Counsellors do you think of your clients in between sessions?

[shrinknightmare]

Just wondering if counsellors think of their clients in between sessions or whilst on holidays?

My counsellor has seen me after being on holidays and said she was thinking of me and also mentioned about a show on TV and said she thought of me.

I told her she shouldn't be thinking of me whilst on holidays because that is her time off and she shouldn't be thinking about work, almost felt like swapping seats with her. LOL :)

[andyhp]

Yes I do. For various reasons. Some of those reasons may require me to take it to supervision and some may not.

I'd be surprised, and I'm not even sure why, if any therapist didn't think of their clients, or some of them, between sessions.

As for telling a client that...could depend on many things, the client, the circumstances, why I had thought of them, the 'moment'.

I guess supervision itself requires me to think about the client between sessions.

I also guess that workload must play some part.

Good question!!

Were you concerned about your counsellor thinking of clients 'in general' while on holiday or you in particular?

[Fluffy Flowers]

I phoned the hospital one time to speak to my therapist, and the other lady that ran the group answered (and she was a therapist, and had been really good to me), and she was like 'Hi 'Fluffy', I was just thinking about you the other day' and then went on to tell me why she was thinking of me. I actually thought it was really nice what she said because it was all positive.

I likened it to thinking about kids I used to teach at times. Sometimes you do just think about them. Most jobs that involve people mean that you take it home with you to some extent, be it positive or negative, although obviously in therapy the supervision aspect covers it. I don't think it's weird though (unless they are like obsessing or something), I think it's just human.

[Katmandu40]

One time my shrink called me by accident...LOL She was planning to call someone else and called me by mistake and it was long distance too!!! Yes, they do seem to think of us between sessions or while on vacation. I think it shows they do care.

[Old Wolf]

As Andyhp says there are many reasons why clients can "come to mind" between sessions just as anyone we know can enter our thoughts. However, if, as a counsellor I found I couldn't shift someone from my thoughts I would be concerned as to why and this would be something I would take to supervision.
I think many clients would recognise that this "comeing to mind" is as likely for their therapist as it is for them (after all, they must be thinking of their therapist in order to ask the question!). For some, however, it is hard to believe that they exist for someone else when they are not actually present. For these individuals revealing that this is so at the right time and in the right way can be a real revelation and of great value - it speaks to their lack of self value - to realise that someone thinks of them in their absence, that they do not cease to exist, can be very powerful.

[andyhp]

OW said
I think many clients would recognise that this "comeing to mind" is as likely for their therapist as it is for them (after all, they must be thinking of their therapist in order to ask the question!)

Good point!

Fluffy Flowers said,

I don't think it's weird though (unless they are like obsessing or something), I think it's just human.

It is isn't it!