Those of you who have only done video sessions since the start of the pandemic...

My therapist said, once he got the vaccine he would resume face to face sessions but that was before the new variant strains had been publicised. We don't know if a) the vaccine offers long term immunity and b) whether it will stop the new strains taking over. Personally, I would risk it (for myself) because the room is large and can be ventilated, we sit far away from each other anyway...but he lives with someone who is vulnerable and his other clients might have underlying health conditions. I am getting to the point where I feel done with it anyway. Covid has really taken it's toll this year in so many ways, I feel like it's time to take a break and find out who I am.

Updating that my therapist had said he was going to start in-person sessions for fully vaccinated clients (including me) once his wife was vaccinated (he was vaccinated back in like January). She got her first dose in April, so his intention was to start seeing clients in person earlier this month (May). Except the American Psychological Association is saying to still go by guidelines for healthcare settings, which means wearing masks (even though, in my state, masks are no longer required in stores, restaurants, and other indoor settings, whether vaccinated or not). So he's opting to follow those guidelines, and he doesn't want to wear a mask, because he talks louder wearing them, and it strains his voice, so he doesn't think he could do that all day (sigh...). So sounds like it's virtual only until the APA changes their guidelines (or if our state's psychological association changes theirs, as our case rates are way down).

Which is just frustrating...like I was doing OK with virtual, then having a potential date to return to in-person, I got my hopes up...only to have them dashed. And now it's like I wonder if we'll even go back to in-person this year? He's empathized with my frustration/disappointment and said that some other clients are pushing him to go back to in-person. So I'm not alone. But I just wish I could have a time frame? It's been over 14 months of virtual now...

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Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight Updating that my therapist had said he was going to start in-person sessions for fully vaccinated clients (including me) once his wife was vaccinated (he was vaccinated back in like January). She got her first dose in April, so his intention was to start seeing clients in person earlier this month (May). Except the American Psychological Association is saying to still go by guidelines for healthcare settings, which means wearing masks (even though, in my state, masks are no longer required in stores, restaurants, and other indoor settings, whether vaccinated or not). So he's opting to follow those guidelines, and he doesn't want to wear a mask, because he talks louder wearing them, and it strains his voice, so he doesn't think he could do that all day (sigh...). So sounds like it's virtual only until the APA changes their guidelines (or if our state's psychological association changes theirs, as our case rates are way down). Which is just frustrating...like I was doing OK with virtual, then having a potential date to return to in-person, I got my hopes up...only to have them dashed. And now it's like I wonder if we'll even go back to in-person this year? He's empathized with my frustration/disappointment and said that some other clients are pushing him to go back to in-person. So I'm not alone. But I just wish I could have a time frame? It's been over 14 months of virtual now...

I'm really sorry. That's a frustrating situation, to say the least. Hopefully, enough clients will pressure him to return to in-person sessions to persuade him to do so.

Supposedly, we're returning to in-person sessions on June 25th. It's been 15 months of online sessions and I am beyond fed up with them.

I without knowing found a therapist who hates telehealth. I’ve had one in person session so far. 2 of my telehealth appointments she did from her house. Including my first one. So I wasn’t sure she did in person until I asked. Then after I asked she seemed really relieved. She did another one a couple weeks later. She didn’t explain anything. Just said she was working at home today. She showed me her little annoying dog. So I guess I may possibly have some more telehealth sessions when she is not able to make it in. But I’m mostly ftf now.

I probably will talk more about it with my T tomorrow, but at the end of last session she said she was thinking of going back to her office part time to see clients who are vaccinated. I am guessing within the next few weeks. Its been a long yearish of phone calls.

I have come considered bringing up the subject but fear the answer. She did say not ling ago that it would likely only be a couple or few more months.

I haven't asked. My state in the US has had strict guidelines. My county finally got to low instead of high or extremely high. So who knows when I'll see my t in person without a mask. I stopped some paperwork off and saw him, it was weird seeing him with a mask on.

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I like the video sessions. This t is located nearly an hour away, so it’s easy to just hop on the video instead. I don’t even find it stifling or intimidating to be myself over video. I think I’d like to keep it via video with him. Especially, if I move to another state like I am thinking of doing, I can keep seeing him.

My t returned to in-person visits last week - it was wonderful! We are both vaccinated so we didn't wear masks in the office - just in the common areas of her office building. Then this week she was out of town so we did another video visit but we are returning to in-person next week.

I'm glad you were able to go back in-person, Polibeth! Did it feel weird or awkward to be back in person?

I'm due to see my T face to face on Wednesday. I saw him face to face briefly in September, masked and at distance. I hated it. This time we will be back in his lovely room and not masked. I am looking forward to it very much.

Thanks! Honestly, it just felt like old times and that was great. I never really minded the video sessions but the in-person are so much better!

I have mixed feelings. I don't think I want to be in person... at least not anytime soon?

I don't want to lose the (perceived) closeness that we have online. I don't want to be with the blank-faced in-person T.

I can understand this. I have some mixed feelings about it as well. For example, I like sometimes seeing my T in his home (though it was unsettling at first). I like that he often dresses more casually (hoodies or 1/4 zip athletic tops at times)--he said he'd likely go back to his regular attire once he resumes in person. And I like that I'm seeing his face so close-up, especially because he said when we resumed in person, we'd need to be 6 feet apart (at least for now). And when I saw him in person before, I sat closer to him than that (3-4 feet maybe?)

But I also want to have the option of in person. He said he suspected some clients would want to stay virtual, so he'd still do that with them (and have it available when requested to other clients). So once in person is available, it's not like I'd have to start that immediately or stay with it if I try it and find that I actually preferred virtual.

Would your T perhaps allow you to stay virtual if you wanted?

Oh gosh LT, yes, exactly that. Though the 'energy' with in-person is worlds apart compared to flat virtual sphere, still... there is an undeniable close-up of personal intimacy.

You are right.. I hope T would be willing to do a mix of both. Guess I am delaying the inevitable as I haven't asked them yet.

I asked last night and we discussed her plans. She plans to see clients in person when one of two things happen. She wants either her young child to be vaccinated or for more conclusive information stating that people who have been immunized cannot transmit COVID to those who are unvaccinated. From her research she is optimistic that it will happen in the fall.

My T is still sticking with June 25th. It had better happen, because I swear, I cannot do even one more month of these damned teletherapy sessions.

I hope your T sticks with that date!

I talked about this with my T yesterday. He's going out of town for a week in late July, and I said how I wanted to be able to see him in person for at least part of a session before that, if possible.

He said he's done a couple outdoor sessions since the pandemic and would be willing to do that with me (like, not every time, but to have one). He thought I might be uncomfortable with it because I tend to cry at some point each session, and this would be in public. I said I'd be OK with it, that I imagined being outside (vs. in his office or at home) would make me less likely to cry. He said I could "marinate" on the idea a bit.

I figure I'll try it, but probably not for a couple weeks (in part because I'll be out of town a few days in there). Though part of me wants to ask if we could meet in person tomorrow or Monday, but I don't know? Actually, I think it's supposed to rain tomorrow. Maybe I'll ask about Monday though. I can always change my mind to be virtual, as all he'd be doing is walking downstairs and outside the building--it's not like he'd have to schedule extra time to meet me in a park or something.

Has anyone done outdoor sessions? How has it been? We wouldn't have to be masked.