calling T/pdoc between sessions?

for all. This is something you really could discuss with your T, and even if you did when you first began therapy, revisit it again. Most therapists do have some guidelines about calling. I have issues with any of them who refuse any after session contact. Ask about times, (I mean, they have to sleep sometime!) and how long the average wait is for a call back when you need it. Ask what to do if you wait that long and still no call back. (Usually they say call again. Calls are dropped by technology or by human error are missed.) Ask how long a call might last. While there are few hard and fast rules for real emergencies, knowing the general guidelines will help you.

Once you know the wishes of the therapist, then you can feel ok about calling. Generally leaving a message to make contact and to help you ground at the moment is fine. Ask! Paging or requesting a call back means you really do want/need a voice to help you stablize. This often happens early in therapy, and again when tougher issues are being covered.

Your therapist needs to know if you are feeling needy between sessions. Discuss it with T because it may mean the T is covering too much material too quickly and needs to pace better. If you don't share, they won't know.

But above all things, don't go through a night or time alone when you are in a crisis. If your thinking is you'll have to go to the ER if you don't call, then CALL! If you don't call, then do go to the ER and be safe. That's the key...no T wants you to not be safe. Do what you need to so you can have an opportunity later to discuss it with the therapist.

Pdocs are a different story usually. Since most of them only dispense medication and not therapy, then it needs to be medicine related to call (or appointment change etc. you know.) If you call the local ER and they say it's important, then listen to them... and call your Pdoc yourself or go to the ER. Today's meds can cause some weird stuff, and there's no reason to go through it alone without knowing if it's ok or not.

Just my POV.

I know what you mean!! Once the day comes, then it's a whole week of waiting again. Makes me sick to think about it. I hate feeling needy and out of sorts. Like my brain is scrambled and I'm being swallowed up in the process.

I used to only call to schedule/reschedule appointments. About a month ago, I called for a reason other than that for the first time. I was so nervous about calling, and I second-guessed myself so much, but I felt SO relieved after I did it. I felt even MORE relieved once she called back. I don't call often, but if I absolutely need to, I at least know that I can.