[starfishing]

How do you all feel about phone sessions in therapy? By "phone sessions" I mean scheduled full-length meetings that run like a normal therapy session except for the fact that it's a call (whether by phone or Skype or whatever other not-in-person platform), not a phone conversation that happens because of an emergency or crisis.

I've never done a phone session before, but my therapist just unexpectedly offered me the option--I'll be unable to make our usual appointments in person for a couple of weeks, and while in general he doesn't do therapy by phone, he considers the particular situation I'm in an exception to the rule and asked me if I wanted to. I'm contemplating it, but not sure yet. It seems appealing but also strange to me, and I feel like it might be pretty awkward and weird. Long pauses seem like they'd be especially strange in a phone session, for instance--but I know some people always do therapy by phone, so it can't be all bad.

[ElectricManatee]

I have had a few regular scheduled phone sessions when either my T or I were out of town. I don't like them as much as in-person sessions, but I like them better than nothing. My T is good with body language and facial expressions and sensing subtle changes in the energy in the room, and she can't do that very well over the phone, which detracts a bit from the experience for me. I have had a couple of times when I decided to use that extra emotional distance during a phone session to tell her a few things that I wasn't quite ready to say to her face, either because I felt embarrassed or I didn't know if she would think the things were important. I thought that approach was a productive use of a phone session. I didn't find the pauses awkward, but I have been pulled out of the moment once or twice by wondering if the call had been dropped. So go for it if you want to do it, but maybe try to think ahead of time about what might make the session feel useful to you.

[guilloche]

A long time ago, I did a phone session with a T that I used to see, because I was home sick. I still wanted to talk to my T, but didn't feel well enough to make the drive in (and didn't want to spread my cold germs).

I preferred it! I get so anxious in therapy, and have such a hard time talking... on the phone, I was safe and comfy at home... and found it easier to talk a bit when I could be "invisible".

In this case, if you're not going to be able to physically get to therapy because of other things going on - I'd bet the phone sessions would still be helpful. If nothing else, they'd give you a chance to check in with your T, which might be helpful (depending on what else is going on).

[DP_2017]

I've never done a phone session but I've talked on the phone with him

I would be ok with it or video. Both sound good, its like the next best thing to being there because you still get a voice and its real time... I would say try it at least. you might find it works just fine for you

[Elio]

I have done phone sessions as well as video sessions. Phone sessions leave a lot to be missed because my T can not see my non-verbal responses so she is not aware of when I am struggling since I do not verbalize that stuff very easily. I am a very easy read, so when in person she can tell pretty easily where I am and if I am being pushed to hard (either by her or me).

Video was much better than just phone, nothing is as good as in person.

Both/either are preferred by me to missing sessions. I'm not to the place right now that missing a session is an easy thing.

Ah and...

Originally Posted by guilloche

I preferred it! I get so anxious in therapy, and have such a hard time talking... on the phone, I was safe and comfy at home... and found it easier to talk a bit when I could be "invisible".

This invisibility on the phone also aided in me pushing further than I might have in session - talking about topics that I might not have brought up otherwise.

my therapist and i live on the opposite sides of the world. we talk on the phone or skype a couple times a week, and also text. we both prefer in person, but its better than nothing at all. it was either use the telephone, or not talk at all anymore after she moved away. so, we do phone and skype.But nothing is as good as in person.

I did phone sessions w my t for almost 3 years, mostly biweekly sometimes weekly. She moved out of state for that time, a year into me seeing her. They worked really well for me. Mainly because she couldn't see me or more importantly I couldn't see her seeing me like in person. We got through some tough stuff during that time. She ended up moving back here over 2 years ago and I started seeing her in person again. Which of course made me quite happy. I've made so many good changes in my life with her help.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

We had phone sessions for a while. Most of the time shorter than regular sessions though. Mainly because my T doesn't think he can do therapy over the phone that well.

Unlike most others here, I didn't really like it. If I am not in the same room as him, I don't feel that connected. I don't feel like sharing a whole lot. Of course he still gets me to talk, but usually a lot less in depth.

I feel the absence of visual information is a very limiting thing. I tend to misinterpret things, and seeing what the person looks like is very useful in such cases. For Ts it's probably also easier if they see the client.

However, it's still better than not talking at all! And it can certainly be useful, I just feel less comfortable with it.

About pauses: as long as your T doesn't think the line is down due to a 5 second pause like mine did, and then hangs up and calls again, I think it's fine -.-

My T does phone sessions. I tried it one. It was awful. Nothing to do with her. I just couldn't bear it.

[junkDNA]

I've had them quite a few times as well as a Skype video chat session. T kept sending me strange emojis and id tell him what I think they were, it was silly . Phone sessions aren't awkward for me but there does seem to be more silences. Beyond that I almost find it easier to disclose things to him thru the phone

[nottrustin]

I have not yet. My EMDR T mentioned that my insurance will pay if there are video capabilities. Because of the distance I reabwlwd she mentioned if there were a snow storm on appointment day perhaps we could so a Skype type appointment. Obviously we couldn't do Emdr but it is an option. I am willing to try.

[starfishing]

Interesting, I hadn't considered that phone could make it easier to open up in certain ways, but it makes sense. I suppose it can really go both ways, and maybe it's an interesting opportunity to try something different and see how it impacts things. I'm realizing my original instinct to turn it down was perhaps more about trying to prove I didn't really need therapy than about listening to what I actually want or need right now. I still think it will likely be somewhat strange and awkward, though I suppose my therapist and I often don't look at one another for long stretches of a session anyway, so maybe it won't be quite so odd.

[maybeblue]

I have exclusively done phone therapy with one therapist for several years. I have never met her in person. It's not exactly what I wanted, but I had a somewhat uncommon problem that I wanted a specialist in. I live in a rural area and could not find anyone within easy driving distance, so I contacted her. It works well. The way we do it is I write her an email pretty much outlining the things that I need to discuss in the session. I try to send it to her 24 hours in advance. Then when she calls we discuss the email. It is less intense than face-to-face therapy. But it works, and I didn't have to spend a lot of time screwing with a therapist who didn't really understand my issue.

[kecanoe]

Like some other posters, I have done phone sessions when out of town. And, I agree that it is better than nothing.

[AllHeart]

I did several phone sessions with ex-t. They were helpful in that I could open up a bit more over the phone and better than nothing. However, they were never as effective as in person therapy. Once I heard ex-t filing her nails and doing the dishes, phone sessions were no more.

[Fernwehxx]

I personally hate talking on the phone. When I talk to my T on the phone, on rare occasions,I'm all bubbly and chitchatty, nut thats mire to cover up my anxiety. I dont think I could do a session on the phone. Id miss to see her expressions because we work like that. She doesn't always say sth but I still kniw what she's saying. Od miss that nonverbal part a lot.
However, instead of not seeing her, I might agree to something like that in a special situation. Im not a skyper at all, so I really dont know about that... Itd help with the nonverbal stuff, but I'd probably be so freaked out by that video chat that I couldn't even look at my T.

I think it really depends on your personality. If you think it could at least be somewhat helpful, try it out.