Having a session over the phone.

HealingTimes · Sep 29, 2013, 08:49 AM

Has anyone ever had a session with their T over the phone?

I am not very well at the moment, so cant go to my normal session, but T said she would do a phone session with me since she knows i am having a bad time at the moment.

How does it differ? I mean, obviously there wont be body language to pick up on, but apart from that is it any different?

Asiablue · Sep 29, 2013, 08:58 AM

I've had phone sessions before. I liked them because often there was less contemplative silences, so more work got done in that hour. It felt really productive and the hour seemed longer over the phone. Also i often was able to say more personal things over the phone than in person.
I liked them, i felt closer to my T at those time too. There was something more intimate about speaking on the phone than sitting across from her in the office.

RTerroni · Sep 29, 2013, 11:54 AM

Once or twice I did it with my last Therapist (including once where she talked to my mom)

anilam · Sep 29, 2013, 02:10 PM

Yeah, we tried when I was in hospital for 3 months and it didn't go well- I couldn't open up, it felt like I was talking to a stranger (voice sounds different...).
Is Skyping an option? Much easier for me.
Good luck.

Sep 29, 2013, 02:15 PM

Not formally like we pre-arranged it, but one particularly horrible night we talked from about 10-11:30PM. That was longer than our usual sessions and it was extremely helpful at the time. Definitely not a usual occurrence, nor would I want it to be, but it served its purpose under the circumstances.

HealingTimes · Sep 29, 2013, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the feedback so far.

We did have a phone session right at the start of our therapy, when i was seeing her in the EDS about 4 years ago, and it didnt go well. But that was just at the start of of our relationship. I am in a different place now (figuratively and emotionally) though.

I am not sure how it will feel. Last time we had a session (face to face i mean) we explored some pretty horrid stuff and i am so incredibly disappointed that we cant meet to discuss it more, but i dont want to pass on my illness to my T (i have a horrid flu).

growlycat · Sep 29, 2013, 02:48 PM

I do phone sessions all the time with my main T. I do miss the body language, eye contact, going to get coffee , going for walks etc but it does help keep the silences to a minimum. Sometimes it is easier talking about difficult things when he can't see me.

Not ideal but I'm glad it was an option for me

Sep 29, 2013, 02:54 PM

I found it more focused the time or two I had to do it.

For some reason it removes distractions from my head that would have normally been there.

It's not something I'd want to do all the time, but wouldn't hesitate to do it again if the necessity arose.

HealingTimes · Sep 29, 2013, 03:12 PM

See, those who say they find it easier to talk/less silences, i find the opposite. I don't generally like to talk on the phone at all, even with friends.
That 1 time we did a phone session was full of her talking and me just saying "uh-huh" and "mmm" a lot.

SingDanceRunLife · Sep 29, 2013, 04:55 PM

I've had 1 phone session with my T. It was just this past summer when I was out in California and freaking the hell out and trying to figure out what I was doing with my life (literally) after I had bought a 1-way ticket out there to move and work and had that blow up in my face. It was very helpful because it helped ground me and reduce my anxiety, but I definitely like talking in-person better.

BlessedRhiannon · Sep 29, 2013, 09:19 PM

I've had a few phone sessions with T - once when I was out of town, once when T was ill, and once when the weather was so bad that neither of us wanted to risk the drive.

I find phone sessions more difficult because I can't read T as easily. But, I think I allow myself to be more vulnerable over the phone. Since I can't read T's body language, I tend to be a little more open with her. My T is awesome with phone sessions...she can hear changes in my breathing and tone of voice almost as soon as they occur. As soon as she picks up on a change, she asks me about it.