We see each other twice per week.
I email her once-twice per day--sometimes just to feel connected, say thank you, send her a hug or ask for a hug; always an "afterthoughts email" following our sessions; other times w/ updates about things going on. If I ask her to email back she will make sure to, though often when I don't ask she emails anyway. She probably emails me 4 times a week, though much shorter emails than I send (sometimes a sentence or two, but this is plenty for me). She always sends me some sort of hug based on what's going on. For example, an "I believe in you hug" or a "keep at it hug." In depressed/anxious periods (like now), I'll email more often and will also text. She responds to texts maybe half the time, depending on what I write. As for talking on the phone, maybe once or twice per month and between 10-15 minutes. Again, all depends what is going on. Sometimes she calls after I've calmed down and it's good for me to check in w/ her at this time.
She doesn't charge me for this time. I've talked to her about it and since it's never more than 15 minutes on the phone (and I think that the most often we've talked in one week over the last 21 months is 3 times ) and her emails are short and she said that she genuinely wants to do this, she wants no money from me. So this works for both of us.
The irony is that my last T never called me back, I couldn't text her, I could email her though she'd never email me back, yet I felt more dependent on this T who minimized our contact (and we met once per week).
|