[doogie]

http://lifehacker.com/5883165/why-a-...e-a-compliment

Interesting short article about email and thoughtful replies and time.

[lostmyway21]

Originally Posted by doogie

http://lifehacker.com/5883165/why-a-...e-a-compliment

Interesting short article about email and thoughtful replies and time.

Interesting enough I have thought about this regarding my T replies. I always find it more thoughtful when he waits, sometimes until at night when he is home and not between clients to reply, because I know he has more time to think about it.

[SoupDragon]

Originally Posted by doogie

http://lifehacker.com/5883165/why-a-...e-a-compliment

Interesting short article about email and thoughtful replies and time.

Not sure whether I should reply to this today or tomorrow .

Yes an interesting article, thank-you.

[doogie]

My T often doesn't reply until very late at night. I get anxious waiting on her, but I know that when her house is quiet she can best reply thoughtfully. It's still hard to wait, though.

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

Not sure whether I should reply to this today or tomorrow .

^ lol

Yes, it's good to remember a late reply isn't always a bad thing! I know sometimes I take a while to reply to something if I want to think about it or I struggle to find the right words...

[rainbow8]

I wish my T would have continued responding to my emails but I understand why she couldn't. I write too much and I'd never be satisfied. Still, I get jealous of you who have Ts who do answer.

[Perna]

I try to make sure that what I want (instant response :-) and what I expect (they'll reply when they reply) don't get confused. My feelings about someone else's responses are not important, as I'm supposed to be concentrating on my own responses, not other people's business :-)

[doogie]

Perna - good point!

[CantExplain]

The ideal solution is for T to send two replies.

Immediately: "Dear Hannibal, thanks for the email. You've given me a lot to think about. I'll give it my full attention this evening."

Later: "I think you are being too hard on yourself. Cannibalism plays an important social role in many cultures..." etc.

Indeed, very true and something I do a lot, but don't always understand when others do it!

The question about emailing w/ therapists is interesting as I've had one who would never respond and three others who did/do (including my current T). I write often wanting a response... but there is this part of me that feels guilty as what if all of her clients were to write - she'd need to spend a couple of hours/day responding. Too, I email in part for connection, always after sessions to express my feelings, sometimes in between sessions about something going on or saying that we should talk about something next session. But is this good for me? I think up to a certain point it is, but then perhaps it should be less as time goes on and we move forward in our work? Of course during more "crisis" periods perhaps more emails. But, should we have the goal in mind of emailing less "one day" and when is this "one day"?

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by eastcoaster

there is this part of me that feels guilty as what if all of her clients were to write - she'd need to spend a couple of hours/day responding.

Fair comment. And for many Ts, writing an email is much harder work than talking to a patient face to face.

When do they get to watch TV?