Need A Therapy Break But The Timing Seems Bad

[Hashi]

Therapy has been very intense, which has resulted in progress but now I need to ease up for a while. I'm going to get burnt out otherwise. I think it would be more helpful to take a short break than to go on seeing my therapist and talking about other things. I'm starting to feel over-sensitive and highly reactive to things she says. I want a bit of cave time (retreating to lick my wounds in solitude). It's also a good idea right now because I'm about to do a weekly art class for a few weeks. Art is very helpful to me so that would support me through the time.

The timing's a mess though. If I take a few weeks off now that means going back for 2 or 3 sessions before the Christmas/New Year break. It takes me time to settle back in so I'll only just have started opening up again then another break will start. But to take a break from now until the new year is too long.

Any thoughts? Magic wands? However I look at it, it doesn't seem to work.:confused:

 

[digger]

How long a break do you feel you need? How many weeks until you break for Christmas/New Year?

 

[Hashi]

A month break from therapy feels right. If I did that then afterwards I would go back for 2 or 3 sessions and then it would be the end of year break, which would mean no more sessions for 3 or 4 weeks.

My therapist hasn't finalised her end of year plans yet, which is why I don't know exactly.

If I didn't go back inbetween that would be a break of about 9 sessions (= a10 week gap) I think. It feels too much.

 

[blackemerald1]

I think your reasoning is quite valid Hashi. I agree with you that if you feel a bit burnt out and need some healing time then you should definitely take it. If you only have a few sessions then before Christmas maybe cancel them too but wait until you are due to start again to see how you are travelling..

9 weeks without your T., might be too long but if during those weeks you need some one do you have a emergency/help-line type set-up so you can talk to someone over the phone or go to a clinic?

It is bad timing, I see what you mean but maybe you can go the distance and start fresh in the New Year. Or maybe the T. you see has a colleague who can be a stand in if you ditch right around Christmas. A lot of practices have them simply because Christmas is a complicated time of the year in regards to mental health.

Sorry no magic wand or potion.

Kind regards and good luck,
blackemerald1

.

 

[digger]

Hmm...I see what you mean about the timing. :/ don't know what to suggest really. But I think if you are needing a break then taking it would be wise. And then do the two three sessions between then and Christmas to at least touch base so you haven't got a huge gap. The break might refresh you enough to get some really valuable work done in those two three sessions.

Agree as well that the art is important. How long does the art course run for? Would that take you into the new year?

 

[arfie]

My first breakthrough therapist was the one who suggested this very concept to me. We started taking weeks off and the settling time really was beneficial. After I left him in Germany, I brought it up with each of the therapists I made progress with. None disagreed.

Have you brought it up during a session?

 

[p-no]

Haven't read all replies, so, sorry if double.

Maybe it would work for you if you took a break now for three or four weeks and fix the appointment following your break already now. This way you know you will have therapy again, if you need it, but can agree with your therapist on dropping that appointment if you feel few days before it would take place. You could do it like this for the roughly three times in between therapy's break.

Or, you could agree with your therapist on a two-week break for now with the guaranteed option of having therapy again in week three (so you would have more than three weeks in between your break and the Christmas/New Year's break initiated by your therapist. If days before the next session in week three from now you feel you would stay on your break, drop session. Etc.

I would talk these options through with my therapist and if they are alright, this might give you full flexibility in choosing when you actually know how you will be and how you will feel about staying on a break or not staying and going back.

 

[Hashi]

Thank you for the replies and support.

There've been times in the course of therapy when I think a stand in therapist just as someone to see would have been a good thing during a break. I wish I'd had that then. At this point, I think it's my individual therapist and her understanding of me that I'm most dependent on.

We discussed this last session, and it was she who raised the question of going back for just two or three sessions before the Christmas/New Year break. I hadn't even thought about it. She has concerns about that but thinks break plus art course is a good idea.

The art course is only three weeks, so it would be the three sessions I wouldn't see her. It's actually the day and time of my therapy sessions. Here both my therapist and I wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something. It's an unusual course and very appropriate for me, not something I could find on a different day anywhere else. If I didn't take a break we'd have to rearrange the sessions.

So, what I'm thinking is:
- break during art course, definitely.
- going back for a short time between this break and the Christmas break, yes. Better than no sessions inbetween.

And I'm intrigued at the ideas that:
- the few sessions between the two breaks could possibly be useful
- I could see it as therapy/break/therapy/break rather than a big mess
- Week 3 of the art course could also be my first week back in therapy, instead of waiting for the following week.

In fact, if I went back to therapy at the end of Week 3 then had a session as usual at the beginning of week 4 that might do several things. It still keeps it a reasonably long break, almost four weeks. But it also increases the sessions in between the two breaks, again more like four weeks. So clever! And having the first two sessions back close together might help me readjust back into it.

I'm going to ask for that, and fix all the dates because flexibility might not be the best thing for me right now.

You guys are good!! I knew I joined this forum for a reason! :p I would never have thought of all that.

Thank you so much.

 

[DMerish]

^ I like this system you worked out. I've heard, and learned for myself, that changing habits takes three weeks. So, if it were me I go for skipping only two weeks at a shot to begin with. Just my $0.02.

 

[Abstract]

Well! There is nothing for me to add. I love the solution you came to with others help!

The main thing that occurred to me is that I think leaving it till she comes back is too long. You can also work on keeping a psychological connection whilst she is away.

I know that over sensitive place and you are wise to consider a solution. I wish I had had the self awareness to do so in the past!

 

[nursenurse]

Don't over think this. If you think you need a break, then do it. Look at the positive things you have found, like art class. That to me is how you are supposed to progress. Depend less on the therapy and more on real life. I am happy for you! Go! You can go back to therapy and that is okay too. Just seize this opportunity now :)