[rainbow8]

Because of my physical health, I will probably have a phone session this week. Since a lot of our work involves mindfulness and body language, I know it will be a different kind of session. I need T's support and don't want to cancel. I had a phone session once with a previous T, and it was good but I was used to speaking with her on the phone. I rarely talk to current T by phone. Is a phone session different for you from a face-to-face session?

I personally didn't like it. I didn't feel at all connected and it felt like a waste of money. I know it does work for some people though so I would give it a go and see how it is for you. Hope you feel better soon.

[DP_2017]

yes i hate talking on the phone.

It is more limited to the content of the conversation and what voice can transmit. I don't generally like talking on the phone except with very close friends and relatives but had good phone sessions with one T. Also a couple really awful phone talks with the other one, which were not scheduled sessions but he wanted to call me. I would say try it and see.

[rainbow8]

Originally Posted by Runcible Spoon

I personally didn't like it. I didn't feel at all connected and it felt like a waste of money. I know it does work for some people though so I would give it a go and see how it is for you. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you. I don't think it will work as well for me but if I put my phone on speaker maybe it will sound more like she is here with me.

Originally Posted by DP_2017

yes i hate talking on the phone.

I like talking on the phone but not sure how it will be with T.

Originally Posted by Xynesthesia

It is more limited to the content of the conversation and what voice can transmit. I don't generally like talking on the phone except with very close friends and relatives but had good phone sessions with one T. Also a couple really awful phone talks with the other one, which were not scheduled sessions but he wanted to call me. I would say try it and see.

I think I have to set myself up for it not being as good as in person, or else not do it.

[DP_2017]

I hate phone in general but when I talk to T, I instantly start crying when he talks... and I never cry in session. I hate feeling more vulernable on the phone and I hate not being able to see his face

It is better than nothing though, like I'd rather do phone than emails

[rainbow8]

Originally Posted by DP_2017

I hate phone in general but when I talk to T, I instantly start crying when he talks... and I never cry in session. I hate feeling more vulernable on the phone and I hate not being able to see his face

It is better than nothing though, like I'd rather do phone than emails

I would see it as a plus if I cried on the phone because I can't cry in session!

Has anyone actually liked phone sessions?!

[Pennster]

I have done many Skype sessions- I don’t think I have done a phone session but he does between-session coaching by phone. For me it’s all good, really. If you could do skype or a similar service I would recommend it, but i have found phone calls totally useful as well. It’s different but i have been helped a lot over the phone.

[LonesomeTonight]

I haven't done actual phone sessions (as in, replacing a regular session), but I've talked to my marriage counselor on the phone on numerous occasions, sometimes lasting as long as a session. I've generally found it to be helpful, sometimes extremely helpful (with the exception of the two times it got very contentious, including the time this past December). So I would give it a try.

Would Facetime, Skype, or some other sort of video chat be possible? That way, you could see each other. (I always feel awkward using those, but might work for you!)

[JaneTennison1]

I liked phone sessions, I could say what I wanted without worrying

[DP_2017]

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

I haven't done actual phone sessions (as in, replacing a regular session), but I've talked to my marriage counselor on the phone on numerous occasions, sometimes lasting as long as a session. I've generally found it to be helpful, sometimes extremely helpful (with the exception of the two times it got very contentious, including the time this past December). So I would give it a try.

Would Facetime, Skype, or some other sort of video chat be possible? That way, you could see each other. (I always feel awkward using those, but might work for you!)

I've never done sessions by phone either, just calls like you

My T claims Facetime/Skype etc are not HIPPA compliant, I've been trying to talk him into video chat and he says that every time

[unaluna]

I had a phone session when we had our rupture. It was great. For one thing, i grew up talking to girlfriends for hours on the phone, so it was very natural for me. Better than in person. Plus i could hear him better!

Originally Posted by rainbow8

Has anyone actually liked phone sessions?!

