[Twinkletoes88]

Hi all,

My therapist has offered me a second session each week. I really want to take this but the only thing is that one of the slots she has is the night after the night I already attend.

Do you think having a session two nights in a row will benefit me as much as if I had two sessions separated out by a few days?

The idea of needing a second session is that I am struggling between sessions and as the transference is kicking in at the moment, feeling that I miss her etc. I think the idea is that I am more "contained" and "held". I worry that won't happen if my sessions are so close and I also worry that having them so close will mean that I feel "fine" on my second session as I've only just seen her.

Does that make sense?

All advice and opinions welcomed! Thank you x

You might want to read the other thread on twice weekly sessions as some of these issues are being discussed there.

Has she offered consecutive nights due to her availability or because she thinks that best meets your needs? Can you suggest an alternative night?

I would not like twice weekly sessions, regardless of how the sessions were spaced out, because I need time away.

[DP_2017]

I did 2x a week briefly.... and the one and only time I did two days in a row, it was awful. It felt like "overload" for both of us. He was more checked out, I was unsure of what to say etc. After that we kept them several days apart
Is there no other options for you? Weird she would only have 1 slot. Maybe something else will open up soon.

[LonesomeTonight]

I think spacing it out is better than two nights in a row if possible. I go on Mondays and Thursdays, and that works well for me, as it still gives me time to process in between sessions. When I used to see ex-T and my former marriage counselor, I often saw them on consecutive days (ex-MC Monday and ex-T Tuesday) and realized that was too much to process in too little time and switched to usually having ex-T Wednesday instead, which helped a bit.

That being said, I have seen current T two days in a row before for an extra session, either if he and I had a major conflict or, in one case, when there was something major going on in my life and I needed more support. Those were helpful. But I wouldn't want it every week.

You might also experience some cultural bias in the responses here. In my experience, twice (or more) weekly is not as common in the UK as it is in the US.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

I only have one day in between my two sessions. I think even less would bother me. Already like this, sometimes I struggle with finding things to discuss in the second session. I think it might make sense to see your T more than once a week if you miss her a lot and so on, but having more time in between might be beneficial.

[DP_2017]

Originally Posted by SorryNorma

You might also experience some cultural bias in the responses here. In my experience, twice (or more) weekly is not as common in the UK as it is in the US.

I didn't think it was common at all until I started coming here, I just assumed weekly was standard most everywhere

[Glowworm80]

I have 2/3 days between mine Tuesday-Friday and I find the spacing between them good.
That's a tough choice... so is it a case of once a week or twice a week but 2 days in a row? I mean it if it was me 2 days in a row would be better than only once a week. You could always try it and see how it goes for you and explain that you would like to spread it out more as soon a spot becomes available? Depending on what you are in therapy for it might prove beneficial or not.

[nottrustin]

My experience is that it is difficult. My situation is different in that I saw 2 different Ts but they were 2 days in a row. It was hard because it could be overwhelming because I was trying to "settle down" emotionally and but had the next appointment. Plus it was hard because when I really struggled I had two days in a row of help... then 5 days of being on my own.

I could space them out because T only saw clients Monday and Wednesday and EMDR T on has evening hours on Tuesday.

[starfishing]

My two weekly sessions are normally spread a couple of days apart, but have been on consecutive days several times because of scheduling conflicts. It definitely feels different than having a more evenly spaced schedule, but I've still found it helpful--my experience is that it makes the two sessions feel almost like one long session. And I think with any consistent therapy schedule (or any other schedule), it probably takes on a different character once you adjust to the consistent rhythm of it, and becomes helpful (and difficult) in different ways.

My inclination would be to try it and see how it goes, but I can see why you're concerned about what it will be like.