[MissCharlotte]

I have been seeing T twice a week for the past three weeks. The frequency has had such a positive effect on my mood, my outlook and ability to cope with everday stress. When I see him on Tuesday I only have 2 days before our Thursday appointment but After Thursday, it's five days before I see him again and it becomes difficult to hold on to him in the absence.

I feel so much calmer, so cared for.

The horrors are subsiding.

He's such a regular guy. I so appreciate his level head. I feel grounded again. I've landed on the earth with a thud.

How will I ever go back to once a week?

[Perna]

Do you have to go back to once a week soon? I went years and years at twice a week. If it works better for you and you can afford it. . .

I actually liked having the period over the weekend to process all the stuff because it was often hard and having to get up the next day and go to work was difficult. I had a back-to-back Friday session and that was great so I could get my act together again before work Monday.

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sister said:

How will I ever go back to once a week?


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Hey Sister. I'm so glad that you're feeling taken care of by your T-- and you are obviously learning more and more how to take care of yourself.

Is going back to once a week something that absolutely has to be done? Is there a time limit on how much longer you will be seeing him 2x per week?

The way that T and I dealt with reducing my sessions is by extending the one session to an hour and a half. Maybe that would be a possibility for you?

[Mouse_]

Sister, I see T twice a week, mondays and fridays. It makes a big difference. The stuff is more prominant in my mind all week but thats because we're getting through it. I asked her if once a week would hold us back? and she replied yes.

[purplemoon]

Sister,

I have gone from 1 a week to 2x a week back 1x and now back to 2x. It just seems to flow. Go 2x a week if that is what you need - you will know when it is time to go back 1x. I never see either as permanant - just doing what is needed when needed. T should be flexible as to what the client needs. Don't worry about what will be coming up - it can change from day to day - imho.

[sunrise]

sister, I think it is so wonderful you were able to go to 2X per week after your therapist's return. It sounds like it allowed you to work through the separation and reconnect so much faster. I applaud his flexibility and how he was able to do what helped his client, rather than stick to some sort of set schedule or rule (thou shalt allow clients only one session per week).

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He's such a regular guy.

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I love that comment. It reminds me of my T. I had a session yesterday with a new person (not replacing my T), and it was my first time meeting her. I had a favorable impression of her immediately, because when she came to get me in the waiting room, she had a sweater on with this blouse underneath with a Peter Pan collar, and the collar was totally wrinkled (no ironing for this T!), and it was kind of poking out of the sweater unevenly and in the back, the tag was showing. I loved her for that! Just a regular guy (only she was a girl, lol).

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I feel so much calmer, so cared for.

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That is wonderful. I hope you can get this feeling to persist between sessions. Maybe you can keep up the 2X per week until you feel more ready to go back to 1. Is your T pressuring you to drop back down to 1 or is this coming from you? I was at 1X per week for a long time, then I went to once every other week for a while. Now I am back to 1X per week. At this week's session, I made T schedule me out over a month in advance, every week. I was not shy about displaying my need, lol. He has never batted an eye when I wanted to go every week or every other week or whatever. The feelings of the frequency I "should" be seeing him seem to come all from me. (I have never requested 2 sessions per week.)

[MissCharlotte]

Hi friends,

Thanks to all for your responses.

Yeah Perna, I would like to continue 2x per week. Money is an issue but I am squeezing every last nickel out of the food budget. Damn, they can eat pasta all week,huh?

Pinksoil, the concept of self care has been a consistent theme in my therapy. It's a hard lesson to learn, isn't it?

Sunny, I was the one who asked for the extra sessions. It was difficult for me to ask, but T immediately said, ok let's go Tuesday, Thursday. So, he has never been the type to stick to some preconceived notion. I just had to be the one to ask! T said it was a form of self regulation. The pressure to go back to 1x per week is from me, internally, the budget is tight at home! At this point I would give up cable tv for T but my kids might get rid of me! T has never mentioned it.