 2005, at 10:56:08
> Good for you, GG, for sticking it through and bringing up what bothered you.
Thanks
>It's really bad when you don't get what you need in the way of an explanation. I tried for a long time to get my therapist to be honest with me, to make me see him as a person, but he refused .. somewhat like yours.I think my T does see me as a person. And until recently, he was actually feeling more like a person instead of a blank slate to me. But now that it's getting intense, it's back to the blank slate routine. That's a loss in and of itself.
>I'm glad you're learning how it feels on this side of the fence, though. Ask him if he knows how it feels.
I know he has had his own analysis, so I'm quite sure he knows. And I do learn a lot about therapy from my own experience, although that's kind of secondary. I actually try to turn off my "clinical brain" when I am in the session, because I go to therapy for personal reasons, not for training. But it's hard to separate.
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:40:19
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by cricket on April 22, 2005, at 15:39:02
> Hi GG,
>
> Since I also had a very bad session with my T last week, I read your post with a lot of interest.I hope that you are able to work things out with your T, too. Bad sessions stink!
>
> Don't you hate those waiting room jitters! For me it's every week. Last week I was certain my T wasn't going to be there and on a metaphorical level he certainly wasn't. So a bit of a premonition on my part.Wow, intuition at its best. I don't often have those jitters, but this time it was awful. I really did want to bolt, and I kept looking at the door. But the way it's set up, if he had been coming to get me right when I decided to leave, I probably would have knocked him over! :)
>
> You said, "He never really acknowledged saying any of the things I said hurt me. He didn't deny them, but he just never focused on his own behavior--just my reactions."
>
> Is this typical of your T? I guess in some ways it's what they're supposed to do, focus on the client and their reactions, but sometimes it just feels like a wily trick on their part. Client feels hurt, okay get out it by making client think it is part of their issues and why they are in therapy. I'm not saying your T was doing this, but I'm wondering what you think.Well, I don't really know if this is typical, because the whole thing is so not typical of my therapy experience. I do know from what I have read on the boards and from what I know about psychodynamic therapy that this happens. I think this is another one of those, "not going to happen to me" moments when I am knocked down and didn't expect it.
>
> I don't get "mixing it up." What does he mean by that?He means that we are sort of like fighting. We are facing relationship difficulties and trying to sort out who said/did what and why. And what it means. And I think he thinks this is what needs to happen to keep making progress. Joy.
>
> Do you still feel as hurt by him? Do you feel like you will eventually work this out? I am curious because even though it seems like nothing was resolved this week, you seem a bit calmer in your post.I feel a bit better, but I don't feel like it's all worked out. I've been jotting down random thoughts, mostly just bits and pieces of a thought as they occur to bring in next time. There's part of me that does understand what he was saying, but there's a bigger part of me that is saying that just doesn't FEEL right. I mean, he DID say what he said. How could I have made that happen? It's confusing.
I hope your next sessions go well.
Take care,
gg
>
>
>
Posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:42:56
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by fallsfall on April 22, 2005, at 17:05:18
Thanks falls, I do think chatting about it will help. It's so frustrating that the interpretation he made doesn't account for the fact that he DID say what he said, and it WAS hurtful.
That's where I'm at right at this moment. But it changes a lot over time. I do think going twice a week is a good idea. I think I am at the point where I want to go ahead with it, but I'm not sure where he is with it.
Something else to check out....
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:49:02
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by Dinah on April 22, 2005, at 19:26:31
> Clearly things aren't fully resolved. But the big issues aren't really suited to fifty minute happily ever afters. That's one reason twice a week therapy has its benefits. ;)
I agree. And it's going to be very hard to wait a week for my next session. I think the sooner I can go to twice a week the better.
>
> It wouldn't have been my therapist's choice of reactions, I don't think. He is always really careful not to use the transference excuse that they have built in. He generally acknowledges that there are two people in the room, and he may have screwed up. Then gently probes as to why I reacted the way I did, which I guess is the transference part of it.I so would have preferred this approach. I think that's why I was asking him for his reactions first (and failed), because I knew I would not get them if we went straight to mine. sigh I know that transference is at play here, because otherwise, my reaction would not have been so intense. But couldn't he have been having a bad day too? In fact, I swear he alluded to that towards the end of that bad session, anyway. I can't remember exactly how or what he might have said, but I know I felt that he was acknowledging that this session was not great and that he was not 100 percent. But who knows. Perhaps I needed to think that, too, and pulled that out. It's so confusing!
