Last week, eileen and I had a phone check in. It didnt go to plan.
We were talking about the weekend, and about trying to get through it without being triggered, and I was saying I hoped we’d manage on our own.
Eileen said some things that made some of the teen insiders defensive and angry.
She acted like it was no big deal, she kept saying we’d manage, and giving us ways to manage, but it felt dismissive, and like she was minimising things.
It left the teens feeling very mad at her!
We ended the call feeling unheard, invalidated, and unseen.
When we ended the call I was like, this is not my therapist. This is not how she acts. I was stunned!
I was actually going to phone her back, because I thought it was so weird, and I really thought, what is wrong with eileen!
Fast forward to monday morning, we had our normal session, but some of the teens were still very mad at her. So we talked about it.
She told us that she’d had a bit of a reaction to us telling her we’d be alone for the weekend, she said it made her feel powerless, and helpless to help us.
She said all she wanted to do was help us so we wouldnt feel so triggered.
“I wanted to gather the troops”, She said.
You were on my mind after the call as I knew I’d handled it wrong.
I told her I was going to call her back after we hung up because of how she just wasnt herself.
“Maybe you should have”, She said.
I was glad she was honest with me about how not being able to do much to help us made her feel. I appreciated her honesty.
So did the teens, and they soon calmed down.
Eileen apologised for the way she handled things, and we accepted her apology, I know she would never want to hurt our feelings, or make us feel like our problems didnt matter to her.
So glad you talked it through with Eileen. Seems very positive for the teens to voice their complaints and feel heard! Good work. 🙂
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Thanks Rebecca 🙂 Eileen always makes us feel heard and she always welcomes the teens to tell her when they’re not happy
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That had to be a tough one to take, considering how Eileen is usually your rock. But even well meaning solid people have off days. Good that she owned it. And good on you for being so understanding, after how upset you all were. Holding a grudge can sometimes be easier than letting things. Glad you got it sorted and feel better about it. ❤
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I’m really glad we talked it through and got it sorted. It’s easy to forgive her. She’s always so caring and kind, I know she can have an off day from time to time 😘
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