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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zenhussy on July 25, 2004, at 18:06:46
Laying down vs. sitting
Posted by lulula on July 25, 2004, at 16:36:03
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040724/msgs/370402.htmlhi everyone -
this is my first posting too. my T has suggested that i lie down vs. sitting (after a few months of 2 times a week therapy). after some initial resistance, i am doing it, but i find it VERY difficlut. i don't know what to do with my arms, hands or eyes ... she pointed out that i often cover up my face. does anyone else find this process difficult?
~~~~~~~~
Re: Laying down vs. sitting
Posted by lulula on July 25, 2004, at 17:41:28In reply to Re: Laying down vs. sitting, posted by TJO on July 25, 2004, at 17:25:37
i think that is the point ... dig a little deeper ... she (T) says "more freeing" ... instead ..
i feel so self-conscious and aggitated. after a month of laying down, i did sit once and it was so much easier for me. but i did go back to laying down, per her advice.
Posted by lucy stone on July 25, 2004, at 20:44:31
In reply to Laying down vs. sitting--redirected from med board, posted by zenhussy on July 25, 2004, at 18:06:46
Your T must have a psychoanalytical focus. I am doing an analysis and I go 4 times a week and lie down. My T says that it is freeing and allows you to concentrate on what is going on in your head without distractions. I find that is it helpful for me for that reason, sometimes even looking at the ceiling is distracting and I cover or close my eyes. It that what is going on with you? You also mentioned that you don't know what to do with you hands and arms and feel self conscious. I feel very exposed on the couch because my analyst can see me but I can't see him. I cope with this by bringing a fuzzy throw with me and cover up during sessions. I tell him that I know I will be done when I can have a session uncovered! Perhaps someting like that could help you. I didn't start tying down until I starting going 3 times a week, though. I'm curious about using it for 2 times a week therapy. My T also stresses that my position is totally up to me, and that I can sit up if it is better for me. I do sometimes sit up. If lying down isn't working for you you need to talk to your T about it. I don't think she would continue to encourage to lie down if it just doesn't work for you.
Posted by ST on July 26, 2004, at 0:01:25
In reply to Re: Laying down vs. sitting--redirected from med board, posted by lucy stone on July 25, 2004, at 20:44:31
I get what our pdoc is doing, but everyone is soooo different. If it's easier for you to sit, then you should sit. Basically, whatever "frees" you up the most. Trust yourself to know what makes you most comfortable and speak up! Good luck!
ST
Posted by zenhussy on July 26, 2004, at 1:48:22
In reply to Re: Laying down vs. sitting--redirected from med board, posted by lucy stone on July 25, 2004, at 20:44:31
> Your T must have a psychoanalytical focus. I am doing an analysis and I go 4 times a week and lie down. My T says that it is freeing and allows you to concentrate on what is going on in your head without distractions. I find that is it helpful for me for that reason, sometimes even looking at the ceiling is distracting and I cover or close my eyes. It that what is going on with you? You also mentioned that you don't know what to do with you hands and arms and feel self conscious. I feel very exposed on the couch because my analyst can see me but I can't see him. I cope with this by bringing a fuzzy throw with me and cover up during sessions. I tell him that I know I will be done when I can have a session uncovered! Perhaps someting like that could help you. I didn't start tying down until I starting going 3 times a week, though. I'm curious about using it for 2 times a week therapy. My T also stresses that my position is totally up to me, and that I can sit up if it is better for me. I do sometimes sit up. If lying down isn't working for you you need to talk to your T about it. I don't think she would continue to encourage to lie down if it just doesn't work for you.
lucy stone,
I'm so glad you responded here on this board as I did that little redirect just to hear what you had to say! I'm serious. I do not go to analysis myself but have enjoyed the experiences with it that you and pfinnstegg share.
Thanks again for another peek into that world. It is good to hear differing opinions on modalities of therapy and also how they sometimes cross like in this question for this thread. Plus I didn't know you could do analysis sitting. That's a big revelation for me to take in after years of thinking it must be done 'on the couch' to work. What a dweeb, eh? I guess if I have specific questions maybe I'll post them as they arise.