>
> Do you feel you made any headway at all? Or at least a direction to take at the next session?I do feel like we made some headway. Shoot, at first, he tried to go right into "have you ever felt this way before?" And I came back with "Of COURSE I have!" aka "What a dumb question, and SO NOT what you should be doing right now."
I assume we will go there once the relationship is back on track. Because I was not at all ready or willing to explore this until we resolved the relationship issue.
gg
>
Posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:55:30
In reply to Re: My session yesterday, posted by annierose on April 22, 2005, at 21:13:15
> hi gg -
> I agree that you do sound less angry, but still frustrated. How are you feeling? It's so hard when they don't admit to having a part in the conflict ... even a tiny part.I am less angry, I think, but still confused and hurt. I think I finally figured out what the "what I want from him" was. I want to be soothed. And that is not at all what he would be likely to do. It doesn't fit the analytical model. I have to learn to soothe myself. But this one session has led me to hear from so many different parts of myself that have different ways of reacting to this. I think that's why how I am feeling or what I think about it seems to change everytime it comes up.
> Did you make a decision on going more frequently? I'm surprised that he is psychoanalyically (sp?) trained and never encouraged you to come more often earlier.
Actually, he has never suggested I come more frequently. It was my idea. Perhpas it just isn't what they do there? I don't know. I can hardly hold things in until Thursday, and actually, I may email him just to maintain contact, because it seems important to do that right now.> A week later, I am feeling warm and cozy again. So there is hope for all of us in T struggles. It's such an amazing process. Our brains are forging all these new connections and wanting MORE, MORE, MORE.
I'm so glad that you and your T worked things out and it led to something more. And I've been in that give me more, more, more phase.
>
> As a personal aside, I am in deep denial, and plunging into despair over the weather forecast of 2 - 4 inches of white stuff by morning and another 6 - 10 of snow in the evening! Seriously, I had all the boots and mittens packed away. Wasn't it just 80 degrees last week??It's snowing as I type this. Sigh. I used to hate spring for this very reason. It's such a tease. But I love it now since I started gardening. Of course I am still trying to decide if I should cover the Japanese fern I planted about two weeks ago.
Brrrrrr
gg
Posted by annierose on April 24, 2005, at 6:40:48
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » Dinah, posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:49:02
Not to go off track, but that is another question to add to our list:
"Have you ever felt this way before?"
Golly gee wiz, I HATE that question! I want to scream, "of course, I see the connection, I'm not an idiot, but HOW do I stop feeling that way?"
Posted by annierose on April 24, 2005, at 6:50:09
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » annierose, posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:55:30
I thought he was encouraging you to come in twice a week and implied that if you didn't, you were not willing to work on your depression ... which made no sense to me at the time.
Wanting to be soothed. That's nice. I like that too. Leaving a session when my hurt inner child was "hugged" is a wonderful feeling.
Even though my T is psychodynamic, I would say that she isn't a blank slate to me. Not that I know anything personal about her (very little), but I know all the important things: she is kind, patient, understanding, smart, funny, and punctual.
Do you ever wonder if any of your clients are going through this angst with you?
Posted by Susan47 on April 24, 2005, at 14:51:23
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » Susan47, posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:32:18
Actually what I said was, my therapist did not allow Me to see Him as a person, do you understand? You took it the other way 'round.
Posted by gardenergirl on April 24, 2005, at 21:41:09
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by Susan47 on April 24, 2005, at 14:51:23
Aha, that makes so much more sense. Sorry.
gg
Posted by Susan47 on April 24, 2005, at 21:52:01
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » Susan47, posted by gardenergirl on April 24, 2005, at 21:41:09
I see that you're really answering my question anyway, that he was more of a person to you in the past but he's seeming less of a real person to you right now, lately. And it's really interesting that it happens that way. It's like getting sudden distance from a friend, and not knowing why, it's confusing. Well, to me anyway.
