Backup T while regular T is out of town?

I feel like this has been discussed before but didn't have success in my search for a thread. My T, who I currently see twice a week, is going out of town for a week in mid-February. He'd be able to look at/reply to email once a day but not be reachable by phone/text. He said he could offer me a colleague as a backup T who I could potentially see for a session or otherwise contact that week. I'm debating whether to do this. He said if I did, he'd want to give her a very brief background on me, like not giving her my file, just a quick sort of description.

Has anyone done this before? Has it been helpful? I'm contemplating scheduling a single session with her during that week, figuring I could have someone to talk to if I needed to. (I think I'd feel weird calling or emailing someone I'd never met.) But I'm also curious as to what he'd tell her about me. I assume I could ask him? Like would he just say "She has generalized anxiety and OCD plus some issues with depression and is trying to cut back on drinking" or would he give other sorts of details? Again, I guess I could just ask...but I imagine I could also say I'd rather just fill her in myself. But...it would save time if she knew some background stuff. Yet I think I worry he'd be like "She's prone to attachment and jumping to conclusions and projecting stuff on you." But maybe that's not the sort of stuff he'd share if I'd be seeing her a single time? I don't know...

In addition to just getting support that week, I'm curious as to what it would be like to talk to someone else for a session. Perhaps she could give me a new way of looking at something? And she could be someone potentially to go to if I needed a different perspective in the future? But any feedback on this would help!

Worth a shot, you seem open to it. Options are always good to have, you may really like her, who knows? It's not like its a massive commitment. T's have confidentiality things, I wouldn't think he's gonna say too much. Just brief summary, you could probably tell him what you are ok with him saying.

I have on occasion seen a backup T when my former T was out of the country. Sometimes we had one session, sometimes we had two sessions depending on how long T was out of country. I found it helpful, one to know I had someone to go to if I needed it or was in a sort of crises, two even though we didn't get in-depth about things, the backup T helped me feel not weird about taking a anti-psychotic which I really used to be against taking (probably stigma, IDK--now that I'm taking one that actually works for me I honestly think it saved my life). We also talked about what it was like to not have T around for that week or weeks and that was helpful, just to have someone there to bounce stuff off of. Overall, I found the experience positive. I didn't have any transference or attachment stuff with backup T, and I knew him a little from talking to him in pleasantries in the waiting room when he was checking to see if his client showed up yet so I was comfortable with him. It was definitely a support and it was definitely a fall back if I needed it. It was a good experience. I'd say go for it. HUGS Kit

If you feel curious how it would be, just go for it! And I think you and T can talk in advance exactly how little or much you want him to share about you in advance. It is your call.

Myself, I have had long breaks not seeing T (I'm talking about over a month) during holidays, but I never had the urge to see another T. I have lots of other people in my life and I might reach out a bit more to others, but as long as I am in therapy, it is between me and T. But I understand it could be helpful for someone else to have a backup.

Personally I wouldn't. I feel like it takes so long to "break in" a new T and get to the point where they understand and can actually be helpful that there'd really be no point unless it was a crisis thing. Plus I have a hard enough time telling my T my issues after working together for a year, I absolutely would not want to discuss them with anyone else.

That being said, I can see how someone else might find it helpful, especially as a routine thing. Having to go longer than I'm used to between sessions is pretty hard for me, so I'd understand how having a session with someone else could help.

My Group Ts were my backup Ts when C was out of town. Now that group has ended, I guess I've got no backups.

I would totally see a backup T. I need the check-in.

Yes, this is what's difficult for me, how in the past, when I was seeing both ex-T and ex-MC, they were essentially each others' backups--they were never both gone during the same week (even Christmas week, ex-MC usually came in at some point--he's Jewish). When I first started seeing current T, I think he and ex-MC were both gone the same week. T said he could offer me a backup, but his usual two were out for various reasons (I know one was on maternity leave), so he wasn't as sure about whoever he'd suggest to me, so I just said I'd be OK. I think this is the first time he's been away longer than like 5 days since then, so first time it's come up.

