[precious things]

My T is going to be out of town next week and there is a huge event in my life that gets at a lot of eating disorder feelings. He told me we are going in deep and to write out every detail that surrounds the timing of this event. He said he wants to see pages and pages of this written out, and if I feel safe doing so, I should email it to him during the week he is out of town.

First, Ive never done anything like this before-anyone have experience with this? Did they respond back? I know he asked for pages and pages but I already have like 10 written front and back and can envision at least another 5.

Oh, and I am a wreck as I go through reliving these details. He anticipated this would happen so maybe that is why the offer to email it to him- so that I feel like I am putting it out there. Do you really think he will read a 15 page story about an event that happened 20 years ago? He told me to be ready to discuss in depth again when he returns. I think I feel funny sending over a book and then wondering if he will even email back a response. Any experience or opinions on this welcome!

[stopdog]

I think he should have clarified if he was going to respond or not. I do email the therapist stories or rants or stuff - in order to get it away from me. I do not find the therapist response in email to be useful to me. So the woman does not respond. I send off to get it away from me and that is it. I think you could ask for a response, but you might not get what you are looking for in email in general and second he may need some time to read it so the response would either be late, or not really about what you sent specifically.

[Piraeus]

Hi precious things. It's nice to meet you . I would read it if you sent it to me.
I'm kind of lazy, so I don't really like to read long post's.But I would read yours though.
I think it might be interesting. I'm pretty sure your T would read it too. It sounds like he really cares for you deeply.You are very lucky to have such a good T.

[BonnieJean]

It sounds like he has a theraputic plan for the information that you write and is also suggesting it as a way to keep connected during this event and him being away. I would do it and send it especially if you are motIvated to capture all your reactions during this event. Great learning tool. I'm sure t will read what he thinks is appropriate to read of it. He may or may not answer your emails but you'll both have what you need to wor on his return.

[tinyrabbit]

I think it would be a really good idea to clarify what you can expect in terms of response and if he will read it before or in session.

I've not *had* to email my T but have chosen to several times and the deal is I can email him if I want to but he doesn't respond at length by email. I send some disclosures and some transference tantrum rants.

I think he would read it, yes, it just might take him time to get through it. I sent my T a 4,000-word email recently about some stuff and he read half that week and half the next.

[precious things]

I did it!! I still need to type it up and send it this week but I have 12 handwritten pages that I didn't even know I had in me. He asked me to send it to him if I felt safe and I do, just don't know if I'll get a response.....but it's done- whew.

[lifelesstraveled]

Originally Posted by precious things

My T is going to be out of town next week and there is a huge event in my life that gets at a lot of eating disorder feelings. He told me we are going in deep and to write out every detail that surrounds the timing of this event. He said he wants to see pages and pages of this written out, and if I feel safe doing so, I should email it to him during the week he is out of town.

First, Ive never done anything like this before-anyone have experience with this? Did they respond back? I know he asked for pages and pages but I already have like 10 written front and back and can envision at least another 5.

Oh, and I am a wreck as I go through reliving these details. He anticipated this would happen so maybe that is why the offer to email it to him- so that I feel like I am putting it out there. Do you really think he will read a 15 page story about an event that happened 20 years ago? He told me to be ready to discuss in depth again when he returns. I think I feel funny sending over a book and then wondering if he will even email back a response. Any experience or opinions on this welcome!

I agree I think he should have stated whether or not he'd respond.

I recently emailed my T about some stuff we've been working which involved reaching out to my family for some answers, and also writing some of my own stuff and sending it to her. I actually asked if I could email it to her and was perfectly ok with it (probably bc I never contact her). To me it was just a way to get it out and away from me until our appointment. T responded each time either reassuring me in some way or just saying that something in what I sent her was interesting and we'd work on it. She kept reminding me to breathe and not to worry, etc

Maybe T suggested you send it to him so that he can hold on to it for you until he gets back. I don't think he would provide a lengthy response to your email. I'm sure he'd want to cover the material during your session. Maybe you can ask that he acknowledges that he received your writing and if you concerned about something maybe he can provide you with some comforting words to hold you over until he returns...?

[precious things]

Originally Posted by lifelesstraveled

I agree I think he should have stated whether or not he'd respond.

I recently emailed my T about some stuff we've been working which involved reaching out to my family for some answers, and also writing some of my own stuff and sending it to her. I actually asked if I could email it to her and was perfectly ok with it (probably bc I never contact her). To me it was just a way to get it out and away from me until our appointment. T responded each time either reassuring me in some way or just saying that something in what I sent her was interesting and we'd work on it. She kept reminding me to breathe and not to worry, etc

Maybe T suggested you send it to him so that he can hold on to it for you until he gets back. I don't think he would provide a lengthy response to your email. I'm sure he'd want to cover the material during your session. Maybe you can ask that he acknowledges that he received your writing and if you concerned about something maybe he can provide you with some comforting words to hold you over until he returns...?

I'd be okay with a , "nice work precious things. See you next week..."

[BlessedRhiannon]

I often send my T very long emails, especially when I've got things that I just need to get out of my head. My T reads every word I write, but rarely sends detailed replies. Usually, she will send a brief reply that she got the mail and we'll talk about it in session. If there's something that she can easily and immediately address, she will do so.

However, I understand that she will not do therapy by email, and I do not expect detailed responses from her. Usually, when I send her a really long email, I will ask her to just let me know that she got it, and that I understand it's best addressed in our next session. She usually replies with a "thank you for trusting me with this, we'll talk about it when we meet."

I wouldn't expect a detailed response from your T, but hopefully he will send you some kind of reply. If you really want a reply, you might ask for one up front, even if you just ask him to let you know that he got the mail.