Posted by gardenergirl on April 24, 2005, at 22:18:10
In reply to Well, actually I'm sorry too because » gardenergirl, posted by Susan47 on April 24, 2005, at 21:52:01
Yes, it's extremely confusing, from a friend or a T. But I think especially from a T. Because they are supposed to be consistent.
Confused is an accurate description for how I'm feeling right now.
gg
Posted by cricket on April 25, 2005, at 7:47:42
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » annierose, posted by gardenergirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:55:30
> I am less angry, I think, but still confused and hurt. I think I finally figured out what the "what I want from him" was. I want to be soothed. And that is not at all what he would be likely to do. It doesn't fit the analytical model. I have to learn to soothe myself.
It is very interesting what you say about being soothed. I think that lately I've been wanting that from my T too. And perhaps the issue is that it doesn't fit the analytical model. I particularly remember one dream that really upset me, I was shaking and sobbing as I related it, and as soon as I finished speaking (in fact he didn't even quite wait until I was finished) he immediately launched into an interpretation, without missing a single beat to assess my emotional state, without even looking up at me.
You said you have to learn to soothe yourself. My problem is that I already know how to do that. In fact, I've split off parts of myself whose almost sole function is soothing me. So for me to want and allow someone real to soothe me would be major progress, I think. Either this T doesn't agree or he's so far off the mark in understanding me, I wonder what I've been doing there, or maybe he's just not capable of soothing.
Posted by gardenergirl on April 26, 2005, at 4:41:42
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by annierose on April 24, 2005, at 6:50:09
>>
> Wanting to be soothed. That's nice. I like that too. Leaving a session when my hurt inner child was "hugged" is a wonderful feeling.I miss that feeling. It used to be there a lot. I wonder what happened? More to talk about.
>
> Even though my T is psychodynamic, I would say that she isn't a blank slate to me. Not that I know anything personal about her (very little), but I know all the important things: she is kind, patient, understanding, smart, funny, and punctual.
>
> Do you ever wonder if any of your clients are going through this angst with you?I do occasionally wonder this. So far I can't say that I've had many hints that someone might be. But then I'm not sure what it looks like from the other side unless someone actually starts talking about it. And I think that may take more time to develop that trust and the relationship than I've been able to spend with any one client yet.
gg
>
>
Posted by gardenergirl on April 26, 2005, at 4:43:34
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » gardenergirl, posted by annierose on April 24, 2005, at 6:40:48
> Not to go off track, but that is another question to add to our list:
>
> "Have you ever felt this way before?"
>
> Golly gee wiz, I HATE that question! I want to scream, "of course, I see the connection, I'm not an idiot, but HOW do I stop feeling that way?"LOL, that's a bit like my reaction. But it was more like...Are you kidding me? Did you not hear anything about how I'm upset with YOU????
I don't use that question much, but next time I do, I'm sure I will giggle internally and slap myself on the forehead.
gg
Posted by Dinah on April 26, 2005, at 7:42:33
In reply to Re: My session yesterday » annierose, posted by gardenergirl on April 26, 2005, at 4:41:42
I always wonder how my therapist can be so ignorant of the feelings we discuss on Babble. I have to remind myself of two things. We're a self selected bunch who probably have a greater investment in therapy than many. And a lot of people who come to this board even have been reluctant to discuss things with their therapists. And many do so with the board's encouragement.
And on general we read a lot about how therapy is supposed to work, even those of us not in the field officially. :))
That's why my therapist was at least a bit interested in the idea of reading uncensored thoughts from clients here.
Posted by Dinah on April 26, 2005, at 7:43:08
In reply to Dumb questions » annierose, posted by gardenergirl on April 26, 2005, at 4:43:34
Posted by annierose on April 26, 2005, at 15:48:17
In reply to Dumb questions » annierose, posted by gardenergirl on April 26, 2005, at 4:43:34
My T once asked me (in response to me telling her I didn't like certain questions) what I would like her to ask me instead. Well, she had me stumped.
Typically, if I go slient for a period of 5+ minutes, she'll ask, something to the effect,
"what's running through your mind," or "what are you thinking about?", etc. I feel those questions are rote. On the other hand, they do help engage me back into the session. So I stopped getting irritated.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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