Poll Contact With Therapist Between Sessions

[CraftyCath]

It's humbling to realise that for all the intellectual insight I think I have into myself, I have very, very little emotional or subjective grasp of whoI am and don't seem to have the internal tools or resources to even begin to get in contact with that.

Gosh Maddog, all you have said is just how I feel. my hubby recently said that he doesn't car how much it costs, how much debt we get into, he will make sure I can see my T. I feel so fortunate and so blessed to have found him. :cry: (Good tears!).

 

[maddog]

That's fantastic Cath, and must be such an enormous relief to you. There are some things worth more than money, and when it comes to prioritising, what point is there in prioritising other things if we're not together and in touch with ourselves enough to enjoy them.

MD

 

[Innordinate]

not wanted to

 

[Bill Dickerson]

I've called her as part of my safety plan when things get real bad but I don't contact her out of the office but those are my rules. The reason you go to a T is so you can discuss difficult issues. The whole idea is a disassociated third party with an independent viewpoint. A friend can't tell you the truth for fear of hurting you. I need the straight poop. Of course I'm a guy and we don't discuss out feeling with our friends.

 

[Steph4]

Yes.
My contact with my therapist is like Maddog's with his therapist. Since I am knew here there is much I have not divulged. But I have been with the same therapist for the last 17 years. Now I haven't been in therapy for 17 years straight. But I saw him for the first time 17 years ago, and I have been in therapy more than I have been out of therapy.
My therapist allows me to contact him via email. I too write long journals. He has me email them so we don't take up session time with him trying to read pages and pages of journals.
A couple of years ago, he gave my husband and I his cell to text him when needed. His office has a voice mail system I can use as well. You leave a message and the therapist calls you back asap.

I too have major trust issues. I am sure I have attachment issues. And I am sure he is aware of this. However he has strict no touching rules. He shook my hand the first day we meet, and that's it. If I get upset and cry, he doesn't hug or anything, he hands me a blanket and tissues, and tells me he is sorry for the pain I have had to endure.
So the short answer is yes, he makes himself available anytime. I email him frequently. See him 2 x a week for a 45 minute session. I can and do text him if I am in a really bad place. And I have called him on his cell maybe 5 times total. And two of those times were when my son was in trouble and I needed help.
Steph

 

[Roline]

I have answered 'no' :(

She says i can text her and I have her email address but I dont feel able to use them. I want her to think that I can cope, but I think she knows me better than that;)

 

[VDWngr1355]

I put yes because my therapist always says at the end of the session I can call or email if I need to. I have only emailed a couple of times.

 

[Rob_Dog19]

I actually don't know for sure whether or not I could...I've never asked. I mean technically I could call her office and leave a message...but as far as having a direct line to her, I don't think she'd ever go for it...which sometimes is a pain in my ass, because I don't want to have to call the on call therapist who knows nothing about me...I've been seeing the same T for 5 years, I can't expect someone who doesnt know me to be able to help me over the phone.

 

[Marie E.]

When I did have a therapist, I had extra sessions when I needed to figure out what was triggering my panic attacks.

 

[Roline]

I feel very dissapointed with my T.

She has said that I can phone, text or email her but never felt able to, until Friday.
I had been majorly triggered and was desperate. I had been for a drive, heading for the railway line, but realised I didn't want that, driven around not knowing what to do, and finally went home. I was in a total mess and desperately needed her. I sent her a text and 3 days later she replied with a message that she could see me next week - nothing else.
I feel very let down and unworthy of help :notworthy:

 

[maddog]

Hi Roline. Gosh, I'm so sorry, much like your T, it's taken a few days for me to see this response and make a reply I really want to make.

I'm so so sorry that this happened to you. Damit, I could give you the stock standard reminders about how Ts are busy people with lives too, there could have been a hundred reasons why she didn't respond earlier, bla bla bla, but right now I suspect you've got your head around all of that intellectually, which in no way takes away from the sense of aloneness and betrayal. The sad irony of this is that we only ever call on these emergency safety nets when we are desperate and hence at our most triggerable and least rational.

I'm just sorry this had to happen. Have you seen her again yet?

So hope you're doing a little better?

Maddog

 

[Roline]

Hi Maddog

Thank you so much for your reply, it means loads to me.

I have seen the T again. She asked how I had been in the week, and I said 'have you not got my text'. She said no, but looked on her phone. She then said that yes she had read it. There was no appology from her. However, when we talked about what had triggered me so badly she changed her tune and was very kind. I think then she realised how desperate I was. I do realise that she is overworked and human too, and we all get things wrong sometimes, but crikey it was hard!!!!

Anyway, thanks for listening

Roline