[heda]

Hey everyone, so yesterday I was confirmed for phone sessions over the summer. It'll start in two weeks. I have a question, does anyone have any experience with phone sessions? Usually in our in-person session, it goes relatively smooth and is there is a pause in the session, she's good at reading my body language or overall continuing on, but I'm not sure this would be the case with phone and I'm really worried about that.

[laxer12]

I did two phone sessions when I went to my parent's over the holidays and both times it went well. I have a lot of pauses and silences in my sessions so I was worried about it as well. I think I remember that in the first phone session there was short silence and she asked if I was still there. That was the only kind of awkward moment though. I had been working with my T for a little over a year at that point so I think she was used to me thinking about things for a minute before responding and gave me time to do so over the phone as well.

What was interesting for me was that I actually didn't have as many pauses over the phone. I found myself finding things to say or short statements to kind of fill that gap where I would normally not say anything.

I know it's hard not to worry about it but try not to overthink it too much. Your T knows you and how you communicate so she'll be able to pick up on things. My phone sessions went well and I'm sure yours will too!

[ScrewedUpMe]

I have done several phone sessions with my T. She lives 2 hours away so sometimes I do a phone session if I really need to speak to her but can't get there. I was really worried at first as I am quite shy and have silences in sessions too. I thought I would come across really awkwardly on the phone. But actually (and my T confirmed this) I say alot more when I talk on the phone than I do in sessions. I think because I don't have that pressure of being face to face with her, I am sometimes better able to express myself. I am also better at just chatting, small talk etc. on the phone, which I wouldn't do in person due to anxiety. Obviously the body language aspect isn't the same, but there are some positives about phone sessions. Hope all goes well for you.

I saw my t in person for the first year, but then did phone sessions for a long time (over 2 years!!) while she lived out of state. She moved back to my town 9 months ago and I've been seeing her in person again. But while we did phone sessions, there were really only a handful of times if even that many where she had to ask if I was still there because I got quiet. She got very, very good at reading my sighs.... and we did a lot of really good work on the phone sessions, because as I told her after she moved back, there were things that I was able to talk about on the phone that would have been harder in person, because she couldn't see me (and I couldn't see her seeing me!) They worked very well for me. I'm SO happy to be seeing her in person again, because I missed her presence, but... the phone sessions were successful for me. I wish you the best!

[kecanoe]

I have phone sessions with t1 when I am out of town (and occasionally when he is out of town). I do prefer face-to-face, but we've done some good work over the phone.

[ilovepeas]

Hi! I did a couple of sessions with my BF's T over the phone (long distance relationship, I am in Amsterdam, he is in Houston). It thought it was pretty great and I am also about to embark on some Skype sessions with a T of my own.
I think as long as you feel comfortable not having the visual cues that you might get face to face, I think it is a very convenient and often slightly more cost effective option. Personally, I didn't find the lack of a person right in front of me to be a problem at all.