[UglyDucky]

Yes
No
I don't know
I didn't know there was such a thing

[MobiusPsyche]

I didn't know there was sick a thing. And also my T doesn't use texts. She definitely reads and responds to my emails though.

[UglyDucky]

This would probably apply to only short questions to your T, such as, "Are you there," or "Are we okay." I guess it would depend on what kind of questions your particular T gets from most of their clients.

[stopdog]

I don't text with either of them and I did not know (and still do not) what it is.

[LonesomeTonight]

I know my T and marriage counselor don't use any sort of macro because they send responses specific to my question or concern. Though I could see where MC might be tempted to have one that just says, "Everything is OK" for me...

I said I don't know. I never had the impression that his messages sound standard, like they could probably be sent to a lot of people in a lot of contexts. But I also don't usually email or text him with too simple and general things. And from all I know about my T, I think he highly prefers personalized treatment, so I doubt he would use this method.

[AllHeart]

What the heck is a text macro???

[junkDNA]

I highly doubt it. All of his texts are different. They aren't generated automatically

Originally Posted by AllHeart

What the heck is a text macro???

Like a standard automated response like
I am in a meeting
I am driving
See yuou soon.
These are options from my iphone "Respond with a text" option.

[stopdog]

Oh. For me then, if the response was appropriate to the text, then what difference would it make? Why would I care?

[AllHeart]

I didn't know there was such a thing. Thanks, BCM. Now that I do know, the answer is no.

I have no idea what a text macro is. We don't text though, so it is a moot point.

[peaches100]

My t doesn't, but she asked me once if it would help my need to contact if she just sent some kind of standard response when I feel the need for contact and/or to be reassured. I told her "NO, that would pretty much defeat the whole purpose."

[divine1966]

No
Mine replies appropriate for the topic

[velcro003]

Huh. Never knew what a text macro was. We rarely text, but it's always been personal to my situation.

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by AllHeart

What the heck is a text macro???

A text macro is text that someone can insert into a message/text or document w/out retyping it over and over. For example: If you text your T, "Are you there?" your T could have a text macro set up on their phone to automatically respond, saying, "Yes, I'm still here." The macros can be set to respond w/that specific text when certain information comes in from you - your T doesn't have to even have their phone w/them at the time. Macros can also be used to shut down a smart phone at a certain time, etc. It's very impersonal and seems heartless to me, but I think my T has used a macro with one of my texts to them. The most used macros are built w/a program sold on Google Store called AndroidTap, owned by BlueStacks.

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by peaches100

My t doesn't, but she asked me once if it would help my need to contact if she just sent some kind of standard response when I feel the need for contact and/or to be reassured. I told her "NO, that would pretty much defeat the whole purpose."

Good for you! I think my T used a text macro to send a response to me last week and I'm more than a little upset. How impersonal....

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I don't text with either of them and I did not know (and still do not) what it is.

A text macro is text that is used over and over in a message or document that can be inserted with certain keystrokes to avoid retyping the same thing to many people. I think my T used one in a response to me last week. Very impersonal in a psychotherapy context...and it feels that way to receive one. Text macros can be set up on smart phones to respond w/a certain text when the T receives certain words in a text from a client. Some of the people here might text or email their T, "Are you still there?" and if the T has a macro set up, the phone automatically responds with something like, "Yes, I'm still here." ...or whatever words the T has chosen for the macro. The T's phone doesn't even have to be w/the T to send the response. I think the program most used is an Android app owned by BlueStacks, though I couldn't find it on Google Store. Apparently, a macro can be set up for operating one's smart phone's functions, like dimming the screen at night, etc. Takes texting to an all new impersonal level as a way to communicate w/people.

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

I have no idea what a text macro is. We don't text though, so it is a moot point.

Sorry I didn't provide a definition of a text macro...below is the explanation I gave to another forum member.

A text macro is text that someone can insert into a message/text or document w/out retyping it over and over. For example: If you text your T, "Are you there?" your T could have a text macro set up on their phone to automatically respond, saying, "Yes, I'm still here." The macros can be set to respond w/that specific text when certain information comes in from you - your T doesn't have to even have their phone w/them at the time. Macros can also be used to shut down a smart phone at a certain time, etc. It's very impersonal and seems heartless to me, but I think my T has used a macro with one of my texts to them. The most used macros are built w/a program sold on Google Store called AndroidTap, owned by BlueStacks.

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by AllHeart

I didn't know there was such a thing. Thanks, BCM. Now that I do know, the answer is no.