Well, I guess there was a period of at least a week when I wouldn't have been able to see him, due to his vacation followed by mine, but we were able to do a half-hour phone session while I was away, which helped a bit. But I know phone isn't an option this time.

It might be hard but it might be good for you to not have that option. When T cut me off for 2 weeks, I was angry at him, I didn't think I'd make it but I did, I felt stronger and more confident after.

I think ultimately, it helped me deal with this loss, the first 2 weeks didn't seem as bad, because it was something we'd done before.

Agree, go for it since you are curious. Once you talk about what you're comfortable with his disclosing, there doesn't seem to be any harm.

I had a backup T when T was out of the office for a few months a couple of years ago, and once I saw a T for a "consultation" another time when he was gone. I did find it interesting to see how a new person felt, sort of like test driving a new car. I felt both a little more exposed and also a little more able to see myself clearly, rather than plunking down in the comfort and familiarity of t's office, if that makes sense.

I have no idea what my T might have told the backup T. I think it might be a good idea for you to just allow this to happen and not try to micromanage the information or turn it into a thing where you are worried about what someone else thinks of you. I don't mean to be insensitive and of course you have a right to control the flow of information from your T, I just think it might be a good exercise for you to just focus on getting the support you need, not worrying about what this other T thinks or knows.

I would see a back up but not one t recommends as that would feel like an excuse to be linked to him. Why not take the chance to be completely free? Alternatively you could put the money towards something else you like doing for you.

I'm not so concerned about being free, with it only being a week. More like, this is someone T trusts, so I'd feel better seeing her than just picking someone random off of Psychology Today. It would be different if I were trying to consult someone about issues with T (like I was considering a few months ago)--then I wouldn't want someone connected to him. I figure I'd only see this person once that week, so, depending on her fee, would likely still have $70 extra, maybe more if she charges less than T.

My T goes away for four months every year. I have no choice but to see a back-up T. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. I personally wouldn't see someone else if he was only gone a week, but if he's open to it and you think you will benefit, then go for it.

I am so guilty of this. It's the comfort and familiarity I enjoy. I feel I have enough thrill in other places, but I totally agree there could be more insight to gain seeing other T for a few. I just lack motivation, I'm happy and lazy where I'm at.

It takes me a while to get comfortable with new people so I don't think it would be worthwhile for only a week. For a month or more maybe.

Last Summer my T was gone for 2.5 weeks. We didn't arrange any kind of replacement, I wasn't doing too well but T wasn't realizing that. After about a week I had panic attacks severe enough to make me reach out to my GP. I had never seen that doctor before. Somebody else at the same clinic had referred me to my T and they had a file on my mental state (which contained a 3 page letter by my T that explained my diagnosis and our therapy together).

I was very glad to have somebody to talk to. It was never therapy, but it felt good to even just have a human connection somehow. The first time she hadn't read my file and just asked about what was going on, I mentioned being in therapy and having a lot of anxiety. She asked me about coping strategies I had discussed with my T as well as some short questions about my experience, where I didn't really have the impression she 'understood' what I was talking about but it was like talking to a good friend who just listens. She printed out some pages on crisis intervention offers in my city, tried to call a therapist to schedule something for me and when that didn't work asked me whether I wanted to check in again after the weekend.
Then I had two more short meetings with her, where she'd read my file and asked some questions related to that as well.

I felt it really helped. It wasn't as long as therapy or as intense or helpful or anything like that. But it kept me from freaking out completely.

