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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rigby on September 23, 2005, at 10:39:20
Hi All,
Have any of you ever caught a slip by your therapist?
Last night my therapist used her husband's name by accident when discussing my boyfriend. She doesn't know I know his name but I could almost see the wheels turning in her brain when she did it. She corrected herself and we moved on but, well, I guess I didn't completely move on since I'm still thinking about it. FYI, I know his name because if you Google her name he comes up with her in a listing.
Anyway, it felt weird in the sense that I've always been concerned about her objectivity since there is something similar about the two of us (she admitted this-that we're too much alike) and now this.
Any advise, thoughts or shared stories would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Rigby
Posted by happyflower on September 23, 2005, at 19:12:59
In reply to Therapist's Freudian?? Slip, posted by Rigby on September 23, 2005, at 10:39:20
I think it is kinda funny that she did that, plus the fact that you knew and she didn't know you knew! LOL It must be hard to talk to clients all day and keep from talking about their own lives. :)
Posted by alexandra_k on September 23, 2005, at 19:27:54
In reply to Therapist's Freudian?? Slip, posted by Rigby on September 23, 2005, at 10:39:20
what was she saying about your boyfriend when she made the slip?
Posted by gardenergirl on September 23, 2005, at 23:28:32
In reply to Therapist's Freudian?? Slip, posted by Rigby on September 23, 2005, at 10:39:20
Hi Rigby! Nice to see you posting.
I can see why that would be an interesting thing to happen. And a bit odd since you know she did it.
You know, sometimes I say my brother's name instead of my hubby's. They both start with the same initial. I tell myself it's just a brain f*rt and means nothing. But I also feel weird when it happens...it bothers me because I wonder if it's Freudian, too.
So---it may be just a brain f*rt on your T's part. Or it may be a sign of her identifying with you. As long as you feel that you still have good boundaries and that she is effective, I wouldn't worry about it, except to maybe giggle about it.
gg
Posted by Shortelise on September 24, 2005, at 1:17:23
In reply to Therapist's Freudian?? Slip, posted by Rigby on September 23, 2005, at 10:39:20
My T slips once in a while. Most of the time he catches himself, but not always. He's NEVER pointed out a slip to me, so I don't point his out to him.
ShortE
Posted by Rigby on September 24, 2005, at 9:53:26
In reply to Re: Therapist's Freudian?? Slip » Rigby, posted by alexandra_k on September 23, 2005, at 19:27:54
Hi Alexandra,
This is a great question and I think I totally blocked it out--I cannot remember at all!! I think once I heard her husband's name everything else went out the window. Yikes.
Thanks for responding!!
> what was she saying about your boyfriend when she made the slip?
Posted by Rigby on September 24, 2005, at 9:57:18
In reply to Re: Therapist's Freudian?? Slip » Rigby, posted by gardenergirl on September 23, 2005, at 23:28:32
Hi GG,
Thanks for the response. I think it's really good advise--just focus on whether or not I'm getting good therapy which I think I am. I know she's struggled around some stuff with me but that's okay--I do think she's very aware of making sure she doesn't get in the way of helping me.
I did have a pretty good laugh about it--with my boyfriend--so maybe like you say--try and keep it light if it's not getting in the way.
Thanks again!
> Hi Rigby! Nice to see you posting.
>
> I can see why that would be an interesting thing to happen. And a bit odd since you know she did it.
>
> You know, sometimes I say my brother's name instead of my hubby's. They both start with the same initial. I tell myself it's just a brain f*rt and means nothing. But I also feel weird when it happens...it bothers me because I wonder if it's Freudian, too.
>
> So---it may be just a brain f*rt on your T's part. Or it may be a sign of her identifying with you. As long as you feel that you still have good boundaries and that she is effective, I wouldn't worry about it, except to maybe giggle about it.
>
> gg
Posted by Poet on September 24, 2005, at 13:15:31
In reply to Therapist's Freudian?? Slip, posted by Rigby on September 23, 2005, at 10:39:20
Hi Rigby,
My therapist's son and I seem to share some traits. She tells me, you're like my son, he does, says, has... One of these days I expect her to slip and call me by his name.
If she does, I plan on calling her mom. Which would be pretty funny as she's only about seven years older than me.
Poet
Posted by Tamar on September 24, 2005, at 19:03:31
In reply to Therapist's Freudian?? Slip, posted by Rigby on September 23, 2005, at 10:39:20
Hi Rigby,
Interesting slip. I also wondered what Alexandra wondered... maybe you were discussing an aspect of your boyfriend's personality that resonated strongly for your therapist?
My husband calls me by his sister's name frequently, which always makes me laugh. I don't look like his sister but we have some common traits!
My worst slip was calling a colleague by my husband's name. Now that was embarrassing...
Tamar
Posted by Rigby on September 24, 2005, at 20:30:35
In reply to Re: Therapist's Freudian?? Slip » Rigby, posted by Tamar on September 24, 2005, at 19:03:31
Hey Tamar,
Yeah, I've got zero idea what the context was. I wish I knew. She and I have had an oddly similar path around sexuality so it's all pretty weird.
> Interesting slip. I also wondered what Alexandra wondered... maybe you were discussing an aspect of your boyfriend's personality that resonated strongly for your therapist?Does it bug you to be called someone your husband considers platonic? I used to be called an ex's sister's name and it bugged me no end!
> My husband calls me by his sister's name frequently, which always makes me laugh. I don't look like his sister but we have some common traits!My therapist looked kinda shocked at herself when she did this. Like she covered but it was obvious she'd be thinking about it afterward.
> My worst slip was calling a colleague by my husband's name. Now that was embarrassing...Thanks for responding!
Posted by Rigby on September 24, 2005, at 20:35:21
In reply to Re: Therapist's Freudian?? Slip, posted by happyflower on September 23, 2005, at 19:12:59
Hi hf,
It is kinda amusing! I would think it's pretty shocking when they slip and use a spouses' name but it sounds like some people's therapists are more open about when something a client does or the way a client is reminds them of someone they know (like Poet) vs. a therapist like mine who never says **anything** personal nearly to a fault.
Anyway, thanks for writing!
> I think it is kinda funny that she did that, plus the fact that you knew and she didn't know you knew! LOL It must be hard to talk to clients all day and keep from talking about their own lives. :)
Posted by Rigby on September 24, 2005, at 20:37:16
In reply to Re: Therapist's Freudian?? Slip » Rigby, posted by Poet on September 24, 2005, at 13:15:31
Hi Poet,
Your therapist sounds a lot looser or more open than mine!! Do you like hearing that you share some of your therapist's son's traits? Do you think it helps/hurts/makes no difference?
Thanks!
> Hi Rigby,
>
> My therapist's son and I seem to share some traits. She tells me, you're like my son, he does, says, has... One of these days I expect her to slip and call me by his name.
>
> If she does, I plan on calling her mom. Which would be pretty funny as she's only about seven years older than me.
>
> Poet
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