[lostmyway21]

I have a bad problem where I only here probably like every third word that T says unless I'm fully engaged. It normally twists what he says into something negative and the next week he has to replay what happened and cognitively fix it all. Now a few sessions ago he did this, I flat out didn't believe he had said something to me. So he said maybe we should just start recording our sessions. I'm not sure if he was joking or being honest, and he hasn't brought it up since, but it could definitely be something I benefit from.

It made me wonder, Is this common? Do a lot of T's record there sessions? I'm not sure if it would really totally work for us cause we never stay in the office though.

Have any of you guys recorded your sessions with your T? Has it helped?

we have never done it before but really really wish we had,especially when it came to remembering-or in our case-not remembering. might be worth a try if both of you are comfortable with it♥♥♥

[Perna]

I had my T ask to record a few sessions, she wanted them for a specific educational purpose which she told me about and I said, "sure". I never got a copy or heard them, I just agreed to her need for them but I think it can be pretty common. Both people agree on it and that's that; you use it for what either/both of you want to use it for?

I would think it could get in the way though; taking time to go over what has happened in the past rather than concentrating on here and now.

[lostmyway21]

Originally Posted by Perna

I had my T ask to record a few sessions, she wanted them for a specific educational purpose which she told me about and I said, "sure". I never got a copy or heard them, I just agreed to her need for them but I think it can be pretty common. Both people agree on it and that's that; you use it for what either/both of you want to use it for?

I would think it could get in the way though; taking time to go over what has happened in the past rather than concentrating on here and now.

Hm that is a good point. He is a very forward progress goal oriented T, so I don't see him reviewing them every session. Maybe recording and going back to it only if a issue comes up in a previous session that we need to correct.

but it might help you to hear it in between sessions if he gave you a copy

[lostmyway21]

Originally Posted by TrinityDancer

but it might help you to hear it in between sessions if he gave you a copy

That is also a really good idea.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I've asked my T if I can record sessions on my cell phone, and she's fine with that. Sometimes, I need to go back and listen to what was said so that I don't distort conversations. It's helpful for me because I can play back parts of the session if I need to remember what T said or what I've said. It helps me to be able to replay positive parts of the session for encouragement when I need it.

What I do, is just use the voice recorder app on my cell phone, and start it at the beginning of session, turn it off at the end. I keep the recording for a week, and if I don't need to listen to it again, then I delete it. If I do need to listen to it, then I save it and delete it when I feel like I no longer need it.

[stopdog]

I have done it. It has helped clarify for me what was said and realize I remembered it wrong or to have her explain what she meant by things without being able to deny she said it or if she simply forgot. I never replayed or went over the whole appointment, just the parts I needed explained or whatever. The therapist has become much more careful which I find useful.

[lostmyway21]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I have done it. It has helped clarify for me what was said and realize I remembered it wrong or to have her explain what she meant by things without being able to deny she said it or if she simply forgot. I never replayed or went over the whole appointment, just the parts I needed explained or whatever. The therapist has become much more careful which I find useful.

That is something I kind of don't want to happen. I don't want him to become more careful or change how he is because of it.

[struggling2]

ive always wanted to record them so i can have them afterwards! i have a hard time staying present sometimes and i can never remember what she has said in response....i know she's saying important things but when i try to remember later im like...

I like the Voice Recorder App for the cell phone. I might have to try that!

[lostmyway21]

Originally Posted by struggling2

ive always wanted to record them so i can have them afterwards! i have a hard time staying present sometimes and i can never remember what she has said in response....i know she's saying important things but when i try to remember later im like...

I like the Voice Recorder App for the cell phone. I might have to try that!

I agree with the cell phone app. Great idea BR.

[attached]

I've been recording all my sessions for the last 3.5 years. I started after about 6 months of therapy with my T's permission. I felt like I missed what he said and sometimes misinterpreted what he said and he suggested it. I find it very helpful but I've never replayed it during a session. Usually I listen to the recording between sessions and I often hear things differently or get a chance to hear something that he said when I was deep in my own thoughts or worries. I occasionally discuss what I hear on a replay in my session but so far never has he been wrong about what he said so I've never had anything to replay that could prove my point

Initially I hated the sound of my own voice but I got used to that. I also worried I would become obsessed with hearing sessions over and over to hear my T's voice but that hasn't happened either. I bought a digital recorder so I can download sessions to my laptop and save them if I want (but I have only rarely gone back and listened to an old session). If he is willing you could try it and see if it works for you.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by lostmyway21

That is something I kind of don't want to happen. I don't want him to become more careful or change how he is because of it.

