Do You Tape Record Your Therapy Session?

[Deleted member 29920]

I just wondered if any of you tape record your sessions and if so, is it helpful and did you ask permission to do so beforehand? Have any of you ever done it covertly? I think it would help me as I forget alot of what the psychologist says but I don't know if I would be allowed to?

 

[Almost There]

Yes, I do record them and I find it very helpful. My psychologist actually suggested it early on. There was a stretch where I didn't record them and I missed not being able to listen to it again. I simply asked if I could record the sessions again and he was fine with it. He said that he knows patients can find it helpful to hear things again and sometimes to remember what was said too.

I know that I have left appointments, gotten in my car and had trouble recalling what was discussed - more importantly, what my psychologist told me. This would be minutes after the end of the appointment. I know that I couldn't recall because I had been upset. Being able to listen to the session again the following day has been really helpful.

 

[Whitebird]

Yes, I did it several times. It was my psychologist's suggestion. Sometimes it was helpful, but I have some problems with listening. It is very difficult for me to listen to my voice! Also in several sessions my psychologist mentioned some important stuff which were difficult for me to listen to them again!

 

[Born to Run]

Have any of you ever done it covertly?

If I may suggest, discuss it openly. Trust in therapy is so important also for the therapist. If they find out later that you had been doing it covertly, they may not like it for many possible reasons. Privacy matters, trust, honesty; just ideas.

 

[Lucycat]

It sounds like a grand idea to me, if it is open and honest.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

@Almost There, @Whitebird ,@Born to Run, @Lucycat , thank you all for your replies, I think when I go back to psychology in about 8 weeks I will ask if I can record the sessions. Hopefully they'll say it's okay, if not, I guess I just have to do my usual thing and make brief notes afterwards! I wouldn't do it covertly, I wouldn't like someone doing that to me.