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My T Is Moving Away, Is Skype An Option

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Jane.l

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I am really not doing well and I am going to deal with the practical rather than the emotional.

So.... my T is moving and I know sensibly it's probably too far to travel and actually with the amount of dissociation I can get after a session, it's not the safest option either - which means either we decide to end it - don't feel that I can cope with that - or we use Skype.

I really don't like Skype but does anyone here use it for T and finds it helpful? I am just not sure how it would be 'enough'. I am also probably slightly paranoid (and naive with techy stuff) but is there anyway a third party could get information about you without your knowledge - I feel nervous talking about things of this nature if it's not totally secure.

I am trying to use my practical side to counter the very messy emotional reaction.
 
I think that we always have to assume that anything online can be infiltrated, yet on the other hand, how likely is it that the people you don't want information about yourself to be the ones that would listen in. Most likely, those that hack into other folks' computers are those looking to find out financial information so they can steal money. So I don't really think that you need to worry about that end of it.

I used to Skype with my sister a lot. I had my door open one day while I was doing so, as I had burned dinner and was airing my place out. Just as I was saying something very personal to her, I heard someone in the hallway outside of my apartment. I doubt that they heard it, as they sort of came into the middle of what I was saying and then walked down the hall to their apartment. Still, I never leave my apartment door open now, just in case something like that should happen when I am on the phone or something.

So, what I am saying is that you most likely would be safe talking to your T on Skype.

Also, Skype is rather tricky to set up on one's computer, so you might need a techy person to set it up for you if you don't have it on there now.
 
i've used it several times and have found it effective. Its a new way of doing things for sure , but overall it was good
 
Do you see it as a permanent solution to use Skype with your therapist, so you can stay with him/her? I would consider if it were temporary, while you are not doing well, and having your current therapist's support. I would not like it for a permanent solution, as you say that does not seem quite enough. I would not worry too much about the security of it. I have no experience with it, but once I had an emergency phone session -no video-, and I was surprised about the impact it had.
 
I am not a very tech-y person and on my iPhone and computer Skype is super easy. I avoided for a long time.. and then felt really stupid for having done so.

Anyhow, my T and I mostly have phone sessions. We have not done Skype sessions, but might do if I felt it would be better. And you can set yourself up in the shot to get your whole body if that is important (just move away from the camera.) It is DIFFERENT (I've taught remotely and it is a whole other thing energetically) but it can be ALOT. I'd try it for a while.
 
That was one of the options when my T moved his practice. I'm driving, because I decided it was feasible. He tells me he has had a fair number of clients use Skype and he has a few long time clients who live a LONG ways away and use Skype. So I guess it works ok and maybe you get used to it. I would have done it rather than change therapists. Partly because this guy I KNOW I can work with (usually), and partly because there isn't much else to choose from in this area anyway.

One thing he mentioned is that some insurance companies don't pay for it. (I have no idea about the situation in the UK.) He said he thinks that's going to be less and less of a problem as time goes on.

I have Skype on my computer, but haven't used it yet. It was easy to download. An ex bf used it to visit with international friends. He never had any problems at all and wasn't exactly a "techy",

As far as security goes, I think Skype is actually supposed to be MORE secure than regular email. Anything's possible, but I think Skype is as safe as any method of communicating at a distance.
 
So.... my T is moving and I know sensibly it's probably too far to travel and actually with the amount of dissociation I can get after a session, it's not the safest option either - which means either we decide to end it
I was in a situation somewhat like this, and here it what I learned from it.

First, as much as I thought the therapy was helping me, even though I was dis-associative afterwards, it really wasn't. Exposure therapies (be it EMDR or talk therapies that trigger issues) walk a fine line; they need primarily to provide a safe foundation. Regularly, if the therapy lands me in an emotionally unstable state, when I walk out the door, it is my job to ask the therapist to make an adjustment to therapy, and it is the therapists job to make the adjustment.

I told my therapist of my dis-associative problem, after sessions. My therapist verbally said he would make an adjustment, but behaviorally, he didn't. I believed the verbal part, just like I did my abusive parents and abusive boyfriends. What kept me going was that I behaviorally was demonstrating that I was gaining some skills.

However, and most importantly, I was NOT gaining confidence in myself, because my therapist was dis-respecting my boundaries/not recognizing that his treatment was a bit too much. (His ego needs to drive therapy his way were greater than his ability to listen to and incorporate my needs. When I brought my concerns up again, he would appear to listen, but turn them around, to being my issues.

