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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by annierose on July 21, 2006, at 16:35:24
Quick background: I'm going on vacation in a week, and following that my T is going for a week.
I've been working with her for 2 weeks over my anxiety of this seperation, coming on the heels of her first vacation.Dream: I'm driving to my appointment and realize that I'm leaving at the time my appt starts, so I'm going to be late. I try to reach my T but her message says "My voice mail is not working right now, please do not leave a message. To reach me call my cell @ xyz-abcd" I panic since I can't remember her cell no. while I'm driving and I don't have that no. saved on my phone.
Next scene: I'm walking upstairs to her office and I see her on the staircase ahead of me. I acknowledge her and she says "Hi" and to come in her office. There is an eldery woman there filling out "intake" forms on a clipboard. My T tells me to sit down and to try to continue with the woman's presence. I'm miffed and mad. Before I begin I tell her that the door is open to the hallway. She says it's not. I step up and say, "Look, I want you to see this, it is open." She looks puzzled at my reaction, to that I reply, "I want you to see it, you never believe me." She quietly shuts the door, when another client storms through. I quickly learn she is a new client that saw my T the day before and it quite upset (another adult is with her).
Client #2 is sobbing, I need to talk to you. Client #1 continues filling out forms. Sitting there I decide, I must do something, this is crazy. I stand up, lean over to give my T a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I tell her, "A lot of people need your attention right now, I'll see you next week" and leave.
I'm not mad at that point. I'm happy to have hugged her and she hugged back.
OKAY ... any theories???
Posted by Daisym on July 21, 2006, at 17:03:19
In reply to Therapist in dream last night ..., posted by annierose on July 21, 2006, at 16:35:24
I have two initial hits...
the first is how busy YOU feel getting ready for vacation and all that entails. You have so many people who need your attention. The woman filling out forms is really interesting. It seems that in your dream, your therapist has lots of new and needy clients.
So where does that leave you? You become the "good" client who is understanding and easy going. So you get to give her a hug (which IRL she won't do) and go off, secure in the knowledge that you will get to see her next week.
My other thought is about her never having enough time for you...her answering machine isn't working, you can't capture her cell number, you are late and there is no way to tell her to wait. And then she (and you) are invaded by other clients. And she doesn't believe you when you say her door is open to other people, even when you point out that it is. (is she thinking of other clients even when she is with you?)
Posted by Dinah on July 21, 2006, at 17:38:44
In reply to Therapist in dream last night ..., posted by annierose on July 21, 2006, at 16:35:24
Well, I'm not good with dreams so I have no theories. But it sounds like a wonderful gift to share with her before a therapy break. I'm glad you have time before you leave.
Posted by annierose on July 22, 2006, at 13:54:21
In reply to Re: Therapist in dream last night ... » annierose, posted by Daisym on July 21, 2006, at 17:03:19
I think your interpretation of me feeling like the "good" client fits. Afterall, it was me that changed my appointment time for the "golden client" (I think T cringes everytime I refer to that client as that --- but she knows who I'm talking about instantly!). As for the part where I'm determine to get her to see the open door yelling "you never believe me" --- I think that goes back two incidents. She never believed my version of her part in the golden client episode (but she did accept it as my truth) and she doesn't seem to think that the client waiting outside her waiting room on Fridays is really waiting just to run into me.
I did tell her about the dream. She seemed to think it had to do with our upcoming seperation. When I'm on vacation, there is the probability of other clients taking "MY SPACE" --- i.e. my appt times. That doesn't feel true for me. I don't think that bothers me. Maybe it speaks more to me not having access to her while I'm away.
In the dream, I definitely felt smug that I had the courage to give her a hug and kiss and catch her off-guard. She was busy juggling all these clients and I made nice by leaving, but made her NOTICED me by giving her a hug.
It's all so twisted.
Posted by annierose on July 22, 2006, at 13:56:06
In reply to Re: Therapist in dream last night ... » annierose, posted by Dinah on July 21, 2006, at 17:38:44
I did share it with her on Friday. She offered a different explanation than Daisy's, but I think Daisy's is a closer fit to how I feel.
She seemed to gloss over the hug part. Phewww.
T's interpretation is above.
Thanks.
Posted by raisinb on July 22, 2006, at 18:44:04
In reply to Re: Hmmmmm ... » Daisym, posted by annierose on July 22, 2006, at 13:54:21
I've had lots of dreams where I can't get through to my therapist on the phone--her number's screwed up, or I can't remember it, I've lost my cell and can't find a pay phone. For me, it usually means I can't communicate with her (which is usually true :))
This is the end of the thread.
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