Recording a session

I was thinking of ways to help me during the 4 weeks in between sessions. I remembered that some of you record your sessions and it helps. With ex-T, I used to have a voicemail I'd listen to. Well I emailed my T about the idea. She said she'd be okay with recording a "snippet" of a session. So I need some suggestions:

1. What app do I use on my phone to record?
2. What should the snippet be about? I want something reassuring, but I don't want it to feel forced or too awkward.

I wanted her to make a recording of herself saying reassuring things, but she didn't approve of that. So it has to be a conversation.

Maybe there's some challenge coming up for you that you could discuss and record? It might be reassuring just to hear her voice in that context.

I agree. But there's nothing really challenging coming up. My life is very dull and boring. The main thing T and I talk about lately is our relationship. I bring up my fears and she reassures me. That's why I was hoping she'd just do the recording.

Personally my therapist lets me record all of my sessions now only because I dissociate so bad that I can't remember anything that is said. It sounds like you want a recording to kind of have a crutch or memento of your therapist to listen to and that may be why she only wants you to be able to record a small snippet so that you won't constantly ruminate and use that to rely on rather than learning ways to cope by yourself. I would suggest thinking up a topic that you want to discuss that you feel she's going to respond in a way that you want to hear. Then you can start recording bring up your topic and hopefully she'll respond in the way you want. That will be what you'll be able to listen to. It may be a good idea to bring up the subject of why you feel you need the recording of her voice to get by between sessions that way she's answering that question for you because that's what you're struggling with. Either way she wants you to do the work so whether that's finding a coping mechanism in between sessions on your own or coming up with a topic that you want to discuss in therapy to get you the end result of a recording you want. Good luck to you I know it is always difficult

I use an app on my iPad called, "Voice Record."

Well, is there maybe something you want to do - socialize more, go back to school, etc., that she could encourage you about? She might like the idea of encouragement better than reassurance.

Hi Scarlet. I think this is a great idea. In my experience I find it very helpful.
I actually think for me I would just record the start of the session, and keep recording for a certain amount of time. I find that I very quickly forget that I am recording. But if you were trying to record a specific subject then you or T might be kind of speaking to the recording rather than each other and might feel less natural? IDK that's just my thoughts. Anyway I find it super helpful to have a recording and listen back. I hope it will be helpful for you too.

Oh also I use voice recorder on iPhone, and I put my phone on the table at the start of the session.

A free app called Voice Record Pro (I think it's VRP7 now)

We just switched from sessions every other week to sessions once every 4 weeks. I do pretty good the first 2 weeks. Third week, I fall apart. Our goal is to get me to make it through the 4 weeks without a breakdown. We just set up a scheduled phone call at the 3 week point. That is a crutch. The recording will be like a transitional object. It will help me cope.

I didn't force my T into agreeing to make a recording. I brought up the idea and she said yes. She has already given me a card and a rock, and she's thinking about maybe getting me a small stuffed animal. She'd rather me have these things so I can cope on my own rather than her have to step in and help.

I suffer from extreme fears of abandonment. Distancing out our sessions is supposed to help me become less dependent on her, and re-write my story (so I can no longer truthfully say that everyone has abandoned me). This is hard work for me.

Good luck to you.I know how difficult it can be to go so long between sessions. Although this is a very difficult adjustment it sounds like you have made great progress for your T to even think you were ready for this next step. They are not abandoning you, just making the ties that a little longer. They are allowing you more freedom to heal and grow. I wish you all the best.

Thanks! Yeah, I want it to feel natural. I'm not sure I can forget we will be recording though. Starting at the beginning makes sense. I hope it will be helpful too! I want to try to eliminate the scheduled phone call, so I think if I can listen to her it will help.

True. But ugh! Socializing.... Going back to school...