Poll Contact With Therapist Between Sessions

[Ice_Fire]

I answered 'yes, through email', as I did, regularly between sessions with my old Therapist. We had a system where I'd see her on a Thursday and we'd have an email 'catch-up' on the following Tuesday if I'd been struggling. Also enabled me to bring up topics I was frightened to talk about so that we both knew what the session would be about and we were both aware it'd be difficult.

Not comfortable enough with my current T, so I've not asked yet if it would be okay with her.

 

[4gtfl1]

Yes. I contact her by email if it's a question, but by phone if it's getting to the point that I'm considering hospitalization because of suicidal ideation or physical acts of aggression.

 

[Britt.f7]

My new therapist didn't give me an email, but I know I can call and expect a return call if necessary. However, unless I'm really, really, bad off, I won't call. I'll just trudge through it until I can see her again.

 

[Mella]

I email my therapist maybe 1 or 2 times between sessions and have only called her on 2 or 3 occasions in 3 years!

 

[Crow]

I've been seeing my T for over a decade. We started emailing sharing info once or twice a year several years ago. Now I email her throughout the two weeks between sessions with dream recaps or to share quotes but she doesn't want me to send anything pertaining to actual treatment or schedule on email because of HIPPA laws. So I leave voicemail instead when it's treatment related.

She was emailing me links to youtube vids or sites that related to our work together but I think she has decided to have tighter boundries as I have only received one of those emails in the past month. I've been quite angry at her this week and I think it's because her stopping the emails feels like an abandonment of sorts.

 

[Loveneverfails]

I can contact by email, phone or text. I try really hard not to do any of them anymore, though things have been especially difficult lately and this past week I desperately needed him to talk me down from a panic attack and some truly horrible(and somewhat irrational) fears. I'm glad I have that option though I'm really concerned that I may have become too dependent on his help. I'm not used to asking for help and I'm still not sure where the line is on that and whether or not I've crossed it.

 

[Crow]

Hey Loveneverfails,
One thing I've learned is it's up to T to decide where the boundries are. That's what they're paid for. I stopped worrying about that a couple of years ago and things got much better, and my T definitely let's me know when I cross a line. I just got a call and she is definitely sticking with the more defined lines. No chatting. Just calling to offer some feedback from a vm last week. I think I said too much about my manipulation strategies a few weeks ago :) Dangit.

 

[Loveneverfails]

it's up to T to decide where the boundries are.

That's a good point. I guess I'm worried about making him uncomfortable having to confront it. People tend to feel guilty when confronting me because they don't want to hurt my feelings(which is actually a lot harder to do than people assume). I guess I'm overly sensitive to doing anything, feels like I'm walking on eggshells when I know perfectly well I don't need to.

I think I said too much about my manipulation strategies a few weeks ago

lol don't you hate it when they actually listen and put what you say into practice?

 

[Crow]

Just an update. So I had session yesterday (I really hate having two weeks between sessions) and one of the things we talked about was the contact T and I have outside of session. I bypass her phone and call straight to voicemail. She wants me to stop doing that. I fessed up that it was a conscious thing because I didn't want to talk to her - just wanted to say whatever I had to say. 'Course that's avoidant and not connecting. When she was going over the no therapeutic info via email, I surprised myself and said I thought all email communication should stop. It served a valuable purpose in treatment last year - having her 'available' anytime but it feels like I need those defined boundries again for some reason. I'm a bit miffed at myself. But obviously, this is probably the best course. Not having instant contact with her makes me find other resources...step outside of my comfort zone.

 

[Deleted member 34424]

He's available whenever and we interact often; text, email, phone, and we do Skype sessions if I can't go in to physically see him. He also sometimes gives me homework to do and then I'll email it to him and then he replies with his thoughts.

 

[Lavie]

I have been seeing my T for 3 weeks now and I can ring him on his home phone or e-mail him whenever I...

Hi, I know it has been very long time since you ever posted this but I just really want to know who is your T? Im in a crisis situation and love to have a consultation I need someone who might be able to provide me Trauma healing work and higher level understanding and caring.

 

[digger]

Hi lavie

The member you're addressing hasn't visited the site in over a year. It's also worth bearing g in mind that this is an international forum with members from all over the world - the chances of getting a personal recommendation for a therapist local to you are probably going to be pretty slim.

What might be more worthwhile to you could be starting your own thread asking how people found the therapists they have, to get some ideas about how to start looking for your own.