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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on July 25, 2008, at 15:07:22
Well, it finally happened. It's been a vague concern all along. And it wasn't so bad.
My therapist let me know a window washer was heading our way, and asked if it would be a problem for me. Someone three feet away looking at me? Yeah. A problem. He asked if I'd like to try to find another empty room, but that seemed sort of distracting itself. I asked what his other clients did, but he said this was the first time it coincided with a session.
I finally just switched to the other side of the sofa, and angled away from the window. He took my lead and moved to a chair nearer the door. I sort of noticed the guy at the corner of my eye, but I was able to maintain focus. My therapist may have been disconcerted, since he was facing the window.
I'm glad my therapist saw him coming. A face in the window would have probably startled me silly.
Posted by Sigismund on July 25, 2008, at 15:30:03
In reply to Window washer, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2008, at 15:07:22
Well that's good.
You're not supposed to be at work?
Posted by Annierose on July 25, 2008, at 16:18:22
In reply to Window washer, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2008, at 15:07:22
Oh my goodness. I would definitely felt uncomfortable. I'm guessing he doesn't have any sort of window treatment to close?
This reminded me of a session a long time ago when I smelled smoke. My t didn't. Fifteen minutes later a fireman barged into our session. Awkward!
Posted by Lemonaide on July 25, 2008, at 23:30:01
In reply to Window washer, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2008, at 15:07:22
Ohhhhhhh, that happened to me one time with my old T, the blinds were open and I felt very conscious, neither of us knew he was coming.
One time I heard someone sneeze through the wall, and I am like what the heck. My T says that is strange he has never heard the guy next door. It was a strange moment.
Posted by sunnydays on July 25, 2008, at 23:44:50
In reply to Window washer, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2008, at 15:07:22
My distraction last session was the Air Force jets that kept flying over the building ridiculously loudly. It's sort of hard to focus on my relationship problems [re: my complete lack of relationships] when it sounds like we're under attack... But the window washer would have soooo freaked me out. Your T really ought to invest in a set of miniblinds for occasions such as that.
sunnydays
Posted by Phillipa on July 26, 2008, at 12:10:22
In reply to Re: Window washer, posted by sunnydays on July 25, 2008, at 23:44:50
I'd mention to him that he should at least have a sheet to drape over the window if he downs want blinds or some type of window treatment. Loss of privacy to me. Phillipa
Posted by Poet on July 26, 2008, at 12:21:29
In reply to Window washer, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2008, at 15:07:22
Hi Dinah,
I think your T needs to get some blinds or other window covering. I would have left until the window washer was gone.
My T's office is right off the waiting area and I am always afraid that people can hear me even though when I'm waiting for my T I don't hear her and the client before me. I guess add paranoid to my DX.
Poet
Posted by Dinah on July 26, 2008, at 19:13:16
In reply to Re: Window washer » Dinah, posted by Sigismund on July 25, 2008, at 15:30:03
I actually have been managing to get more work done than I have lately. :) I was just posting before and after my post therapy unconsciousness masquerading as a nap.
But thanks for shooing! I definitely need shooing.
Posted by Dinah on July 26, 2008, at 19:14:19
In reply to Re: Window washer, posted by Annierose on July 25, 2008, at 16:18:22
That would be awkward!
I think I've had people barge in before. But not anyone as memorable as a fireman. :)
Posted by Dinah on July 26, 2008, at 19:17:42
In reply to Re: Window washer, posted by Lemonaide on July 25, 2008, at 23:30:01
It's not actually that hard to hear the lady next door. She has a very loud laugh. It annoys my therapist no end, I guess because he hears it all day. I try not to think about the fact that she might be able to hear us. However, my voice in therapy is so low that even my therapist has trouble hearing me. We only hear her when she laughs, not normal conversational tones.
It bothers me less to hear it than to see my therapist distracted by it. I spend a fair amount of time in session trying to process his reactions. Reactions to outside things mess me all up.
Posted by Dinah on July 26, 2008, at 19:18:45
In reply to Re: Window washer, posted by sunnydays on July 25, 2008, at 23:44:50
lol.
There are times when I'd consider fighter jets a fitting background to our discussions. :)
It would be distracting though. Can you hear ok over them?
Posted by Dinah on July 26, 2008, at 19:22:04
In reply to Re: Window washer, posted by Phillipa on July 26, 2008, at 12:10:22
It's hard to describe without seeing it, but my therapist's window does not lend itself to covering. It slopes so that it looks as if you can walk out into the air. I find it a lovely view when I'm feeling well. But there are times when it makes me obsess about walking out into the drop.
Posted by Dinah on July 26, 2008, at 19:24:08
In reply to Re: Window washer » Dinah, posted by Poet on July 26, 2008, at 12:21:29
He did offer to find someplace else. It just felt like that would be more disruptive than being seen, as long as I wasn't looking at someone looking at me.
It must have been weird for my therapist, who was looking out the window. And maybe weird for the window washer, who I think only did part of the window before again disappearing.
Posted by sunnydays on July 27, 2008, at 1:03:03
In reply to Re: Window washer » sunnydays, posted by Dinah on July 26, 2008, at 19:18:45
It was just that one time, it's not usual. And yes, we could hear over them. It was just quite annoying. I like it to be pretty much silent when I'm in T. Noise from the outside world tends to make me dissociate really fast - it just makes the whole therapy room seem really artificial and vulnerable all at once.
sunnydays
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