One time a week versus once every other week

When I first started with my new therapist, it was understood that he had time to see me weekly but now I just called the office and she said I can only see him every other week because he is so packed. I'm disappointed because I finally found a therapist that I like and one who understood me but he doesn't have the availability to see me as often as I need.

I think it may be better to see someone that you like the way you describe less often, than someone that is not such a good fit more often. Perhaps seeing him less often might even turn out beneficial in the longer run as you would learn to hold off and rely on other things as well in everyday life?

If you like her, find a way to make it work. Adjust to the time between by coming up with some healthy coping skills and activities, perhaps some self-directed reading. It may be that down the road she'll be able to make adjustments to her schedule and get you in weekly,

I thought you were going every other week anyway because of money issues?

I think you should discuss it with him in person. Does he think a weekly appointment is in your best interests?

I'm not sure what he thinks. I see him again on March 1st.

I agree that you should talk to him about it. It could be he'll be able to find room in his schedule for you.

I don't want to be a burden on him. I'm afraid to ask for weekly sessions. It makes me feel like it's something that I've done wrong.

I really need the support of PC during this time.

There's just too much stuff wrong with me.

Worst thing he can say is, "no, I don't have time. I'm sorry", in which case you're back at square one. Best case, he says, "sure, I can squeeze you in." So you literally have nothing to lose by asking.

Are you afraid of rejection? You're not a burden by asking

My therapist had actually MADE an appointment outside her normal hours just so we could see each other. I asked. Granted it was a one time thing, but if you really need to see your therapist (i.e., emergency appt), he may be able to make room. He may even be willing to adjust his schedule to accomdate your needs. You never know until you ask.

I'm going to ask him at my next appointment. I emailed and asked but I didn't get a response.

I don't think he wants to email back because he also doesn't have time between sessions for contact so I have to wait until I see him in person. That will be 9 days which feels really long when you really need an appointment.

Hope, you don't give yourself enough credit. Look at all the time you have been without a regular T. You have done so well.
Quality is ALWAYS more important than quantity.

Talk to your T about maybe increasing your appointments in the future.
For now think of it as a gradual getting to know your T.

I'd rather have every other week than nothing at all.

I don't personally struggle with attachment issues, but from an outside perspective it seems like having therapy less often may be a good thing to overcome the dependency that many people feel towards their therapists. I may be totally off base though! Once every other week with a good therapist definitely beats having sessions more often, but with a not so good therapist. Hopefully things will work out between you and this new T.

I am sorry ts schedule is so packed. Can you schedule more appointments? I know tin my pdoc I have to schedule several months at a time, otherwise his schedule fills up. T3 is like this as well. Every couple of months, I schedule 8 or 10 appointments so that I always have some appointments coming up. Like in January, I scheduled for March and April so that I have those times secured.

Was it clear at the beginning that you would see him once a week? In my experience, patients have a regular weekly time, if they come once a week.

The first thing I would do is discuss this with your therapist. It sounds hard to wait for another nine days-- but maybe you have to. But I would get it straightened out-- what you want, and what is possible, now and in the near future.

If you want to see him once a week, in a committed way, then there's nothing wrong with stating that. you have the right to say that that's what you believe you need. That sort of continuity is very important to connect and to make progress particularly at the early stages of working with someone, I would think. There's nothing wrong with you for wanting it, and certainly no reason to be apologetic about it.

I could see it either way-- by the way-- sometimes having a once a week appointment is important-- and no matter how good the therapist, it could be hard to make a really good working connection without that. Or on the other hand, if you have some great rapport that you haven't had with others, maybe the obstacle of once every other week is worth it. Maybe you could schedule a phone session in alternate weeks, which could be at his convenience, rather than at a set time. Or maybe there's some other way of bridging the gap.

It does seem important though to discuss and to resolve this as it's so foundational to your work together.

7 more days before I can even talk to my T to bring this up for discussion. I feel somewhat settled inside although I'm not getting nervous about my upcoming T appointment.

In the same situation as you right now. Had a session today and my T was like lets skip next week and come the week after (I usually go once a week) and I said Sure! So i wouldnt feel needy and annoy her even though I'm like honestly in such a bad place lately and have no clue how to even manage that long. Im thinking of emailing her tonight asking if it would be okay to go but I don't know if thats a good idea...