Contacting T Between Sessions

I have started contacting my T out of session via emails, phone text messages and phone calls (only from my T). She told me that it is absolutely fine and that I can text her when I needed. Most of the time, other than texting her about rescheduling appointments, I would contact her in crisis/ emergency about my suicidal thoughts/ behaviours. A few days ago, my T has just phoned in for an hour and seven minutes with me to calm me down. She also did the same thing for forty-four minutes around a month ago, when I told her that I was in crisis and acutely suicidal. She agrees with me that she does not want me to be sent to the hospital again and would support me as much as she can. I have been texting her around a month ago in crisis, and then there was a pause (no sms), until around 2 weeks later, I started to sms her again on the phone. All the time, she has been gentle, patience and caring to me. I sometimes would text her for a few days straight and sometimes once per week. I hope this is okay. I have asked her again did I bothered her and she said, no, not at all. She is so wonderful, plus replying promptly every time.

If your T is okay with it, then there's nothing wrong. You might get dependent on it though.

I can email my T however often I want. She said she'd let me know when it gets to be too much. I try to limit myself though. I also can call her whenever I'm in a crisis.

I'm so glad you have your T, abusedtoy. I can text my T though she won't reply (her boundary which I respect). I can text as much as I need to and we'll discuss if it becomes too much.

I can call her once every two weeks if it's one month between our sessions. I'm truly glad T offers me some out of session contact.

I contacted both of the ones I used to hire sometimes. It was better when I wrote. Talking to them on the phone was no more useful than talking to them in person and usually less so.

Everyone is at different stages, if you need this amount of support at the moment and your therapist has said it's okay- it really is okay.

I go through the public health system so only outside contact is to discuss the next appointment etc by txt/phone.

But I do write letters and leave them at reception to be put in his work mail box. It gives me a chance to say things that are hard to say face to face. Once during an extra hard session he left a letter for me and sent me a txt saying I had mail. My dad never spoke of the one letter I gave to him so it meant something to look in my mailbox and find that letter.

For me, emails with my Ts between sessions were the most informative, meaningful and productive part of my therapy, but I had a specific complex issue relating to virtual interactions, I did not just need/use it for contact and support, it was part of a massive addiction/distraction pattern. That was the one outstanding area where being in therapy really helped, the sessions much less so.

I am not allowed to call or text ( don`t have cell anyway ) , my T told me to either call the office or 911 if it was an emergency.

I have no outside contact whatsoever ( T`s boundaries ) , I believe there should be some mode of direct contact as long as it is not abused.

But hey , I got you guy`s

Later

Keyplayer. 

My old Blank Slate T did not allow emails or texts but I could ask her to call me if I was having a really hard time. My new T allows emails and always responds with something thoughtful. I texted her one time when I was running late but in general would not use texting as I don't want her to think that she has to stop whatever she is doing to reply to me. I'm happy with the emails! I try not to abuse it and so far so good.

If your T said that she doesn't mind, then take her at her word.

I'm glad that you can contact her when you need to. She sounds great.

My former pdoc/therapist used to allow that for years but I became dependent on the outside contact and texting. So when he no longer allowed it, it was painful and caused problems with my therapy.

I think the key is probably balance. She sounds like a very caring and compassionate T who cares about your well-being so she feels this is the right thing for you.

Having outside contact is very helpful.

I think what caused problems in my situation is that I lost the focus of how it helped when I needed it and got too comfortable with it and began to overdo it.

Thank you, hopealwayz, for your respond. Can you tell me in what way when you say you have became too dependent on it? As in...how often is too often specifically when you say it is too much? Once a week? Several times over the weeks, but not everyday? Everyday on a weekly basis? Is it because you were too dependent on it that your T has disallowed it?

I think if your T recognizes this is something you need at the moment, then you shouldn't feel bad. I'm sure that T would tell you if it got to be too much.
I have seen my T for 2 years. I have always emailed (starting at 6 months in...) and it used to be that he answered nearly every one. Gradually I have required fewer responses from him, and don't react at all if I get no responses during any given week though I tend to still email daily. I miss responses from him but I'm sure if I got to a point where I needed them again, he would reply. Your T seems appropriately in tune to your needs, which is a good thing when you are building a trust relationship.