I don't know. I don't think I'd see someone else if my T was only away for one week. I wouldn't want my T telling them anything, including a particular diagnosis - unless the person had experience in that area, I guess. But I would still feel like a freakshow and my anxiety about it would probably make meeting with a backup counterproductive. I would consider it if I wasn't doing well and my T was going to be gone for 3+ weeks. Otherwise, I expect I would just try to hang on. If things got really bad, I might reach out to my former, long-term T for support, just to have a lifeline. And if things were absolutely critical, I guess I could make an appointment with my psychiatrist. I don't have any emergency contact info for her, but if I couldn't get an appointment, I could probably message her in her EHR. But at that point, I think the "solution," in the absence of my T would be hospitalization, so...

Gosh, somehow I've gone and made myself terribly depressed and on the verge of tears and feeling like my T is going away for a long time. I am so maudlin sometimes.

Hugs, FF...Hm, it didn't occur to me that I could make an appointment with my p-doc during that week. I mean, it wouldn't be a full therapy session, but she does do 25-minute sessions (and I think has option for longer ones maybe?) At least that would be someone I know and generally feel comfortable with. I think I just worry if for whatever reason I end up being in crisis that week, that I'd be kind of stuck (I know crisis lines, but...). And I could send T an email still, but I'd rather not do that if at all possible. I'll ponder it, maybe ask him next session if other clients use that option of the other T. Again, there's this other part of me that is just curious as to what she's like and what she might have to say.

For only a week? No. That's not a very long time. If you find yourself in a true crisis, you do have your Pdoc to call. I might would for a longer period of time (like over two weeks or so). I always just relied on the knowledge that my pdoc was available in a serious crisis (meaning so bad that I might need actual pdoc intervention and/or hospitalization; I figured anything less than that I could muddle through for a few days.)

If you want to see what a different T is like then give it a try. Personally I don't think onecsession is enough to get a goodcfeel though.

Although my T says I will be in therapy for 5-10 years (I shudder at the thought) I always look forward to the weeks he cannot see me. I like to look at it as a test for me to get by on my own. He always says I can call him but I decline. To me, therapy is to learn skills so I can handle life on my own but that is just my goal.

i wouldn't for a week, i have many missed weeks with my T, and while it sucks, i just get through it. but you do you, and if that will help you, go for it.

Years ago I saw a back up T for a one-off session while my regular T was away. My T was away for quite some time, so I think I had a couple sessions scheduled with the back up in case of crisis. I was in the throes of anorexia then and wasn't doing well at all.
But for me seeing the T was a waste of time. I had no connection with them and they had no understanding of me at all, even though my regular T had shared some information with them (no idea how much). I didn't return for the other sessions but used different coping strategies instead.
I personally wouldn't do it again with a T with whom I didn't already have a rapport.

I generally don't cope very well with my T's vacations for a few different reasons, so usually I have a downward spiral that -- by definition -- occurs exactly when my T is unavailable.

Last spring I did a one-off session during my T's week-long vacation. My T suggested an independently practicing colleague in the same office suite who she thought would be a good fit for me. At the time, regular T and I were at an impasse about a particular issue, so I wanted to see what backup T thought about it. She was slightly helpful with that issue but not really, which was a bit disappointing. I thought she might have a big insight I hadn't considered before.

However, I did think it was useful to have somebody to talk to during that week, and I liked being able to go to the office like usual. It mitigated the disruption in my routine. I actually found this T very helpful for suggesting concrete coping strategies to get through the week, which is not really my regular T's jam. I would see backup T again for a one-off if needed.

So I think you should do it if you're at all intrigued or interested. If the backup T is good, then you might get something different from them. If not, at least you'll appreciate your regular T more.

I do know that regular T and backup T shared info about me before and after the session. I didn't really care much what they talked about because I trust my T implicitly to share only what she deemed relevant, and I didn't share anything with backup T that I didn't want regular T to know. I do admit to being slightly curious about their conversations, though.

During my very first break with R, when he was gone for a week I saw someone else. Personally I like the idea of having a safety net just incase. I would trust Dr T's judgement that he would have picked someone sutiible. But do what's best for you LT- sometimes you just need to have that check in.