[Rive1976]

Is your therapist there whenever you need them? Even on vacation? My therapist said to have no contact with her till next Wed because she is on vaca. I am kind of irritated by that. I mean she said I have mental health skill builders but they are not bound by confidentiality and if they are they don't follow those rules.

[SlumberKitty]

My former T was reasonably available on vacation depending on her schedule and cell service. Obviously if she went out of the country it was email only. Current T is available only during my appointment, no outside contact. I can understand being kind of irritated. Its easy to get used to having contact with T. On the other hand, T's need vacations too. I don't know what mental health skill builders are. Do you feel like you are in crisis or are you missing the contact?

[Rive1976]

[QUOTE=SlumberKitty;6283512]My former T was reasonably available on vacation depending on her schedule and cell service. Obviously if she went out of the country it was email only. Current T is available only during my appointment, no outside contact. I can understand being kind of irritated. Its easy to get used to having contact with T. On the other hand, T's need vacations too. I don't know what mental health skill builders are. Do you feel like you are in crisis or are you missing the contact?[/QUOTE

What irritates me most is I have been seeing her only 6 months and seeing already taken 5 vaca. I'm not in a crisis but it bothers me I could be and she's taking vaca left and right. It was a problem with my last T as well but at least she worked for a Csb so there were other counselors on call.

[SlumberKitty]

5 vacations in six months does seem like a lot. Does she normally allow contact while she is on vacation? Has she gone over a plan with you on what to do if you have a crises while she is on vacation? If not, I would discuss that with her when she gets back. Sometimes there are covering T's that can step in. It's always good to have a plan--that's my philosophy.

[Rive1976]

I have mental health skill builders which help me with problems, help me cope etc. She said I need to utilize them when she's on vaca. The problem is, is that they tell my biz to everybody and they are not going to be there forever but then again neither is she she's 72. So idk what to do.

[Seelenna1982]

My T is always reassuring me she’s available anytime even when she’s been on vacation. But i’d never try to reach out when she’s on vacation! That’s her time! Maybe ask yourself what you need from her during this time that you can’t do for yourself? Sometimes if I have things I’d like to ask or have issue with while she’s gone, I write in a journal. Sometimes I’ll bring it up next appointment, sometimes the journaling will process that thought and I’m ok with it.

[ScarletPimpernel]

When my T goes on an extended vacation, I no longer have contact with her. However, we made a deal. If she goes on an extended vacation, she will give me something of hers to take care of. If she comes back, I give it back to her. If she doesn't come back, I keep it. I don't know what the item will be.

i would feel glad that she knows how to set boundaries
i dont like to have my work interfere with vacation either

[nottrustin]

There was only one time T was unavailable during a vacation. That one time she promised her SO she would leave her work computer at home so she was unavailable. Every other time when she was away or even sick she would tell me she would be checking her email at least once a day so email I'd I needed.

Emdr T hee last vacation she told me she was available I'd need be as she knew I was in a really bad place. I didn't contact her. At this point I have to be in a REALLY bad place to text her. I don't want to inconvenience her.

[velcro003]

My T only takes vacation about twice a year, so I try and not bother her during it. I doubt she'd write me back if she was on vacation, unless maybe I was in crisis. I don't know, as i've never tried.

[DP_2017]

My t is the same. It sucks sometimes but he deserves a break from work so I'm ok with it. I just journal when He's gone

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by ScarletPimpernel

When my T goes on an extended vacation, I no longer have contact with her. However, we made a deal. If she goes on an extended vacation, she will give me something of hers to take care of. If she comes back, I give it back to her. If she doesn't come back, I keep it. I don't know what the item will be.

I've found this sort of thing, a transitional object, to be helpful as well. My T generally lets me email when he's out of town, but he lets me know that he'll usually only be checking email once a day and probably won't be able to write a long reply. I do my best not to bother him (though ended up emailing him multiple times the last time, but there was a misunderstanding--it's complicated). I intend not to bother him when he'll be away for part of next week and next weekend.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

My T is not available during his vacations and also not on the days that he doesn't work. I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me much. If there's something I want to remember for the next session, I write it down.

[Salmon77]

My T is not available when on vacation either, I think that's fairly normal. Is this a change from how she usually does things? If not, how have you dealt with it before?