Recording sessions

I have started recording sessions with my therapist (last 6 recorded out of a total of 22). I have found that listening to the therapist and myself has given me some new insights, allowed me to reflect upon the answers to some of the questions I pose to the therapist, and watch how I react to certain topics. I feel it has really helped me improve the quality of my sessions. But I haven't told my therapist that I record the sessions for the fear of being not allowed to do so or the therapist's responses in the recorded sessions being conscious and reserved.
1) Do you record your sessions? 2) Does it help you?
3) Should I tell my therapist that I record the sessions?

1) yes I do
2) yes, definitely
3) it's really up to you. I record secretly for the same reasons as you. I do feel some guilt but the more it drags on, thy more afraid I am to tell

Cool! I'm glad you found something that helps you. I don't personally record sessions, but I can see where it would be useful. I do think that you should tell her, though. Obviously it's up to you, but I'd consider it just basic politeness to ask.

I record my sessions and it helps tremendously.
I think you should really tell your therapist that you're recording the sessions.
Actually I first recorded two sessions without telling my T and then felt so guilty I eventually told her.
I was expecting her to be mad but she was fine.

Not telling your therapist is quite sneaky and after all it's their voice too on the recording.
Sorry, I understand why you're not telling your T but I still think you should. It's a matter of trust.

1) I have recorded one session. I have a certain goal for tomorrow's session- I may record it.
2) it helps me to know I have it...a bit of a transitional object. I hate the sound of my voice on the recording so I don't listen to it often.
3) I was fearful of Ts answer so I put off asking if I could record for a while. I was relieved she easily agreed when I asked. Yes, probably you should ask her. I understand the hesitation. But I think of how she would react if she found out I recorded her without her knowledge....I think I would hate her anger or disappointment or fear or mistrust in me way more than hearing her answer, "No, you may not record our sessions." But I leave that up to you.

I have been recording my sessions for many months, and no my therapist doesn't know. I keep the recordings in an app that is 'locked' with a code on my phone and I don't publish them anywhere or share them with anyone - they are only for me. I dissociate a lot in therapy, so going back and listening to them helps me to pick up on things I missed during the session and listening to my T's voice helps me to stay connected to her as well. I do not feel bad for recording the sessions. If I was publishing the recordings somewhere or sharing them with someone else, then I would feel she should know - but for my own personal use I feel that it is fine.

I recorded all my sessions with her knowledge. We both were so unaware of the taping that I still chuckle at some of the conversations that we had and actually made it on tape. I read somewhere that research shows people forget a recorder or camera is going after a few minutes, and does not effect the issue at hand.

Taping was a tremendous benefit for me, I disassociated a lot, and have a memory like a sieve. I understood and processed a lot more by taping. Also, they were a source of comfort when I felt I needed my therapist presence, even the ones where I was crying, screaming, and writhing in agony. I had humongous adrenaline rushes in flight or flight situations, recalling them in therapy, and when I listened to the tapes over and over again, eventually to either have adrenaline rushes just trickle or stop altogether, depending on the subject dealt with. We terminated 2 1/2 yrs ago, and still listened in times of extreme stress for about a year. In fact, I destroyed them soon after therapy, and retrieved a couple recordings through learning computer deleted recovery skills.

For me, this last therapy was a time to get honest with myself and with others. So, I could not and would not be duplicitous while I was trying to right myself. My therapy was about learning to trust. This is just where I was and am at in my life. I don't like dishonesty or sins of omission which I get from my teen a lot.

I would post them somewhere, because I truly believe they could be beneficial to others, but we use each other's name to much, and I have no idea how to edit them out. She told me several times they were mine to do what I wish. She just doesn't want me to get hurt.

Thank you Walkedthatroad, Argonautomobile 1, Myrto, precaryous, QuietMind, doogie! I will tell her the next time I see her that I have recorded our sessions. What I fear the most is that my brother, who starts therapy with her next week and has a terrible memory as well, might lose the chance to record sessions and benefit from it IF she thinks that recording might not be a good idea. I still feel she will be okay with it. Even if she is not, I think I will take the risk.

I record, but have never told him. I don't always do it, and actually haven't even listened to a recording since August. I guess I just like having documentation of my experience there. It used to help me feel closer to him, but now realize that it just makes me obsess more (if I listen).

1) No, I don't record my sessions.
3) I probably wouldn't tell my T if I decided to record them one day.

Yes I record session and yes I find it helpful. No, my T does not know. I tend to delete them after a few weeks, but it does help me remember what we talked about in session. I started recording because I was dissociating so much in sessions that I couldn't remember half of what we talked about. Also, If I dissociated outside of session, I could playback the part of a session where T was helping me get grounded again, and that would help me in the moment.

I don't, and I'd be so freaked out to tell my therapist if I did!

I've changed my mind. I think I do not want to fix what is not broken. Recording sessions is something that I think has helped me. The part about not respecting her privacy really bothers me though.

I guess if the shoe was on the other foot, what would you want from your therapist?

Not trying to be argumentative, but imo, that's a different situation. A T has an ethical (and legal, probably) obligation to protect the client. The client does not have the same obligation to take care of T. Would it be ideal if OP had T's permission to record? Yes.

These electronic iPads, phones, etc. have opened up a new world of possibilities and etiquette.

I agree in principle, but just the same it is a human to human interaction.

It's not just an equal human to human interaction though because the majority of the content of the session involves the client's private business, not the therapist's. So the session in essence belongs to the client.
That's the way I see it anyway. From the T's perspective, so long as they are doing their job competently and ethically there should be nothing to worry about.

I wouldn't record without her permission, it would feel both dishonest and disrespectful of me not to be open and honest about it and she should have the right to refuse to be recorded. I get why people would choose to do it, but I wouldn't.

I also wouldn't record my therapy sessions - secretly or with permission.

I feel recording anybody without their permission is disrespectful (and illegal?). Though I'm not obligated to protect her privacy, I feel that there is an element of trust to keep certain things she says between us. Occasionally she'll bring up a personal detail that I'm sure she wouldn't want shared with others or "on the record".

Recording a session with permission to me would feel distracting. Sort of like video taping sex... it's better spontaneous without performance concerns.

I dissociate a lot during sessions and I find my t's voice incredibly soothing. I can understand the desire to record the session.

But for me, I honestly think that recording the session would make me more likely to dissociate. That is one of the things keeping me grounded...the need to be present for our interactions. Also, my t is not moving ahead without me along so I don't miss much.

It is legal in my state to record a conversation as long as one party gives consent. It is legal but it would not feel right doing it without t's consent, for me personally.

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I record my sessions and it has been one of the best and most valuable things I have done with my therapy. My memory is horrible. I love to listen to my sessions and better reflect on them. Also my T's voice is so soothing and relaxes me. I asked her before I started recording them. I felt to guilty to keep it from her and think she deserves to know. We both forget I am recording them which is nice. My T has said she is glad I record my sessions so I can always have them.

I gather from some of the responses therapy and relationships in general are not about trust or trying to get there.

I was hesitant on doing it secretly, but I did record my last session. I listened to only a little bit, but the quality is terrible so I'm going to delete it, let it go, and move on. I feel dirty having done it without her knowledge.

If you live in the US, I have this inkling if you ask you will most likely get a yes.

Good luck to you.

I do. I may ask to record our last two sessions before summer break (three almost four months without any sessions), but that honestly depends on how I'm feeling up to that point.