I did with one T, they were very similar to how we talked in person, minus the visual aspect and being in one space physically. What I was missing the most was seeing his non-verbal reactions especially when I had a longer stretch of monologue, it was hard to know whether he was following along. For me in person or phone did not really make a difference in how vulnerable I was able to get but I tend to be quite composed so not the best person to assess that. I can confidently say that if I want an emotionally charged exchange, I don't tend to have good experiences talking on the phone and prefer either email (where I can explain in detail) or in person. The phone provides spontaneity but, for me, creates a sort of in-between state that lacks many elements of a multi-channel exchange. Whenever I had emotionally loaded talks on the phone with my first T, they ended with my wanting them to end intensely and left me uncomfortable. The more rational conversations with the other T worked much better but I was quite nervous before we did it for the first time, with bad memories from the other T. So, my experiences on the phone were just as dramatically different as the overall experience with the two Ts.

My t moved several states away after I'd been seeing her in person for a year. We did phone sessions after that for over 2.5 years, mostly every 2 weeks sometimes weekly. (she moved back here in mid-2015 and I've been seeing her in person again.) but the phone sessions worked very, very well for me/us. We did some really good work during that time because of the fact that she couldn't see me, and more importantly I couldn't see her seeing me if you know what I mean, and I was able to talk about some stuff that would have been way harder to try to talk about in person. Of course, we had our first rupture during a phone session too early on in that period. We kinda yelled at each other, she accused me of something that wasn't true, I got mad and hung up on her. It took me 3 miserable days to get up the nerve to call her again and apologize. But we talked through it on another phone session and obviously worked it out (since I'm still seeing her!) Even with the rupture, because working through it strengthened our therapy relationship, I so very very grateful to her for doing phone sessions with me for that long instead of referring me to someone local after a time. I did some really good work during those years. And continued it after she moved back. eta so yes, I liked them.

[ElectricManatee]

I have had a few phone sessions when one of us has been out of town, and I have had a decent amount of phone contact with my T on an as-needed basis. During phone conversations, I have shared some things that might be more difficult to talk about face-to-face, usually because I would be too uncomfortable bringing it up. My T seems a bit different and more distant on the phone because she can't really key in to my body language in the same way, so I can't always quite get the same feeling of closeness with her. So I have to manage my expectations a little, but I would definitely do more phone sessions in the future if circumstances warranted it.

[mostlylurking]

I have had two phone sessions and while I don't prefer them, they were a nice thing to do a couple of times because my T was slightly different, more casual and conversational. I felt like I got to see a more relaxed side of him, maybe because he doesn't have to read body language or keep his own body language in check, so it's simpler for him. OP, you may find some things that are pleasantly surprising, even if it's not the way you'd most prefer to see your T.

[stopdog]

I don't mind talking on the phone, but I never found talking to a therapist on the phone something could do for more than about 5 minutes.

I have done this a few times with my last t because she was so far away- over 3 hour drive each way that sometimes weather and health got in my way of travelling.
I am not really a phone type of person, I hate talking in the phone and this was no different. It just wasn’t for me, I missed seeing her, I missed spending time with her. I could hear she was eating something so it felt like I didn’t have her full attention even though I was paying the same for a session. Maybe it will work for you Rainbow, if you need the support this week I think you should defo try it . Btw, hope you are feeling better soon

[nottrustin]

Not an actual session but talked to both T's for quite some time. It was beneficial. Not ideal but it helped in a jam. Also did a Skype type session once it worked better.

[Elio]

We have done phone sessions before and have moved to video visits when unable to meet in person. They are better than nothing though I'd have to say that half the time with just the phone visit, things are stressful for me because I do share more than I am really ready to talk about because of that level of separation between us.

As far as HIPAA compliance, we use a program called vSEE https://vsee.com/ it is HIPAA compliant; however, I don't believe it is free.

Even with the video visits I feel the visits are not as deep as they are in person. Again so much better than missing a session for me.

[maybeblue]

Phone sessions are easier for me because she isn't looking at me. I think I might share more because I'm not as worried about any "looks" that I might be getting. She's good at them...I don't ever feel like she's playing a video game at the same time or anything. She feels very focused on me. I also write stuff out before hand and email it to her so she knows what we are going to talk about.

[skysblue]

Originally Posted by DP_2017

My T claims Facetime/Skype etc are not HIPPA compliant, I've been trying to talk him into video chat and he says that every time

My T says the same but GoToMeeting is compliant and we used that when I was out of town for a few weeks.

[cestlavie1]

Have done Facetime in the past when traveling etc.

[kecanoe]

I have done phone sessions. I like them when one of us is out of town. They are helpful. Not that I would choose that every time, but I think you will like it ok, Rainbow.