I'm sorry I didn't provide an explanation of what a text macro is...this was my first poll and didn't know where to put the definition. My bad.

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Oh. For me then, if the response was appropriate to the text, then what difference would it make? Why would I care?

That's what I'm wondering. At first, I thought, well, at least T responded. Then I learned that the phone could be in the basement and T upstairs or outside, unaware that I texted when the macro kicked in. In that case, I thought I could have just saved myself time and effort and gone to bed. I think for those who have serious attachments and abandonment issues, as I do, the use of a macro feels patronizing or condescending...and I wonder if the response is true. I didn't have a good feeling leaving our appt., so I texted the question, was our relationship still solid? If it wasn't, does T have a macro saying, "Nope."? I guess I could be walking into my final appt. next week...

[stopdog]

I don't see the difference if the therapist types Okay or Nope or it is done automatically. I don't believe the active typing in makes it more meaningful. Do you think the therapist does not read them ever?

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by UglyDucky

That's what I'm wondering. At first, I thought, well, at least T responded. Then I learned that the phone could be in the basement and T upstairs or outside, unaware that I texted when the macro kicked in. In that case, I thought I could have just saved myself time and effort and gone to bed. I think for those who have serious attachments and abandonment issues, as I do, the use of a macro feels patronizing or condescending...and I wonder if the response is true. I didn't have a good feeling leaving our appt., so I texted the question, was our relationship still solid? If it wasn't, does T have a macro saying, "Nope."? I guess I could be walking into my final appt. next week...

Okay, I'm confused. Do you know that she uses a macro (or other therapists do), or are you worried that she does? I mean, is the problem really the inadequacy/brevity/boilerplateness (for lack of a better word) of the response, or do you actually think she might be using a macro?

I've never texted with a therapist beyond some scheduling, and it's always obvious that their emails are personalized, however long or short the response, so a question like this has never even crossed my mind. Like others, I didn't know such a thing was possible (and immediately started wondering if I could apply it to student emails...).

[Pennster]

Originally Posted by UglyDucky

That's what I'm wondering. At first, I thought, well, at least T responded. Then I learned that the phone could be in the basement and T upstairs or outside, unaware that I texted when the macro kicked in. In that case, I thought I could have just saved myself time and effort and gone to bed. I think for those who have serious attachments and abandonment issues, as I do, the use of a macro feels patronizing or condescending...and I wonder if the response is true. I didn't have a good feeling leaving our appt., so I texted the question, was our relationship still solid? If it wasn't, does T have a macro saying, "Nope."? I guess I could be walking into my final appt. next week...

Oh, wait - did your therapist reply "Nope" to the question "Is our relationship still solid"?

Sorry if I'm confused! And why do you think you might be walking into your final appointment?

I am sorry you are so worried about this - do you have a reason to believe your therapist is using a macro? It seems a little like it would be more work to set that up than it would be worth, so it might not be the most likely thing.

[UglyDucky]

Originally Posted by Pennster

Oh, wait - did your therapist reply "Nope" to the question "Is our relationship still solid"?

Sorry if I'm confused! And why do you think you might be walking into your final appointment?

I am sorry you are so worried about this - do you have a reason to believe your therapist is using a macro? It seems a little like it would be more work to set that up than it would be worth, so it might not be the most likely thing.

Please don't worry...I'm easily misunderstood bc I don't explain things clearly (sigh). First, no, T didn't (or macro didn't) respond, "Nope" - I was just saying, in essence, what else is one's T going to say to the question - "Nope" (I'm not still here) or "Nope" (we don't still have a solid relationship); how cruel and ignorant would that be? The reason I think T used a macro is bc eight or nine months ago, I emailed T, "Are we okay?" The response I received then was, "Why would we not be?" I texted T Thursday night, "Are we okay?" and the response was, "Why would we not be?" Granted, T could just use strange sentence construction, but what I noticed was the time I texted my question and the time the response was made. Both were 9:00. I don't have concrete evidence, but it makes sense to me. I don't think I could have had a better T, but I also know that Ts have lives other than sitting around waiting for clients to text or email them. If a macro was used, I don't think it was meant to be condescending, but a way to get a reply back to me immediately. I don't like texting or emailing my T, so my contacts are short. T's going to be gone for a week now and I've been told to text or email if I need to. I guess I could email a longer message and see what happens. At any rate, I plan to ask T if a macro was used. And re: how hard it is to set up a text macro, I don't know...I've read reviews that it's really easy.

Thanks, so much, for your concern. It was a rough appt. today, but happily productive, which moved us forward a bit.