[SingDanceRunLife]

Here's the original post: http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=143369

I have no (finally) decided that I want to go back. I can't keep letting my anxiety and OCD get in the way of my life, especially since I'm only a month and a half away from going back to school.

I have no idea how to go about it though.

I know that I would want to go back to the psychologist I saw when I was in high school since I felt comfortable with her, made a lot of progress with her, she knows my history and she takes my insurance.

What I don't know is do I call? If I call, what do I say? (If I call, I would most likely be leaving a message since she has no receptionist or anything and is usually in appointments all day). What about email?

Thanks!

[Perna]

I had that problem; terminated with my therapist in 1987 and then wanted to see her again in 1996. I didn't have her "current" phone number, but knew she had been in the phone book so I went to the library, it had all the local area phone books (I lived in the Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland metropolitan area; I lived in Maryland and she lived in Virginia) and found the number. I called and, surprisingly, she answered :-) It was wonderful, when I said who I was, she replied with pleasure and was really glad to hear from me, "recognized" me, etc.

I would just write a little script of what to say, "Hi, this is SingDanceRunLife and I saw you X years/months ago when I was in high school and I'm getting ready to go off to start college and wanted to come meet with you again to work some more on my anxiety and OCD; would that be possible at this time?"

[ECHOES]

Sure, call and tell her that you are a former patient/client and you are returning to therapy and would like to talk to her about the possibility of beginning therapy again with her. She will help you take it from there.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Thanks guys.

It's honestly the phone call that I'm the most nervous about. I don't call anyone except my parents, my 2 friends who don't have texting and the stores I work at because I hate phone calls.

[Perna]

Yes, I was like that too, that's why writing out what I'm going to say and reading it helps me. Maybe think ahead to possible responses she'll have or what it will be like when she calls back (if you get an answering machine). I often surround myself with paper and pen, a calendar, any notes about what I'm doing, when, my daily schedule even, so I can easily decide if a certain time to meet will be okay. Even a map, in case she's moved and has a different address. I write down what they say when they talk to me because I have a hard time "hearing"/making sense of it, get too anxious.

Pretend it's a business call? Pretend she's one of your stores, LOL.

[ECHOES]

Is it the phone call...or your fears around the phone call, what her reponse will be? Are you imagining a response? If so, the real response is hers to make and you won't know what it is until she offers it. Can you instead imagine how nice it will be to hear her voice again?

[SingDanceRunLife]

It's the phone call itself. I hate phone calls. I won't make a phone call to anyone but my mother if I don't have to.

[sunrise]

SDRL, I am the same way with phone calls. I just hate them. This would be a big source of stress for me too if I were in your situation. You don't have to give much information at all in your phone message or justify why you are calling. You don't have to say you want to resume therapy for OCD and anxiety. THat is a lot of info for a phone call. I think all you have to do is give your name, identify yourself as a former client to help her place you, and say you would like to schedule an appointment. At your first appointment, you can explain why you are there. When your psychologist calls back, I don't think she will quiz you on why you want to see her, your symptoms, etc. She will probably be very professional, which will be reassuring, and she will focus on scheduling an appointment. The phone call will be over in a minute and a half.

Good luck.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Thanks sunrise I'm glad someone else understands the problem with the phone call.

[SingDanceRunLife]

So I still haven't called...but I plan on calling tomorrow for sure.

This is what I have planned to say:

Hi Dr. [Lastname], my name is [Firstname Lastname]. I am a former client, and I am calling in regards to scheduling an appointment. If you could give me a call back at [phone number], that would be great. Thanks, bye.

Does that sound about right?

Also...is client right, or is patient right?

[mobius]

Either client or patient is probably fine. Your message sounds good to me. Good luck!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Holy cow...she picked up, and I was caught so off guard! In all the time I saw her before, I think she may have picked up once or twice in the times I called...so I was only prepared to leave a message.

It also shocked me that as soon as I said my name, she remembered who I was!

But, I do have an appointment set up for 8:20 Monday morning.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by singdancerunlife

but, i do have an appointment set up for 8:20 monday morning.

[geez]

I've been following your thread and don't have much to say other than yay!!! You did it! Glad to hear you have an appointment.

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

Holy cow...she picked up, and I was caught so off guard! In all the time I saw her before, I think she may have picked up once or twice in the times I called...so I was only prepared to leave a message.

It also shocked me that as soon as I said my name, she remembered who I was!

But, I do have an appointment set up for 8:20 Monday morning.

Wow, that turned out great! Glad that you have a good experience with a phone call that you thought might be very difficult, but turned out to be very nice!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Yeah, it did turn out well.

The one thing I'm worried about now is the fact that I only have 5 weeks of summer left, so I really don't have much time in which I can see her and do stuff...

[ECHOES]

You do have the 5 weeks though.
See if you can set aside that worry about something you have no control over.
Choose to enjoy those 5 weeks and make it something to talk about with your therapist.
I assume that you are returning to college in 5 weeks. Could have a therapist there?

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

It also shocked me that as soon as I said my name, she remembered who I was!

But, I do have an appointment set up for 8:20 Monday morning.

That's great! Of course she remembered you.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

You do have the 5 weeks though.
See if you can set aside that worry about something you have no control over.
Choose to enjoy those 5 weeks and make it something to talk about with your therapist.
I assume that you are returning to college in 5 weeks. Could have a therapist there?

Yes, I am returning to college. Could I have a therapist there? Yes. Do I want to? No.

Originally Posted by sunrise

That's great! Of course she remembered you.

I really was surprised that she remembered me! It's been 2 years since I saw her!

[SingDanceRunLife]

So, I've had 2 appointments. We've chosen one of my obsessions and its related compulsions to work on, and she said that that will be good for now, especially because you can transfer what you do with one to another. Man did I forget how much I hate this! Honestly, just talking about my challenges/exposures caused me quite a bit of uncomfortable anxiety...