Transition to teletherapy - freaked out, want to quit

[Cypress]

I currently see my T twice a week but I am going overseas for my job for a year and I leave next week! I get 30 days off for every 90 in the field so I will get to see my T every few months in person and he thinks it will be fine to have teletherapy twice a week while I am there. I feel like it is just not going to work, that I will just have to package up and compartmentalize all the trauma until I get back. My T disagrees he thinks I can continue to grow.

Has anyone done this successfully? Can you maintain the same kind of closeness and trust via video that you have in person?

 

[Teamwork]

You need to try to be able to judge that for yourself, but what a wonderful offer the T has given you. It is best to give it a go before trying to know if it will work because the reality is if you are close to the t in person and get to link via teleconference or video with the same t it is by far better than meeting one for the first time via this method and trying to develop closeness or rapport. Give yourself a number, like I’ll try it 4 times before I judge it and then get back to us. T believes in you by the sounds of it, pack that with you when you go. It is a new adventure, all of it, but at least you know the person.

 

[FauxLiz]

@Cypress I am in a similar but slightly different position. Been with my T for about a year and he is the one temporarily relocating for 4 months. We are taking a two week break and then will try teletherapy, I am terrified as I have attempted teletherapy with a different therapist and it was a nightmare, but we met initially via teletherapy and we didn't connect.

I don't really have any advice but I wanted you to know that you aren't alone and I really hope that you give this a chance.

 

[Cypress]

@Teamwork you are right this is a gift my T has given me. I was second guessing him thinking he wants to continue because he needs the money but I don't think that's is actually true. He is a pdoc by training so I don't think money is too much of an issue. I am going to go ahead with it for a month as you say and then re-evaluate.

@FauxLiz This was my experience as well doing PTSD tele therapy with an unknown therapist. During our second session she asked if I dissociated and I decided at that moment that I could never trust this person and ended the treatment. Not her fault but I need time to build up the trust first and wasn't able to do that via video. I think I have some worry that I will lose trust somehow once we are just virtual but as you say we have to give this a chance. Hope your tele therapy goes well.

I also know that some of my anxiety about the tele therapy is really my anxiety about going back to doing high stress work in the field so need to try to separate those feelings.

 

[grit]

Both can be true: he needs the money and that you need the support since you said that you are thinking of packing the trauma until you comeback (only if life stops in the meantime). I would say take what you can get and do not discount that it is possible you meet others to support you and you can support and most important, yes you can continue to grow and transform in therapy or ad junction - to therapy.
All the best to your adventure and hope this works out for you.

 

[Justmehere]

Yeah. I've done it. Is it ideal? No. It's easier after trust is built though than prior to it being built. I found it helpful in some ways for trauma work. I can turn off the video on my end, and I did it like a phone call. It was easier to talk about some things actually.

Often when I’m going through times of transition I’ll transfer anxiety on to things that are not really what I’m anxious about.

Moving is consistently on the lists of top stressors in life, and this is a big move with lots of changes. In the midst of it, hold on to what won’t change. The medium of communication may be changing but the trustworthy character of your therapist isn’t changing.

 

[Cypress]

I would say take what you can get and do not discount that it is possible you meet others to support you

I think this is the root of it. Because I won't have my T face-to-face twice a week any more for support, I will have to learn to reach out to others. I'm still pretty avoidant so this prospect even though necessary is pretty scary.

It was easier to talk about some things actually.

I've found that I can work through some things better in email and I'm hoping it that it will be the same for the video.

I really appreciate all the help I get here from you all.