[1stepatatime]

So my T is back from vaca and we will meet on Tuesday eve. This is the first time since starting therapy in Jan. that we had a break. I handled my T's absence well....I kept busy which makes a big difference. Interestingly enough, I had more issues when I went on vacation in mid April..maybe because my environment was different. It was really hard. So....therapy on Tuesday and I feel like there are too many issues to tackle in one session but I need some support at the same time. I feel a little distant from my T right now....not angry but because she was gone for over two weeks I feel....detached...that bothers me because prior to her leaving I felt like we were creating a good therapeutic relationship....and I think it will still be there....has anyone else felt this way after not seeing T for a while?

The same thing used to happen to me with my old t when she left for a vacation. The first session back was always weird, even though i was glad to see her and glad to be back.

My t has been gone for a family emergency for almost two years and i went to go visit her about six months ago, and we had our instant connection back which i liked much better. It probably helps though that we talk on the phone every week so its rare (thankfully) that we have two whole weeks of no contact,and our connection remains constant despite our distance.

[1stepatatime]

I wasn't accurate when I said that this was our first break in sessions when T went on her vaca....I went away for a week, then came back, had one session then T went away for two weeks....sorry, it was late when I posted....just wanted to clarify.

[moonlitsky]

Originally Posted by 1stepatatime

So my T is back from vaca and we will meet on Tuesday eve. This is the first time since starting therapy in Jan. that we had a break. I handled my T's absence well....I kept busy which makes a big difference. Interestingly enough, I had more issues when I went on vacation in mid April..maybe because my environment was different. It was really hard. So....therapy on Tuesday and I feel like there are too many issues to tackle in one session but I need some support at the same time. I feel a little distant from my T right now....not angry but because she was gone for over two weeks I feel....detached...that bothers me because prior to her leaving I felt like we were creating a good therapeutic relationship....and I think it will still be there....has anyone else felt this way after not seeing T for a while?

I think it is normal for us to take back some of the dependency we feel and become self sufficient in the therapy breaks. Also it then feels strange going back - and having to unwrap something again - it can take a little while. I remember, near the beginning of my therapy, when I only went once a week, my therapist would offer an extra session on the week back to help with those feelings of not having enough time and to allow us to process something. This helped me to feel she really inderstood something for me, which held me in the break and enabled me to work with howthe break felt. I remember that often I would go back feeling all was ok, be ok in session and then crash when I got home - there had been something sitting just under the surface that came pouring out after I left the session. It was like I had held very still during the break and then couldn't hold it any longer. Breaks can be difficult and painful times with lots of feelings to cope with (often after the break is done).

I hope your session on Tuesday goes well and you can talk about how the break has felt.

Moon

[1stepatatime]

Originally Posted by moonlitsky

I think it is normal for us to take back some of the dependency we feel and become self sufficient in the therapy breaks. Also it then feels strange going back - and having to unwrap something again - it can take a little while. I remember, near the beginning of my therapy, when I only went once a week, my therapist would offer an extra session on the week back to help with those feelings of not having enough time and to allow us to process something. This helped me to feel she really inderstood something for me, which held me in the break and enabled me to work with howthe break felt. I remember that often I would go back feeling all was ok, be ok in session and then crash when I got home - there had been something sitting just under the surface that came pouring out after I left the session. It was like I had held very still during the break and then couldn't hold it any longer. Breaks can be difficult and painful times with lots of feelings to cope with (often after the break is done).

I hope your session on Tuesday goes well and you can talk about how the break has felt.

Moon

Thanks, Moon
I am glad that I go this week.....some things have come up very recently so I need to bounce it off of my T. Funny how things happen....while she was gone I did pretty good for the most part....now here I am three days away from my session and I am struggling with some stuff....I have a Weird feeling that I will be on emotional overload when I leave her office. Have a great weekend....

[mixedup_emotions]

I have a tendency to feel distant from my T when we've gone a while in between sessions. For me, it's a protective measure, I believe, as I don't want to feel the needy feelings that sometimes surface.

It's not uncommon for us to have some light sessions to help reconnect.

[1stepatatime]

Originally Posted by mixedup_emotions

I have a tendency to feel distant from my T when we've gone a while in between sessions. For me, it's a protective measure, I believe, as I don't want to feel the needy feelings that sometimes surface.

It's not uncommon for us to have some light sessions to help reconnect.

Hello, ME
You are right on.... I think it is a protective measure with me,too. Maybe that's why I have been okay while she was away...how that she is back I have stuff that I need some help with.