For those of you who email your T's:

If you email a concern and they go in-depth with their response, enough to alleviate your concerns, should you reply back with a confirmation that it was what you needed to hear or just let it slide until you see them again?

I dont know why but this whole "emailing therapist" thing is so difficult for me. She says it's fine but I still struggle.

[maybeblue]

I would send back a short "thank you that was helpful," if it was. That only takes a second for her to read and it lets her know that you got her email and appreciated it.

[Fernwehxx]

I don't email mine (I don't think she's big on computer stuff LOL), but I'd write back and just say thanks and maybe a sentence that it helped. Anything else, I'd keep for the session. But I'd do that with anyone, not just my T.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Personally, I don't send back confirmations unless for scheduling or if something bothered me in her email. I kind of figure that she understands that "no news is good news". I do, however, tell her in session what was helpful. That's important so she knows in the future what worked.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by maybeblue

I would send back a short "thank you that was helpful," if it was. That only takes a second for her to read and it lets her know that you got her email and appreciated it.

That's generally what I do as well.

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by ScarletPimpernel

Personally, I don't send back confirmations unless for scheduling or if something bothered me in her email. I kind of figure that she understands that "no news is good news". I do, however, tell her in session what was helpful. That's important so she knows in the future what worked.

I agree--usually I tell them straight up when I write what I need in a response (if I even need one). If they do that, I don't see a need to email them back--that's just inbox clutter to me. I get so many emails in my job that I hate getting or sending unnecessary ones, they just make things more complicated.

Only if they really missed the mark would I write something back, and even then if I could I'd try to wait till session.

[AllHeart]

If the response you received was via email, absolutely acknowledge it with a quick response. She took the time to provide you with an in-depth reply.

If it was a response you received in session, then no I definitely would not respond.

[BonnieJean]

I generally don't reply to a helpful email. I usually bring it up the next time I see t. Seems to work well in my case.

[MoxieDoxie]

I also do not reply to a helpful response email. I do not know why? I wonder if I should email back and say thanks that was helpful?

[DP_2017]

I never reply to confirm it's been read. I don't see the need.

[ruh roh]

Yes. If my therapist emails something in depth, I always reply, but not in a way that suggests I'm looking for an ongoing thread back and forth, more like something to acknowledge what she's taken the time to share. If it's a brief reply from her, I usually, but not always, write thanks back to her. Too much gets swallowed up by the ethers and I like people to know when their message was received. People who text me are not likely to hear back because I have so many notifications that if I don't see one coming in, it will sit there for an eternity. For a long time, I thought that the message icon on a phone was supposed to have a red bubble by it. So this is just a me thing and not a standard email or text etiquette thing.

[velcro003]

Originally Posted by besidemyselvez

For those of you who email your T's:

If you email a concern and they go in-depth with their response, enough to alleviate your concerns, should you reply back with a confirmation that it was what you needed to hear or just let it slide until you see them again?

I dont know why but this whole "emailing therapist" thing is so difficult for me. She says it's fine but I still struggle.

haven't read the thread yet, but no, i generally don't respond unless i had some major emotional reaction to it. she has never said anythign about it, and i am pretty sure she prefers that: less work for her!

[unaluna]

Based on trial and error, i have learned to let my t have the last word in text and email.

[Mountaindewed]

My former therapist gave me her email and told me I could email her every now and then. I didn’t abuse it, but she randomly freaked out at a session and yelled at me for finding her email address online and basically harassing her.

I wonder if she was in the early stages of dementia or something. It was very strange.

My current therapist hasn’t given me her email and I haven’t asked.

[healinginprogress]

My T once asked if I had received her response. It was exactly your described scenario with a an emotional email from me and a very thoughtful intense email response from her. I hadn't responded and she wanted to make sure I had gotten it since my original email was so emotional. So I will respond if the basis is intense or super emotional.

It depends. I don't do so just for the sake of thanking or acknowledging - I figure I send them enough emails as it is, without saying 'thanks' every time.
But sometimes I do, yeah, for example if they offered immediate advice, or asked me if it was OK.

I generally email for 2 reasons: to share (issues that come up during the week) or report (doctor's visit) something we can then discuss in session. Or else for immediate (short) advice (such as medication) or questions. I don't like to do therapy by email, and I like pdoc and T to read and maybe respond "OK, we'll talk about it next time". Sometimes more in-depth has its place, but often that is enough. (I also email for rescheduling, which of course means we both verify)
Basically also 3 types of email:
*pure sharing/reporting: no real reply desired, I generally don't answer the reply
*emailing with, or ending the email with, a question: please answer my question. Depending on the answer or advice given (Or question asked back) I might reply
*hopeless sharing, = sharing when I'm extremely hopeless. I email to share/report, they will reply trying to help. It works. I will at least thank them, might also say I'll try to do as adviced, or comment on whether it has since gotten better of worse.

Honestly, my pdoc emails me after every lab (which is at least once a week). I'm not going to fill his inbox with a "Thanks" every time.

Originally Posted by Breadfish

It depends. I don't do so just for the sake of thanking or acknowledging - I figure I send them enough emails as it is, without saying 'thanks' every time.
But sometimes I do, yeah, for example if they offered immediate advice, or asked me if it was OK.

I generally email for 2 reasons: to share (issues that come up during the week) or report (doctor's visit) something we can then discuss in session. Or else for immediate (short) advice (such as medication) or questions. I don't like to do therapy by email, and I like pdoc and T to read and maybe respond "OK, we'll talk about it next time". Sometimes more in-depth has its place, but often that is enough. (I also email for rescheduling, which of course means we both verify)
Basically also 3 types of email:
*pure sharing/reporting: no real reply desired, I generally don't answer the reply
*emailing with, or ending the email with, a question: please answer my question. Depending on the answer or advice given (Or question asked back) I might reply
*hopeless sharing, = sharing when I'm extremely hopeless. I email to share/report, they will reply trying to help. It works. I will at least thank them, might also say I'll try to do as adviced, or comment on whether it has since gotten better of worse.

Honestly, my pdoc emails me after every lab (which is at least once a week). I'm not going to fill his inbox with a "Thanks" every time.

Those are great guidelines for emailing. I may be adopting those. Lol. I did not email her back but I see her in a few hours. Thank you all for the replies!