Therapist's embodiment/somaticization of client

Advice Wanted

SOoooooOoooo... any readings I can pull up on PEPWeb or some twinship stories anyone can share so I feel less nuts (to use a clinical term)?

I used to have some issues with sleep onset insomnia, but my sleep has been fabulous for about the past nine months - falling asleep quickly, sleeping through the night without any medication or supplement other than magnesium. HOWEVER, twice in the past six months, I have had terrible middle-of-night hours-long insomnia involving perseverating thoughts, intense worry, feelings of doom, and horrible somatic symptoms (shivering, diarrhea, vomiting, changes in bodily temperature, pounding heart) about clients. In both instances it was a single client in my mind (not the same client in both occurences).

The worry and physical symptoms feel impenetrable. I can think to myself, "this is information about the treatment." But I can't help but think it's something otherworldly... it's frightening, I feel possessed. I believe in unconscious communication and I've read some papers on that - synchronicities, magical "knowings" of the patient or therapist. I've been struggling to decide if I can continue doing this work or if, as much as I may be good for the clients, the work is not good for me. I don't think I want to have a life where I can be suddenly taken hostage by a client's unspoken horrible dread.

Also - I have never struggled personally with any of these kinds of symptoms in my life outside of my work with clients. I don't have any big T trauma and my life is generally very balanced and well-supported at this time.

Posted Mar 6, 2026, 6:05 PM UTC

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