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Old Oct 23, 2020, 07:58 AM
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SalingerEsme SalingerEsme is offline
Grand Poohbah
 
Member Since: Jul 2017
Location: Neverland
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I think therapists worry a lot about liability with email. He can't really evaluate how you are reacting deep down , and by replying he may be "treating" you in the eyes of the law. I'm not saying that is right, and I wish he'd written you a warm and supportive email.

I did have a therapist in the past four years who emailed with me often. In the end, it meant we wrote about myriad topics about which we could not talk. Our writing got far ahead of our talking , and it led, in part, to a disaster ending.

I'm now unwilling to regulate my own anxiety through the arrival of a therapist email in my inbox. It offers a dopamine hit or something, and the wait time between sending and getting an answer is oddly painful. I don't want all those feelings you're experiencing, and I think they are somewhat common to email bc of the power differential?

Lastly, and this isn't a popular opinion here , but I think therapist act very precious about email compared to other professions. I have to answer about 30 emails a day. Therapists overdo it on the "self care" imo, at least ones in private practice who see 20-25 clients per week. It is part of the privilege of having one's own business to be available to clients on a reasonable basis . I do understand that the frame and boundaries are important, but so is support and involvement .

All of this is to say, it is likely not personal, and more about the way your T conceptualizes the role of email. And maybe how tired out he is by the pandemic? However "not personal" is not warm in therapy , and bound to hurt your relationship.

I agree with LT to go if you can and say to him he hurt your feelings and why.
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