I would not say the therapist changed how she is because of it, just more careful in language choices. Word choice is a big deal to me so her being more careful and thoughtful about language worked for me and it coincided with her mockery of me so it was the combination which lead her to say she would be more careful. I am not certain it would have that same reaction from all therapists if the client was not the way I am about such.

Why would you not want a therapist to be more careful? If you don't mind me asking. I am just curious. I found it about the most reassuring as anything the woman has said to me.

[lostmyway21]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I would not say the therapist changed how she is because of it, just more careful in language choices. Word choice is a big deal to me so her being more careful and thoughtful about language worked for me and it coincided with her mockery of me so it was the combination which lead her to say she would be more careful. I am not certain it would have that same reaction from all therapists if the client was not the way I am about such.

Why would you not want a therapist to be more careful? If you don't mind me asking. I am just curious. I found it about the most reassuring as anything the woman has said to me.

I guess I equate being more careful as the dynamics changing. Watching what he says, changing what he would normally say. Although I guess it wouldn't really, since he doesn't say anything wrong to begin with.

[stopdog]

I took as she was finally paying some attention to me and doing her job.

[Mike_J]

You know I think it would be helpful for me to record my sessions, would be nice to be able to play back in between sessions.

I don't think I would want my therapist (any therapist) to be the one recording the sessions and having control of the "tapes"

Wouldn't any of you (who think it would be helpful) think it would be weird or embarrassing to hear your own voices in the recording?

[Dccibf]

Hello.
I think it would be great to record to free your mind in the sessions. Like Struggling2 said, you can be trying to remember some nugget the T said, or thinking forward to what you want to say. The recording can be a safety net in a way, you are not worrying about certain phrases said, you know it's all captured on tape. It takes no effort, and you can do what you want with the tape later.

[WikidPissah]

The sound of my own voice would drive me to drink.

[doogie]

I record all my sessions on my iphone. Sometimes I go back and listen, and sometimes I don't - depending on how intense the session was. Sometimes it really helps me "connect" between sessions.

[Silent_tsol]

I love the idea of voice recording sessions, I, might even be able to tune out my own voice (I talk quietly enough maybe I wouldn't even be picked up ). I think however I'd be mortified asking her if I could.

[struggling2]

Originally Posted by Apteryx

Wouldn't any of you (who think it would be helpful) think it would be weird or embarrassing to hear your own voices in the recording?

oh yes! i hate the sound of my own voice.......i dont even like listening to my own voicemail message! but id deal with it if it'd be helpful...T is too expensive for it to not be beneficial!

[northgirl]

I have definitely done this a few times, I literally got sick the first time I had to listen to it and had to hear my own voice, but being able to reassure myself with what T says to me is very beneficial. I'll usually delete it after I've listened to it a few times just so that I don't rely on it too much and can think over things for myself.

It's tempting... there are some times I've wondered 'now what was it T said again, exactly..?' And when I think back over the year I've now been in therapy I wish I could remember in more detail.. But I think if I were to record our sessions I'd end up over-analysing, kicking myself for things I said but shouldn't or should have but didn't, or maybe I'd take something T said differently to how I took it at the time... etc. I also really hate the sound of my own voice. And, I don't know, I wouldn't want T to think that she's 'on the record' or something.. or to worry about someone getting hold of my phone and listening to the recordings. I like our sessions just the way they are, knowing that everything said stays between those four walls. A moment in time. I probably remember the important stuff, right?

[noodle_82]

At the beginning of my therapy we recorded our sessions for the exact reasons you describe. I got so anxious that nothing T said went in. So listening to the tapes between sessions helped me to bring things up the next session...until I started to become kind of addicted to listening to them, and I ended up listening to it over and over and over, and then it became a problem. If there were bits that I liked (i.e. T was especially kind to me or said something that made me feel connected) I would paly and rewind because I liked the feeling it gave me. I then started to over analyse everything. I guess that might not happen for everyone, and I do have an addictive personality so it may be an extreme.

As we used it right at the beginning of T (for the first 6 months-year) it helped me keep T alive between sessions, and to hear things that I didn't have any memory of in session. So I think it definitely helped me to get a clearer picture of what really did happen in session, and also the sound of Ts voice is very comforting for me regardless of what he is saying. If I didnt get so addicted to it, I would still do it now.