What do you do?

Flooded · Jun 22, 2011, 10:58 PM

When you can't see your t for a few weeks?

Mine will be off work over the school holidays.

Do you call or email them while they're off just to check in?

Indie'sOK · Jun 22, 2011, 11:10 PM

(((((Flooded)))))

Sorry to hear you won't be able to see T. Is there a reason he/she takes the whole summer off?

I haven't seen my T for nearly 3 weeks. Usually I go 2 weeks between sessions but this time it was due to my vacation rather than hers. I haven't really thought about or needed to contact her between sessions with the exception of when my grandmother passed. This 3 weeks has been very long, though, so whenever I want to make sure to talk about something I write it down and save it for my next session.

nicoleb2 · Jun 22, 2011, 11:12 PM

I am already anxious because I don't get to see my T this next week. I usually see her every monday and I have a hard time going longer than that between sessions. Especially right now with family issues that are going on

BlessedRhiannon · Jun 23, 2011, 12:26 AM

Dealing with it right now...no T for 3 weeks. My T is on vacation for two weeks, then I'm on vacation for a week.

I asked, at my last session, if I could email my T, knowing full well that she would not get the messages until she gets back. She said that was fine. So, when I desperately need the connection, I send her an email...I KNOW she won't see it until she gets back, but it still helps. She said I could also leave her voicemails if I wanted, but I know how much I hate a full voicemail box at work when I get back from vacation, so I won't do that.

I've been journaling, trying to spend time with friends, trying to do things I enjoy. It's hard, but I'm managing.

My T offered to do a phone session while I'm on vacation, if I want to. I just have to call her when she gets back from her vacation so that we can schedule it if that's what I want to do.

Flooded · Jun 23, 2011, 12:58 AM

I know I can call her, but it's rare for me too. I've only ever called her 2 between sessions in the 2yrs I've been seeing her.

I guess it's been a rough few weeks so coping effectively isn't my strong point lately.

Perna · Jun 23, 2011, 05:01 AM

I use to do various "projects" and either share them with T after break or mail her a letter once a week to her office summing up that weeks activities/thoughts, etc. Maybe you can talk to T about what the two of you could do?

cmac13 · Jun 23, 2011, 09:24 AM

I have a photo of her and that helps. Sometimes she writes me letters of positive things to focus on if I ask her to. I can call and leave a message for her and she will call me back (I try not to do that because it is her VACATION) and I can write as many letters as I want and send them to her. She reads everyone of them. I work in my art journal and bring it in to share with her when our sessions resume.

Open Eyes · Jun 23, 2011, 09:34 AM

Maybe you could read a self help book, something positive at the normal time you would have visits with your T. So that would in effect be a time of therapy and reinforcement of staying postive and motivated for the period she is away.

There are a lot of good books out there, go shopping and see what you can find.

Maybe someone will recommend a book here?

Open Eyes

PTSDlovemycats · Jun 23, 2011, 08:22 PM

My Pdoc and I text each when one of us is away. It works pretty well for us.

Flooded · Jun 24, 2011, 06:44 PM

My problem is that I'm pregnant and will likely have a termination in the coming weeks. Kind of need some support so I emailed her last night.

lastyearisblank · Jun 25, 2011, 08:37 PM

Wow that is a lot to deal with. Does she know the whole story? This would be a perfect time to seek support.

ballet_girl · Jun 26, 2011, 10:07 AM

((((Flooded)))) Thats sounds like a really difficult thing to do without the support of T. I've been away from T for a little over a semester now. Journaling helped, and I also wrote down a lot of encouraging or important things that she has told me and look at it when I'm feeling lonely. When I was really desperate for a reply I emailed back and forth with Good Samaritans. It wasn't the same as T, but at least I had somebody at the other end.

Flooded · Jun 26, 2011, 06:32 PM

I will call her if things get too bad or visit my gp.

Thanks everyone

with or without you · Jun 26, 2011, 09:13 PM

I'm having a larger than usual gap in between sessions right now. I look at her picture online a lot (as I mentioned in the photo thread). I don't feel guilty about it because it's on a professional site.