T's Reaction to Biweekly Therapy

I saw my therapist today, and at the end of the session, I asked if we can book 2 weeks from now and if we can do therapy once every 2 weeks, instead of weekly. Money has been an issue, which is one reason I want to go biweekly, along with the fact I feel it's no longer necessary to go weekly. I thought she saw it coming that I might request every two weeks since there was another time recently where I told her I wanted to schedule in 2 weeks, and she said it would be fine.

Well, at the end of today, her response was slightly different than expected. At the end of our session, I asked if I can start coming every other week. She said it would be okay, but this would mean no more "deep work" in therapy. It would only be "for support." I was a little surprised by this. I can understand that going more than 2 weeks would make it difficult to work on skills and deep stuff, but I didn't think 2 weeks would make a difference in the "type" of therapy.

I almost took it as if she would not do as high quality work with me in therapy by going every 2 weeks. Then, part of me wonders, is she doing this to tempt me to "upgrade" to weekly since she is looking to earn a living? I'm just wondering what your reaction to this would be and how would you interpret this? I am also wondering if finding a different therapist would provide me with better quality care since this makes me feel like it will be a downgrade in services.

I think her attitude is a bit annoying. That attitude would bother me.

If you were going only once a month or something, I could see where it might be a bit of "maintenance" therapy. But every two weeks seems like she could do some involved work.

I go to two therapists and see them each every week. Sometimes I feel it is too much and I should have more time to think over what we talked about.

It's your money and your time. Also, don't forget you can always check out another T if you need to. Moving T's about a year ago was one of the best moves I ever made.

I'd think about another T. Keep in mind; I've been burned by therapists, so...yeah. I might have a different perspective, but ideally...they're supposed to work themselves out of a job.

I know what you mean. Sorry you've been burned by therapists. The therapist before my current one disclosed that she counseled my ex when she saw a picture of him with me on my phone when I was relating a story to her, and she identified it was him whom she worked with! I was floored! She even went on to reveal information about him getting help for his previous marriage and went into details about him. I was so distressed when I found this out and prayed she wouldn't do the same thing to me and reveal to someone that I was her client. After all, she gave him up that easily, but I digress...

I do like my current T, but I'm on the fence when it comes to finding another T. The only problem is that this one has been with me throughout a bad period of my life, and she learned about the people in my life as well. It would feel like a few steps back to explain that all to a new therapist, but if that will mean better care, then I'd consider. I have a lot to think about.

Does she have any communication with you between sessions like text or email? My T will contact me if he knows I am not doing well and this extra support helps immensely. I see him weekly though. If you go biweekly is it possible to do the same therapy and see her weekly occasionally if it seems necessary. Maybe you need to get her to clarify what she meant as I don't understand why it would make such a difference, I mean your issues are not going away are they?

She will communicate by text about appointment times and whatnot, but I think because of privacy acts (HIPAA), she does not like to go into much detail by text. She said that if I go biweekly there is a possibility of squeezing me in if I decide I need to go back to weekly, but there's no guarantee. That's when she brought up it will be only "supportive" therapy and no "deep work."

Maybe I'm a little sensitive, but I thought all therapy should include deep work when it is necessary. Of course, it's naturally a little different when you aren't going on a weekly basis, but it shouldn't be that different. It just seems strange I would be deprived the type of treatment I've been receiving weekly once I go biweekly. I never really heard of a therapist saying this. It came off sounding a little rejecting, plus I pay money for this.

I think she sees $$$ by keeping you weekly. I've done in depth counseling on a bi-weekly basis. Its entirely do-able, if the person treating you is being above board and professional.

That's what I've been thinking. This particular therapist seems to be Psychodynamic as far as the framework she uses. Come to think of it, sometimes she would make statements at the end of therapy when I would ask her what to do about something (after gaining insight about something in my past, yet me not having any clue on how to apply what I learned in therapy), and she would simply say, "Well that's why you're in therapy now." And she would end on that note, as if there's something earth shattering yet to be revealed that will dramatically help me in the next session. (I know I'm being a little sarcastic here, but still...it never resulted in me learning anything that can help my current situation or ways to cope). Maybe that's her way of hooking people to keep them engaged, like keeping you on the edge of your seat for the next week.

