Therapy Outdoors

[desiderata310]

We were walking in a public trail system.
I emailed him my concerns about being heard etc and he agreed it was a mixed bag for me but said that if I was agreeable that he had a different spot in mind and should be getting back with me about it soon( I have to check it out solo to feel comfortable.)

 

[desiderata310]

Even with a therapist there I would worry about being raped outdoors, first thing I thought of when reading your description. Probably by the (male) therapist.

I thought of this too which is why I couldn't deal with him walking behind me. I KNOW I should trust him but I can't reason my way out of that one. One thing I DO know is I can outrun him which in my head makes it ok to walk with him. I keep out of arms reach.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

@desiderata310 I wonder why it is so different then in his office? My therapist in his office...not so scared of him. Walking around in the woods...I can picture me being afraid.

Interesting thought. Probably one for my diary. :)

 

[desiderata310]

For me, I am not so sure that it IS different. Part of what is triggering is that for a while he sat BETWEEN me and the door!!!! AAAAHHHH!! I was so freaked out by this that I couldn't stand it. He was blocking my only means of escape. We talked about it and then he moved over so that I had a clear view and access to the door but the calculations in my brain made it impossible for me to really calm down much because I would still have to go past him to get to the door which he could easily block. I always spent the first 10 minutes reassuring myself that he wasn't going to hurt me.
I wasn't always successful.

Out on the trails there was always the possibility of me outrunning him which makes it better. (He's a smoker) and since he walks in front I control how much distance between us. It allows me to relax a bit.

 

[Suzetig]

In his office would he not swap and let you have the chair nearest the door?

My therapist and I have swapped chairs and moved around her room. In fact for the first 3 months I sat in "her" chair without her saying a thing about it - until I realised the room was set up (position of clocks etc) in a way that made sense if she sat where I was sitting. We swapped but recently have talked about swapping back again.

 

[ellienad]

In terms of privacy, this crossed my mind the first time my T brought up the idea of walking. We usually walk down a quiet street right outside my T's office where there really aren't any other people. She assured me that no one would know who we are, heck, for all anyone knows we could be two co-workers on a lunch break. She is also very good about briefly stopping the conversation if/when a person happens to walk by within hearing distance. One time someone did walk by us, and she stops mid sentence and goes "Isn't this a lovely plant!" with a smile. Definitely made me laugh! We also don't get into the heavy stuff outside, as I use it more as a way to release tension and anxiety when the conversation gets tough.

 

[Hashi]

The best therapies are typically outside... It is private

I can't imagine anything less private than being outdoors. Anyone could suddenly appear, anyone could be around, anyone could hear. Unless you're in an incredibly isolated spot and to me that would be much more anxiety-inducing than being in a building with other people around who can't hear if you speak quietly but would hear if you yelled.

How is outdoors private? Surely, by definition, it's public? And in practice, of course it's public. Unless very isolated etc...

 

[ellienad]

@Hashi I would agree with you in the sense that a therapist's office would be more private than outside, of course. However, when the therapy room itself becomes a trigger, I would say that an isolated street or walking path is the next best thing (other than maybe a car) if there is no one else around. Usually if someone did happen to walk by or be around, they wouldn't be hang around long enough to hear more than a couple words out of a sentence anyway, if that, and out of context, it most likely wouldn't make any sense to them...just throwing in my two cents ;)

As I mentioned in my previous post, I know that personally my therapist is very good at finding a secluded area to walk and making sure the conversation is not overheard. I would assume it would be the same for other therapists as well. And again, I would say it's completely up to the client/patient how much they want to bring up outside.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I think that walking and talking outside in a secluded safer place would be wonderful. I love walking and talking with friends outside. I love nature.

I had a therapist who had quite the view of pretty trees outside his windows and I found it very soothing to talk as I looked at the trees.

But if I was walking outside with a therapist I would choose which issues I felt safe enough to discuss.

 

[anthony]

anyone could be around, anyone could hear.

You don't sit around, you walk and move... the person would have to be following you, which you would notice. Who really cares if someone passing hears 5 words of your overall conversation?

 

[Jane.l]

We walk in a small public garden a lot of the time, if somebody passes we just stop talking for a second if we need to , but we both talk pretty quietly anyway - for really tough conversations we walk on a river path , it's quiet and the water is comforting though on occasion it has been tempting to chuck myself In !

I trust my t totally - in that I know he would never physically harm me. I can see this would not work if I was scared of him.

I think part of why it works for me is that all I can think of in his office is that I want to get out . I almost feel like a naughty school girl been sent to the headmaster to discuss what 'bad' thing I have done this week. So getting away from that almost making it like a normal relationship - we grab a take out coffee and go for a walk - helps for me but I am sure it's not for everyone.

 

[freespirit13]

I have just got back from seeing my therapist, I suggested doing this with her, She thought it was a good idea to help me with exposure.
So i would like to thank you , this would of never entered my head, if i hadn't read it here :)

Perhaps in the long run, It will help me also, as i had to take time out of my photography diploma , as i wasn't going out any where to even consider doing my course work.

So thank you :)