Eye Contact In Therapy

[PollyScotland]

I become so aware of them looking at me and I start to get self conscious and have to break eye contact. Partly because I have such low self esteem - I'm worried that they are assessing my features, noticing my bad skin, etc. :(

 

[blaze]

Eye contact is feels like a dangerous thing to me, if i notice you looking at me then ive automatically become a target..you've noticed how distressed and vulnerable I am. My heart heart starts pounding, and uhh i either avoid contact, or angrily but fearfully toughen up and prepare myself to fight for my life.

 

[Mafia_Science]

I've only been with a therapist once, and I don't remember how the eye contact was, but I have a big problem with this day to day.

I don't know whether I'm keeping eye contact too long, or not enough, or if it's weird that I keep looking around. It's just awkward for me. I know others have the problem

 

[Scandinavgirl]

I have a horrible, horrible time sustaining eye contact with my T. If I'm talking about something hard, I u...

Same thing here - I have eye-contact occasionally though. But often it feels shameful. I prefer look away when talking, but I look at him when he is talking.

 

[expectingbetter]

My therapist eyes actually have very soothing impact on me.
I can see so much understanding and sympathy in her eyes and she mostly looks me in my eyes and I don't mind that at all, I look her back and don't have problems keep the eye contact.
But I am aware I am in the minority and lucky to have such a kind T as mine is.

 

[Gadgie]

I haven't had any therapy for a few years now, but when I did, I never looked at her eyes, I always looked at the floor.

As at that time, my confidence and self worth were so low, I couldn't look anyone in the eyes, even when I had to go out, to get food and the like, I always kept my head down.