[laxer12]

I'm out of town for a few weeks for the holidays/winter break so my T offered to do a Skype or phone session if I wanted to. I finally decided to and we have an appointment set up but I'm kind of nervous about it being over the phone...I decided I wasn't quite comfortable with Skype but I can change my mind if I want to. During in-person sessions I can be pretty quiet at times so I'm nervous about it getting awkward. My T knows me well but I think my body language helps me speak much more than my words at times.

I know there may be a few people on here that only do Skype/phone sessions but has anyone who does in-person counseling ever done a phone session? Any tips or suggestions?

My t and i have been on opposite sides of the world for four years because of a family issue. So all we have is phone and skype. I used to hate it, because in person is so much better, but its certainly better than nothing.
My only Advice is, talk like normal.

[Miswimmy1]

I thought it would be weird at first, but it really isn't. I too am sometimes quiet in session and I found that it was almost easier to get words out over the phone, when she couldn't see me. However, I found that there was an opposite effect as well in that I had a harder time talking about sensitive issues because it felt too distant over the phone. I think just try to act like you usually do, talk like you usually do.

I did phone sessions exclusively with my t for over 2 years after she moved out of town a year into my seeing her. For me it was easier to talk about some things over the phone when she couldn't see me, and more importantly, I couldn't SEE her seeing me, if that makes any sense. I did miss her physical presence a whole lot - which we talked about often - but overall, phone sessions worked really well for me. (She's moved back to my town now so I see her in person again.)

My T offered to do a phone session one time when I was in a bad place. I decided against it because I was scared I wouldn't be able to talk. I hope things go well for you!

[AllHeart]

Originally Posted by laxer12

During in-person sessions I can be pretty quiet at times so I'm nervous about it getting awkward. My T knows me well but I think my body language helps me speak much more than my words at times.

Same here. What I have found is that phone sessions (not Skype) are somewhat more productive for me because I can talk a lot more, get a lot more out. It is easier for me to divulge more information when I'm not face to face.

[Pennster]

I do Skype and I don't find it terribly different. I think once in awhile I have felt more reserved, but I'm not sure why as it didn't happen every time. I do like to write a few notes before a Skype call in particular, because I worry I might feel more stuck, but that worry hasn't actually come to pass.

I do phone sessions with my pdoc every other week (I see him one week, phone the next, next I see him, etc). Phone sessions are generally a lot shorter - in-person sessions are usually 40-60 minutes, phone usually around 15 minutes. I guess they're less in-depth.

I've called my regular T twice - once in crisis, once because I wanted advice/someone to ease my fears. The crisis one was fairly useless, until she called the on-call pdoc who increased my dosage of meds for 1 day. The advise/ease-my-fears one was very helpful.

And I've done a phone evaluation with my EMDR T once because her practice is a long drive for a 20-minute talk. I emailed her a few things beforehand, though, because I couldn't show them to her otherwise and I'd have to read them out loud - and as it was an overview, that wouldn't be clear.

[Daisymay]

Because of the way I came across my T I did almost all my sessions with her over the phone. Ocasionally I traveled down for an in-person session but found that really weird and awkward after feeling so relaxed talking over the phone! So I know what you mean about it feeling different when you change the setting for talking.

You could jot down some of the things you want to talk about. Don't worry about silences if you have them over the phone. Your T will be sensitive and look after those moments, I'm sure.

[nottrustin]

T and I have talked on the phone a couple of times when I was in crisis. Don't think it was ever considered a session. I offered to pay her since we were on the phone for a while she refused stating that she does not and cannot bill for phone conversations. It actually was a good conversation. I actually cried on the phone which for whatever reason I can't do in person.

[laxer12]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Neither Skype nor phone is very appealing to me but it's better than nothing so I'm taking her up on the offer. I've been with her over a year now so I think she knows me well enough to make a phone session work.

I guess we'll see how it goes!

[kecanoe]

Originally Posted by laxer12

Thanks for the advice everyone! Neither Skype nor phone is very appealing to me but it's better than nothing so I'm taking her up on the offer. I've been with her over a year now so I think she knows me well enough to make a phone session work.

I guess we'll see how it goes!

I am usually face to face, but we do phone sessions when I am out of town. You are right, it is definitely better than nothing. Let us know how it goes

[LonesomeTonight]

I do actual sessions face-to-face, but I've had a few phone calls with my T and my marriage counselor that lasted 30 minutes when I needed to talk or was upset about something, so it was practically a session (they don't charge for phone calls). I've found it different, but helpful, for the most part (see #2 below).

Two things:
1. It was easier for me to talk about certain things, like I could admit to my MC that I loved him, which would have been much harder face to face.
2. However, it's also much easier to have a misunderstanding over the phone, where you don't have eye contact or body language--only their voice and words. MC and I had a big misunderstanding on a phone call that led to a temporary rupture that probably would have been much less major if the conversation had been in person (we worked through it--everything's good now). So just be careful of possible misunderstandings.

[laxer12]

Serious question. Do I call her or does she call me? I feel like I would call her but we never established that...

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by laxer12

Serious question. Do I call her or does she call me? I feel like I would call her but we never established that...

Have you set up a time for the call? If not, when doing that, ask who should call who.

[Pennster]

Originally Posted by laxer12

Serious question. Do I call her or does she call me? I feel like I would call her but we never established that...

I usually ring him - I feel it's like showing up at my appointment. He's there waiting, and my arrival is the start of our session.

Originally Posted by laxer12

Serious question. Do I call her or does she call me? I feel like I would call her but we never established that...

I always called her at the scheduled time.

[laxer12]

I called her this morning and had an hour long session over the phone. At times it was easier to say what I wanted to so in that sense, I kind of liked it. I definitely still prefer in-person sessions but if that is not possible, it's nice to have a phone call as an option.

Thanks for all of the advice, everyone!

Glad it was a good experience.