You going on vacation vs T going on vacation

I'm currently on holidays/vacation overseas and will be missing two sessions with T. I miss her but not in the same way as when she is away. Does anyone else find this? I think it has to do with the lack of control I have when T chooses to go away or something like that?

I'm just the opposite. I'm OK with it when my therapist is off (he gives me lots of notice) and I find it more disorienting when I go away. Partly it's my awareness that I am choosing not to see him.

I would agree about the lack of control. I would add that when you go on vacation, you are out of your normal routine, normal environment and usually have other things to occupy your time and thoughts with verse when a T goes on vacation and you are in essence "left behind".

I haven't been on a vacation, or even taken vacation time, in almost 4 years, but I do sometimes travel for work. Even if I don't have to miss my appointment for it, I almost feel more unraveled than when my therapist is gone and I actually have to miss an appointment--so I guess I am the opposite to your dilemma. I need my controlled environment to function and when I'm away from it, having some kind of contact with my therapist helps me not go off the rails. When she's gone, it's hard, but it helps to be at home and have the support of my environment to hold steady.

For me, I think it's the leaving vs. being left. I miss my T when I leave, but it doesn't trigger the same kind of abandonment "being left" feelings as when she leaves. It also makes a difference if I know where she is going/what she will be doing. For example, going to a conference in X city or 'going on vacation' but I might not know where.

I haven't noticed any difference. Maybe because when they're away it's a vacation from therapy for me, like this week with CW? So it feels win-win. (Maybe they look forward to me being away too!)

Also I think a lot of posters worry about something happening to their therapist on vacation or that they'll change somehow in their attitude toward the client while they're gone. I think it's harder to envision those scenarios when the therapist stays in their normal place.

It is definitely harder for me when T1 leaves. If I am the one out of town, I can call and check in or do phone sessions if I want. I think just being able to choose makes it easier. And knowing that I can reach him by text or call and he will call/text back. Sometimes he has been ok with me checking in while he is out of town. It depends on the nature of the trip. That makes it easier, also.

I think I fall into both these groups. As well as feeling like I will be forgotten (my needs not taken into consideration, which is really weird with a T because a big part of me knows that not only is it appropriate, it would be bad if my needs were taken into consideration).

I haven't had a T go on vacation but I have had a T cancel appointments (with advance notice) and had to go weeks without seeing her.
I would say that's much harder than when I am away, but that's because I have something to distract me. I don't feel abandoned or anything when T cancels an appointment (she always has a good reason) -- it's just hard to wait longer when I don't have anything to occupy my mind.

I was on vacation only once, and I was ok.
T was on vacation twice, and I really missed him.

Two last our sessions were cancelled (for different reasons), so now it's almost a month without T. I can't say I'm in agony, but I miss him and will be glad to see him again.

I don't know that I'd describe the struggle as a lack of control, but for me it's more so the idea that T has a life outside of us, that he won't miss me, he'll forget me, etc. I look at vacation as an abandonment of sorts.

My T is going on vacation in July. What I'm going to do is try to plan a vacation around the same time. May go on a girl's weekend, may go visit my parents. T couldn't have picked the worst month to vacation. I'll be off of work the entire month. Ack.

That's what I do. I arrange my holiday around T's. I still have abandonment issues, but knowing I'm also busy, helps a lot.

I'm not currently in therapy but when I was, I never minded when my therapist went on vacation. It provided a little break and extra money for shopping since I didn't have to pay her when she was gone. For me, I haven't gone on vacation in 10 years, so I can't really say what's what about that.

I have to agree that it's easier if I go on vacation than if she goes on vacation. I think the difference is that when I'm on vacation I'll be busier and distracted as opposed to her leaving and me feeling the void the day that I'm usually scheduled for session.