Is there a rule on this?

One day? Same day?

[Perna]

You have to ask; don't know what their schedule and policy are? They're just like us in that they're doing other things, have work and social obligations, etc. Might be out of town/school, somewhere "else" and not get your message yet for lots of reasons.

[Kiya]

yeah, sometimes mine doesn't call.

[ziggy1]

I would think that day or no longer than the Next...

I never had to call mine, I have her cell phone # but never had

to use it....

[sunrise]

There is no rule. Mine sometimes takes several days to call, and sometimes he never calls and I just see him at the next session.

[MissCharlotte]

Rip,

I'm sorry you are obviously hurting. This is the concusion I have come to regarding phone calls:

If I call him and he doesn't call back--->>>> I call again if I really really need to talk to him that day.

But, I try like hell to be as clear as possible in my message about what I need from him. I know he's really busy so sometimes I ask him to leave a return message when he can and I let him know what I need to hear him say!

Peace I hope you feel better.

[Kiya]

oooh good advice. t has told me it is really helpful to her when i give clear communication with her.

Ask your T how long you should wait to expect a call.
I figure if I call before 5:30 I should get a call back if I specify I need one. If not, then the next morning for SURE. My T is really good about calling back.

[ECHOES]

Mine calls when she has the opportunity to get my message and when she has the opportunity to call. She's pretty busy with her practice and she is a cadidate at the psychoanalytic institute and I image has a rich full life as well.

She usually calls within hours. Sometimes she calls to tell me she received my message and will have a time to call later in the day at a specified time. She's so caring and considerate that way.

I agree with the others that this is something to talk to your T about. All T's are individuals and would have their own thoughts and procedures about phone calls.

[lauren_helene]

I guess it also depends on the nature of the call and whatever the person whose taking the message writes down. Or if they even give the message to T which is what happened in my recent case.

They do have their own lives though and this is an issue I need to work on. I understand your thoughts on this though.

[PsyChris]

It really depends on your therapists policy for call-backs.

You should talk to him/her and agree to a reasonable policy.

I personally think a good policy is to respond within 10 minutes past their longest session with their patients .

As always if you are in danger, call emergency services first.

You can leave a message but make sure it's a private line to that therapist to ensure privacy.

[Kiya]

Rip, isn't t on vacation?
i called my t on..... thursday after the crisis line asked me to and i have not heard from her - not via phone, nor email.

[(JD)]

(((Hugs to all))) Please do discuss this important issue with your respective Ts! They either have a policy or need to have one. If they will make arrangements for you specifically, according to your need, then see if they will.

My pain therapist usually calls within 5 minutes, if he's not in session. Otherwise, he calls within an hour. This isn't for pain management, but to call and check and make arrangements to talk me through pain if I need that (later.)

I know he isn't the usual, but certainly no longer than the end of the day is acceptable, imo, for therapists.

My T has said that if he doesn't call back, to assume the call was dropped or lost somewhere along the lines, and to call again! Discuss this idea with your Ts also. No reason to be anxious over something that a T probably has a rule/guide about.

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Kiya said:
Rip, isn't t on vacation?

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T did mini-vacation and came back
and is now gearing up for the 2 week vacation at the end of this month....(the one that I *****ed about )

B&*CH...too many vacations in April

[jbug]

My T always returns her calls after hours. She is booked all day and doesn't normally have time to return my call right away. I don't like that because there have been a couple of times that she didn't get the message right away and didn't even know that I had called. I miss Steve he called me back right away if I needed him to.

Jbug

[Kiya]

t *just* emailed me tonight (like 9:45pm). She didn't answer any of my questions (as i suspected she wouldn't) since it was about my dx and wants to talk in person... in 3 days. but she doesn't understand that whoever (internally) shows up in session doesn't always share the info with everyone so it really helps me to have it in writing where each alter can read it several times and all get on the same page. we all had to read her email several times to take in what she wrote. and now i still can't remember what she wrote!!