Asking t for a longer session

[RoadtoHappy]

Hi,

Has anyone ever asked their T for a double session or to extend the session from 50 to 90 minutes?

I’ve been with my T for 8 months. She is very good and we have built up good trust and boundaries. However I have not been full honest with her and have 3 major things to do with my trauma to disclose but I feel I can’t open up and tell her in a normal session as it will be too much. They are things I have never even hinted about or told another soul so I am anxious and worried that I will be in an awful state after telling her and feel a longer session could help. I pay my T myself and would clearly pay her for her extra time but I am curious if anyone has asked and what their T said??

Also have you disclosed information to your T months into therapy? I worry she will question why I have not brought it up before when I have been so open and forthcoming normally. I was hoping to never mention them but feel I won’t progress any further if I don’t work and discuss them.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

I have disclosed stuff later on because it takes a long while to build up Enough trust. She will understand. Also, i don’t see any harm in asking for more time.

 

[Rumors]

It has taken years for me to tell some stuff..lol... ask for the extra time if it is available I am sure your therapist will say yes. Good luck!

 

[Friday]

I’ve nearly always done 90-120 minute sessions.

 

[barefoot]

At various points I have seen my therapist for 120, 90 and 60 min sessions. I have also seen her twice a week, once a week and once a fortnight depending on how things are, what I feel I need and what’s practical for us both in terms of logistics.

If you are willing and able to pay her for longer sessions and if she is able to accommodate it in her diary, I can’t see that she would refuse.

And, as others have said, it isn’t unusual for topics to be revealed further down the line. Sometimes that’s due to building trust, sometimes about finding the words to actually say it, sometimes that one wants to work on other stuff first or to pay foundations somehow with other content, sometimes something doesn’t feel important early on then it becomes something you feel compelled to bring into the work later.

I honestly don’t think any decent therapist would be surprised, concerned or judgey about you bringing something up later or about you requesting longer sessions.

Ask for what you need