Do You And Your Psychiatrist Text?

[Ketamine Dreams]

Just curious if this is common or not. My wife seems a little too intertwined with her psychiatrist at times, and they text each other. This seems to be a little odd imo. I guess I can see email, but texting seems to be a little too much and maybe borders on being inappropriate. Thoughts?

 

[Go Hungry]

No idea. I know I don't text with my psych. v0v

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

My therapist has texted me to tell me about an appointment change. I don't text though so I can't really speak to whether I would text her or not. My thought would be in would depend on what the text is about- it it's for support, then I think that's fine. Also, if it's the same content at would be in an e-mail or a phone call, I think it would be fine. But that's just my opinion since I don't actually text (too expensive to include in our phone plan for now).

 

[desiderata310]

My therapist texts me when I have a really bad time. He also will rarely text me links to TED talks or other relevant links.
Yesterday he texted me for quite a while to talk me out of going on a work trip because I am having a really hard time.
It depends on the therapist, their style and how supportive they are trying to be.
It's not unheard of...

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Psychiatrist, no.

Psychologist and I, yes we text but it's normally pretty short. If I need quick replies to questions or quick advice or I'm having a more sudden problem so I'm looking for support. All this is kept short becasue it's text and so I (we) don't text for hours but normally a handful at a time with days or weeks in between.

 

[mrsps]

I txt to ask for an extra appointment every now and then, she txts me if she wants to change our time or something. She will ask me to txt her to let her know I have got home safe if we have had a tough session. But other than that no.

 

[Justmehere]

Does her psychiatrist do therapy with your wife? or just manage medications? Most psychiatrists I have seen just manage medications and charge for any out of session contact. Phone/email/text, anything.

My therapist and I text. Nether of us like email, because it's not secure. Text tends to also be more brief than email. We text 1-2 times a week for matters other than scheduling. It's brief, but helpful. It's like a check in.

If they are communicating outside of sessions every day all day, then that would make me think maybe something is off. My first concern would to think that she isn't getting enough support in session and needs more sessions.

 

[Deleted member 19804]

I agree with @JEKBreatheandBelieve ; it depends on what the texts are about. I doubt it would be practical to use texts as a means of (therapeutic) conversation as texts can only have a finite amount of words. But if it's just to decide on a date for a next session or something like that, then sure, sounds pretty normal.

If their texting were to involve topics that are not related to her therapy or medications, or if her psychiatrist were to share personal details about his/her own life, I'd find it inappropriate.

 

[StarChild]

@Ketamine Dreams, is your wives psychiatrist a he or a she?

 

[Notsowild]

My psychologist texts me but not my psychiatrist. But then my psychiatrist deals mainly with meds and some therapy but not trauma therapy like my T . I always assumed that's how it was for everyone.

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

The psychiatrist is female. I think they text about therapy and when my wife is struggling and not about scheduling appointments etc. I'm not sure. She will just say she texted her about things. She sees her weekly and also sees a therapist regularly.

 

[nursenurse]

• Physicians should not use text messaging for medical interactions even with an established patient except with extreme caution and consent by the patient.

The above quote I got on line from the American College of Physicians and Surgeons website.

Texting is not as private and secure as one would like to believe. On a personal note, and as a medical professional, I do have an issue with this. It is one thing to tell you your appointment time has been changed. It is another to talk about your care. Once it is in cyberspace somewhere, it is there. And how many folks delete their texts?

Then there would be a tuna can of legalities regarding malpractice and I said/they said, contexts etc. And it is too easy to slip over personal boundaries. The odd text turns into frequent texting. It can cross the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship all too quickly. You have to remember, that as professionals, we are not your friends.