I am not trying to say she hasn't been helpful. I appreciate her support, and she's a very sweet person, but I'm just a little disappointed. I need help with coping skills. I've tried to tell her this, and I'll get maybe a little bit, but it would be nice to find someone who has expertise in CBT/DBT since most of mine are too Freudian. If I switch, I'm afraid I'll get somebody worse, but maybe I need to see how the next few sessions go (?)

my former counselor told me that the best data on psychotherapy shows that technique is less important than a meaningful bond with your counselor/therapist/psychologist/whatever.

There's also some data that shows that un-trained people can provide meaningful "therapy" as well.

I'm just mentioning this because I don't think a lot of Mental Health, Inc. is what its cracked up to be ((sounding bitter...I know...). I think people need people, and the way society and the economy are structured...a lot of us can only get genuine connection if we pay for it. Welcome to 21st century America, I suppose.

Anyway...I guess I'm saying...this T sounds like she throws in cliff hangers to keep you coming back and it also sounds as if she's got her own issues ($$$, dogma, etc.) going on, and that might not be all that helpful to you. Or maybe that's my "uppity mental patient" side coming out to play, lol.

I hope you can the support you need from...someone... :-)

^^Thank you, still_crazy. I agree. I must say that this forum has been so supportive, and I'd be in a much worse spot emotionally without that kind of support....so thanks everyone

I think this is a bunch of crap. You can do in-depth therapy every other week. I've done it when my finances would not permit otherwise. If you do go every other week and notice a downgrade in her services please consider another therapist unless you are really attached to the current one in which case you may need to talk to her about this issue. Best of luck to you.

Good luck on your decision. That's a tough one!

I agree it sounds like a money ploy. I can understand the therapist might have a tough time selling the alternating two-week time slot, but this shouldn't have an effect on the type of therapy you receive.

Exactly. I can understand therapists have a hard time with time slots, depending on their schedule, etc. However, I would much rather her do the ethical thing in a situation like this, which would be refer me to someone who can give me the quality care that every patient deserves (if the case is that her schedule cannot accomodate biweekly). Her statement that only "deep work" can be done on a weekly basis implies to me that she's putting a little pressure on me to upgrade to better therapy, as if it's some kind of sales pitch. I'm starting to question her ethics. Maybe it's time to just take a break from all therapy for a while.

I'm a fan of therapy breaks. I haven't had a therapist for years. I'm about to start seeing a new one to try to work through a few things. We'll see how it pans out.

Yeah, I think what I will do is maybe do a couple more sessions, tops, just to be sure of my decision and to make sure there isn't anything alarming that needs to be addressed. I predict that in 2-3 sessions, I will be ready to take a break. This will give me the opportunity to save more money and have more free time to accomplish things I never get the chance to do. After all, she always talks about how I need "me" time.

I still have these mood swings, but I get this feeling she doesn't feel all that confident when it comes to treating Bipolar symptoms. In other words, I only benefit from sharing my experiences, but that only takes me so far in treatment when I'm looking for feedback and help. This is why I feel I can manage just as fine without her. She has been helpful to a point with feedback on certain situations, but it's most of it is nothing I don't already know. I know what I need to do when it comes to my problems (often, of course not always), but I have a hard time following through, because of my BP symptoms.

I usually enter therapy when there is a specific crisis to address, so I can always go back to therapy (likely a different therapist) when I see it is needed. I think I've gotten enough out of it and can benefit from a new perspective next time around when I do go back to therapy, whenever that will be.

So I finally did tell my T that I'm taking a break. I left her a message on the phone. She couldn't talk, but texted me, "Okay, that's fine, but let's talk so we are both on the same page." I called her again and left her a message a few days ago, but she has not returned my call. I wonder if she is offended that I'm stopping therapy.