So you took a break, I will too! Or....

Sometimes when I post here, it helps to just get my thoughts out, and I can see the dilemmas more clearly. So here goes:

My T has left town for an extended period to help a family member with a medical problem. She offered a phone time for us, and I did that for a week or two. It was minimally effective. The part I liked about it was that I didn't have to get my lazy butt out of the office to go to her space - it felt hassle free. But it also felt kind of cold. There wasn't the eye contact and warmth of her space and presence. In real life, I like her quite a bit and she helps me see the big picture and laugh.

Then, after a few weeks, she offered me "online" e-consultation, since her family member is now too ill and she is needed pretty much round-the-clock. I sent one email and she replied, and I got very little out of it....I feel she probably billed my insurance for a regular session. I realize that this is between her and the insurance, but it seemed "off." I don't think jotting down your thoughts in an email is really the same as an in-person session. I think she is trying to retain her practice and clients, and while I "get that" I don't think I'm really being well served here.

Now a few more weeks have elapsed, and I feel less and less invested in continuing..at all. My life rolls onward and my issues continue -- but I'm grappling with them and things aren't wildly great, but they certainly aren't hugely distressing either.

I think I'm going to reply to her last email and say that I'm not finding e-therapy very useful, and wait and see what her own schedule is in terms of returning to the city.

I wish that her interruption of service hadn't highlighted the fact that this therapy seems to have run its course. And I don't know how I'm going to actually say that -- or whether distance learning just isn't for me.

I realize this isn't a question, rant, or a scenario that makes a lot of sense, but I find this whole situation really confounding.

Ugh.

MCL

Hi MCL, I think I would find that situation frustrating if I were in your shoes. It isn't the same not seeing the T in person, and then with the extended break, I think it's a little normal to question to effectiveness of therapy, but it doesn't make it an easy questioning process. I think it's wise to let your T know that e-Therapy doesn't seem to be an effective venue for you and see what your T says. You can always make a decision about continuing at a future point.

It's valid to feel like e-therapy isn't for you.

If some aspect of therapy (modality, therapist style) wasn't working for you in physical sessions, you'd bring it up with your therapist. Same thing applies here.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

i think you have a right to feel how you feel.


maybe you can see a substitute T in order to get by until t's family member recovers. if you end up connecting with sub T you can stay with them instead of returning to original T?


i hope you manage to figure things out...

emails can suck if theyre the only contact.


do you think shed be willing to text with you? or facetime? as thats a more "live" communication?

Yeah, I think trying out another T if yours is going to be gone a while may be a good idea.