I hate to stop relationships, for all the reasons most people do. Going through change (e.g. a loss-even of an unhappy, or uncomfortable situation) seems to be a big trigger in itself-that acts as a deterrent to leaving and moving on, to something better.

When it came time, for me to physically move, we started Skyping. As was mentioned in the responses above, I got some help from techie friends and practiced. Since I couldn't rely on the wifi system at work, I got the 'hotspot' function on my smartphone-that acts like a wifi system, that my computer can link into. It was a little problematic, and I got it to work.

Due to a breach of confidentiality, of someone over hearing our session, behind a closed door, that created havoc for me, I stopped doing Skype. Due to not having any sound-proof walls or doors anywhere (work or home), my therapist and I opted for phone conversations, where I knew no one was overhearing me-(e.g. In my car, walking with no one around, etc.).

A great benefit of being away from my therapist was that I was not triggered as much, and hence, less dis-associative, after our sessions. The distance of phone calls gave me more distance, which helped me feel safer, and it gave me the courage to challenge my therapist, bit by bit-to not trigger him too much. If what he was saying was triggering to me, I could hold the phone away from my ear. In the long run, I came to understand, that I would be better off to find another therapist, and I did.

I found that being finding a better therapist before I ended the therapy with the first therapist, really helped me be able to let go of the first therapist. And initiating finding the new therapist put me in the 'active role', rather than habitually being in the passive role of loss, that is very triggering.

Skype and phone calls, I'd only do them on a secured wifi, and with soundproof doors and windows.

Good luck.
 
It is supposed to be secure but if someone really wanted to hack it they could. What if you found a new T and still saw this one on occasion or drawn out to wrap up so the loss wouldn't be so intense. It's possible to do skype but a lot of things get missed in translation like body language etc. and there is not that healing power of physically sitting with someone who is there to support you.
 
Thanks for your responses @Born to Run - I am thinking of perhaps doing mostly Skype and then meeting up and having a session in person from time to time, I really have no idea if this would work for me - but perhaps it's worth a try?

I do have Skype set up on my laptop - I just never use it. I don't have privacy problems in that I have plenty of time where I am the only person here but I suppose it could be a concern how private things were his end.

@shimmerz it's exactly that !! I don't want to start again, I just don't have the strength to start again.

@scout86 I know we have similar views on Skype so it's reassuring that you would have given it a go - it's just so different to how we do things now - walking and talking but I am very unlikely to find anyone who is willing to work like that with me - which is too scary to think about at the moment .

@Saetva I wondered if Skype might help with keeping me in the present just because it is a little removed? My T has at times moved a little fast but we have really just spent the last 9mths slowing right down and trying to stay stable.
 
@falling_wave - I think a lot would get missed trying to communicate like this for sure - although right now we walk outside and talk as this helps me to stay present and also takes the focus off me a bit ( if that makes sense) it feels less intense than sitting opposite someone. He's used to my quirky ways - doing it more conventionally didn't work well for me and he 'gets' that. I really don't want to lose him :(

On the plus side - this isn't happening tomorrow- we have time to find a way - or not
 
I saw my T in person for around 2- 3 years, then when I moved cities, we started sessions on the phone and then once I had my own place we started Skype sessions. I occasionally go to his office and we have sessions face to face if I am able to, but the majority of the time we talk by Skype now. It has worked out really well so far for me.

(There was another thread on here about Skype sessions and I know I replied to that one with some things I found useful when we first started Skype. Sorry, I don't know how to put a link onto that thread.)

I think Skype works really well, but I don't know how well it would have worked if T and I hadn't worked together for so long face to face beforehand. We don't actually use the video feature we just talk as if on the phone (the reception on Skype I find is clearer and its easier than holding a phone so long). T knows me well enough to know whats going on with me by my tone of voice and what I say rather than relying on the physical cues.

There were some teething problems - T hadn't realised I had dissociated when he ended a session once. I freaked out because it felt like he had just disappeared. So, now he checks by asking me if I have heard him say goodbye, that I can say goodbye and that I am grounded. Little things but they work. Also, he just says things like "I'm still here" or "I'm still listening" to let me know the connection hasn't been cut if he is trying to give me space to talk!

I do miss seeing him in person sometimes. But, on the whole I think I find it easier to talk to him more openly about some of the more embarrassing things and I don't have to feel like he is sitting opposite me watching my every move!

You could always give it a try and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out then you can use it until you find someone else in person.
 
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