--zh
Posted by Buckeye Fan on July 26, 2004, at 7:25:55
In reply to Laying down vs. sitting--redirected from med board, posted by zenhussy on July 25, 2004, at 18:06:46
Re: Laying down vs. sitting
Posted by Buckeye Fan on July 26, 2004, at 7:24:55In reply to Laying down vs. sitting, posted by lulula on July 25, 2004, at 16:36:03
Dear Lulula
Sorry you simple question seemed so hard to answer.
"Lying down" while talking to an authority figure who is "sitting up" would make most people apprehensive and nervous.I know this is not adhered to so strickly by todays PDocs...so go ahead and sit up if you want to.
Talking, sharing,and expressing your feelings is the goal of Cognative Therapy...not what position
one is in. Therapists are not your Boss, or your Parent..they are another human being who should be trying to listen and offer advice to enable you to be a stronger person.Keep us posted
Buckey Fan
Posted by lucy stone on July 26, 2004, at 8:33:49
In reply to Re: Laying down vs. sitting » lucy stone, posted by zenhussy on July 26, 2004, at 1:48:22
My analyst says that he has some patients who do analysis sitting. I sit when I want to talk to him directly rather than do analysis, that is when I have an issue about the process I want to talk about. He has two matching big leather chairs that he uses for those people who are not in analysis. They kind of angle out so you can look at him or out into the room. He also has a big leather ottoman that you can use to put your feet up if you want. Sitting in the chair with your feet up and looking into the room is not that different than lying in the couch and looking at the ceiling. The big difference is that you are not actually lying down and can look over at him if you wish. I think that would help someone struggling with the power differential between patient and analyst. He always emphasizes that the postion is totally up to the patient and the I can use whatever position is best for me. The couch is a tool of analysis and not what the analysis is about. It's only useful if it helps.
Posted by pablo1 on July 26, 2004, at 12:51:56
In reply to Laying down vs. sitting--redirected from med board, posted by zenhussy on July 25, 2004, at 18:06:46
The link for Psycho-Babble-Psychology on the top of this page
[ Thread | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of boards | Search | Psycho-Babble-Psychology | Framed | FAQ ]
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040723/msgs/370435.html
points to alternative, not psychology. It was pretty disorienting.
Posted by Dinah on July 26, 2004, at 12:57:50
In reply to DR Bob Web Page Problem, posted by pablo1 on July 26, 2004, at 12:51:56
Where Dr. Bob will see it most expeditiously.
Here's a link
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20040717/msgs/370741.html
Posted by Pfinstegg on July 26, 2004, at 19:59:54
In reply to Re: Laying down vs. sitting, posted by lucy stone on July 26, 2004, at 8:33:49
When I began analysis, I thought, too, that I was supposed to lie down all the time- after the initial two month period of sitting face to face and getting to know each other. Generally, now, I do lie down, as I find it makes it easier to speak really freely, without censoring. Sometimes completely unexpected things just bubble up out of me, and I can scarcely believe I've said them! Times like that invariably move us along a lot in the analysis. Also, he is not exactly in back, but rather alongside. I often feel extremely close to him during these sessions, even though I can't see him unless I look to the side, or lie on my side, which is also completely acceptable. There have been times when I didn't want to lie down, and it's always my choice. I not only sometimes sit up on the end of the couch, or sit in the leather chair opposite him, but have even sat on the floor at times. He's very accepting of all this, and says that over the course of his career, patients have probably sat in (on) every
inch of his office! His focus is always on patients bringing as much of themselves as possible into their sessions, and he seems to know that flexibility in where people *are* helps a lot with that goal.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 27, 2004, at 15:48:30
In reply to Laying down vs. sitting--redirected from med board, posted by zenhussy on July 25, 2004, at 18:06:46
Posted by lulula on July 26, 2004, at 21:44:03
In reply to Re: you're welcome and I appreciate the thanks = ) (nm) » Dr. Bob, posted by zenhussy on July 26, 2004, at 18:39:40
Thank you (especially Lucy) for your thoughts and input. And to the person who re-directed the thread to the correct site ... have no idea how that happened ... never visited the med board before. I have had problems posting, hence my delay in replying, and hope this isn't another reply in naught. Yes, I do discuss my discomfort with my T and she doesn't care whether I sit or lie down. But does think it would be more productive in a reclined position. She is psychodynamic and encourages her clients that see her at least twice a week to lay down. I just find it so curious how difficult the difference is and am comforted to know its "normal". Hope this posts and thanks again.
This is the end of the thread.
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