Posted by shrinking violet on September 23, 2004, at 18:25:06
In reply to Re: How do you address your therapists?, posted by Poet on September 23, 2004, at 18:12:29
I rarely have occasion to verbally use names in conversation with anyone (not sure why, just not something I do), and I actually almost cringe when others throw my name into conversations.
I address my T by her first name; she's a clinical social worker. I remember at first, I wasn't sure whether to call her Ms. LastName, or what. I forget how I knew it was OK to use her first name....probably something she did, but I can't recall what it was. I'm glad though, because as someone else mentioned, it would feel way too odd to be so formal with someone I'm expected to be verbally intimate with. It's weird, but the salutation I use to address a letter or email to my T seems more meaningful than using her first name. I remember the very first email I sent to her, I used "Dear" FirstName, generally because that's the way I address correspondences. I eventually realized that she would use "Hello" or maybe "Hi" to address me in writing, and I realized that the use of "Dear" may be more meaningful to her than it was to me at the time. So, in the beginning, I would use "Hi" or "Hello" a lot. Then, as our relationship progressed and we became more familiar and close, she started to use "Dear" MyFirstName in certain correspondences, and I do the same with her (depending on the topic; sometimes it's "Dear," sometimes "Hi."). Maybe that's just weird? *lol*
I also call my nutritionist by her first name. My psych for meds and my medical doc (also part of my treatment team), I address them by "Dr. LastName." My T might refer to them by first name in conversation with me, as she knows them very well, but I try to respect the "Dr." status and call them as such, unless they say otherwise.
Sorry....another too-long response. *sigh*
poster:shrinking violet
thread:394142
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040918/msgs/394249.html