[AnxiousGirl]

I've been seeing a therapist for 8 months. I know this is a pretty long time, but naturally it takes me a very long time to build trust with anyone, especially someone I dont even know. My therapist is great though, she's really sweet and patient which makes me feel a bit better. Lately we've been talking about a lot of personal things but I can't get myself to open up to her completely and tell her whats really going on. Today she realized that I was more anxious than usual because I was fidgeting a lot but I told her I was fine. She lets me email her and today after my session I asked again if it's okay with her and she reassured me that its 100% fine to email. So I was thinking of telling her how I really feel in a pretty detailed email before my session next week but I'm scared. So if you guys had this option would you email your therapists and tell them whats going on? Thanks !

[stopdog]

Yes, I would do so.

[Knittingismytherapy]

If I was having a really hard time opening up and had the option to email it, I would absolutely do so! It only takes a second for you to feel courageous enough to hit the send button, and it doesn't have to happen at a certain time and with the T staring at you. Sometimes, just knowing that they already know and you can't take it back is enough to help with being able to speak about it.

My T doesn't like emails as it is not secure, but I did once email to say that I had something I really felt like I needed to talk about, but was really scared to do so, and that I had written it in my notebook, to please ask me about it and encourage me to say it because I was afraid I would chicken out and not speak about it. That worked out really well for me, as we were able to talk about why I was finding it hard to talk about it, and why I felt it was so important to talk about it at that time, when the challenge of just saying it made it seem like I wasn't ready yet. Sometimes talking around the topic without saying what it is, helps, and gets things moving. For me, that led into the topic. It's a tough one, and we haven't addessed it directly since, but I no longer feel like it is an elephant in the room that I am avoiding.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Yep. I would do it. I have done it. I've done it with feelings about her, issues I have currently, and disclosing things about my past. I'm not supposed to write emails like that anymore unless I absolutely have to. But even then, I'm required to bring it up in therapy if I want to discuss it. That's because of where I'm at in therapy though. My treatment right now is being open and verbalizing what I'm dealing with. For you though, I would take tge opportunity if it will help you. It did help me.

[ThisWayOut]

I've done that. It's easier for me to write than it is to speak...

[ThingWithFeathers]

Yes, I would! It'd be challenging, but worth it. Your t can only help you so far as you are honest and open with them. Goodluck - whatever you decide to do.

[AllHeart]

Definitely! I was/am the exact same way. Emailing really helps. And sometimes during sessions, I still can't make my lips move to get my words out, so I write things on piece of paper.

I don't know how many clients your therapist sees or what her short term memory is like, but I would hedge my bets and send the email close to my therapy session, like a day before (if she checks email every day). There's nothing worse than having sent something like that and then watch them struggle to remember what was written.

Other than that, it sounds like a good way to get things opened up.

[terableemixedup]

Hello. I also have a very hard time opening up to people especially people I don't know. I think the idea of emailing your therapist is a really good one. I know for me it has always been easier for me to write my feelings down in a letter or something. I would defiantly email her if I was you that way she can help you to work on the things that really bother you. Good luck.

I don't think it is a bad idea, but I wouldn't because it isn't secure. I also think it can cause a lot of other painful issues.

[Ad Intra]

Personally, yes.
There's numerous ways we can communicate and each way can be used to benefit you in therapy.

[alimak]

I LOVE emails. if she okay with it then do it. If she is not okay with it then perhaps find someone new who is? What matters now is that you find a therapist that is willing to work with you to make YOU feel comfortable and if that means email then find a therapist that sees how much that can help.