[Gettingitsoon]

Feeling very conflicted and would like to hear others experiences.

Ive been having phone sessions with long time T for awhile. I turned down offer of video sessions because I thought I'd find it too weird.
Visual but hard to interp body language. Also, didnt want to share or see homes.

Anyway, Im finding remote sessions mostly unhelpful or even upsetting.
All that happens is I share my continuing frustrations of being isolated from family/ friends, worry about how this will resolve in our hotspot location, etc etc.

Shes a good listener but theres not much she can say to help. Worse, the sessions just seem to stir up my fears and Im more anxious after.
Kind of want to just keep everything bottled up rather than keep opening the same feelings over and over.

I dont know. Does any of this make sense?

[LostOnTheTrail]

Hi,

This absolutely makes sense. In my experience remote work really hampers the sense of connection.
However, personally, I wouldn't be without external support at this time either.
Perhaps you could re-evaluate within a few weeks, and see what the situation looks like then?

[Rive.]

It makes sense.

For me, online therapy is better than nothing, even though it affects the quality of contact.

Your experience is equally valid. You know best what you need. It is not unheard of for clients to put therapy on-hold because this online format does not work for them. That's fine.

[Gettingitsoon]

I appreciate the replies.
Its so hard to get perspective during this covid shelter in place fiasco. Glad to hear I'm not totally off base.

I keep hoping that we can get back to live sessions but each week it seems it will be longer and longer.
But I am very scared to give up this limited connection.
It might be literally months before this area returns to normal. Or new normal.

Of course, I'll have to talk with her. I wont just cancel remotely. That would feel wrong to me considering our history.

I hope everyone can figure out how to make it through.
I know some areas are not as impacted. But dont think its been easy for anyone.

[Salmon77]

I tried a video session once and really didn't like it, so I hear where you're coming from. That said, it might be worth giving the video sessions a chance before you give up entirely. I know some people find them helpful. Personally I would not want to cut off contact entirely especially with no idea of when it might be possible to resume again, but you should do what feels best to you.

As an aside, I wonder if (in general) it would be possible for Ts to meet clients in person but outside somewhere, six feet apart etc. Seems like it would be safer than sitting in a small enclosed room for an hour. Privacy would be a big concern, of course.

[emmaleemochizuki]

I was considering too.

but I gave in another chance.

and somehow it worked.

[Gettingitsoon]

Yeah, thats the thing....
Not sure that Id actually be able to get back in if I bail right now till ???
I'd like to think she'd make a spot for me but who knows?
Only so many slots in a day.

I like the outdoor suggestion!
Wonder if my T would consider at some time soon.

[*Beth*]

Gettingitsoon, I could have written your post. I have been doing phone therapy for 10 weeks now. In a word it is useless. Even more than useless...it's stressful. And not the kind of stress that motivates self-growth. It's the kind of stress that makes me feel like I just want to cut connection with my therapist.

As of Monday the clinic where my T works is allowing only telemedicine. No more phone session. I ordered a webcam, but didn't expect it to arrive until next week. So my T told me I can come into her office for a session on Monday. We have to wear masks and sit across the room from each other. She urged me to come in on Monday and said it's "that or nothing."

I wanted to say "nothing"...I'm kinda done with this. I feel like the whole thread of our therapeutic work has been lost. I can't even remember where we were or what we were doing 10 weeks ago.

But I lost my courage and agreed to go in on Monday.

After that it's telemedicine. I'm just not seeing it work out. I'm feeling that the stress will be overwhelming. I don't have much hope for telemedicine. I will try it, but my feeling is that therapy, at least for now, is just not viable. It's really sad, but I don't really feel like it's a tragedy.

[Gettingitsoon]

@BethRags, happy I'm not alone but sorry things are not great for you.

Spoke with T this afternoon.
She thinks we will be able to meet live in another week.
With masks. Maybe outside.

Maybe I can hang in.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Gettingitsoon

@BethRags, happy I'm not alone but sorry things are not great for you.

Spoke with T this afternoon.
She thinks we will be able to meet live in another week.
With masks. Maybe outside.

Maybe I can hang in.

That's really good. I hope you can hang on