Therapist Vacation

[IndieSoul]

Hiya everybody,

Just wondering if anybody has ever had their therapist leave for vacation, and how did you deal with it? Mine is gone the second week of August *sigh*. It shouldn't be too bad though because I see the psychiatrist that same week. I know I know, they're people too - they have to have some time off. Just hope it's not too often! :p

What are your thoughts?

[Cherrypie]

Hi Indie!

If I am honest it was always an issue for me. I was always suprised at how difficult it was.. Well how difficult the thought of it was.. The lead up was always worse than the actual break because when it actually happened of course I survived and it was only a week or two afterall but I think you can come to rely on that weekly chat and it does feel quite a big thing to miss it..

Much further down the line of attachment I think it was not only missing my therapy time that bothered me but also missing my therapist and a feeling of being left behind or left out of whatever his plans were.. I knew it was so irrational on one level but I still felt it.. I also wondered if he would miss me,would he be going through all this thinking that I was?

This is of course just my experience and some people may enjoy the break from all the hard work! I think though whatever you do feel about your break, on your therapists return, it can be really useful to talk about all the feelings that came up for you..

xCherrypie

[IndieSoul]

Thanks Cherry :arms:

Right now it doesn't seem so hard. I don't think I'm as attached to her as I could be, at least not yet. Seeing the doctor that week helps, because then I'll still have an appointment. I do wonder if she'll think of me at all? Or if she'll welcome the break?

[mel]

I agree with cherrypie. On a much deeper level (and isnt that the reason most people go to therapy, to reach a deeper level of our self?) it is about our early attachment to mother/caregiver, and the blue print we have been given which forms how we do or dont do attachment/relationships.

Breaks, how painful they may be, are opportunities to dip into the pain of the
infant/baby and give him/her a voice.

Holidays can b e very very painful for some clients and I am glad you are seeing your pdoc too indiesoul. I hope your therapist is aware of the pain that can cause. x

[IndieSoul]

Thanks Mel and Cherry for your replies :) :hug:

It may turn out that I get to see my therapist that week anyway. She never said that was her vacation week, just that she'd be gone that week. But yesterday, at my appointment, she said that she'd stop by and see me that week anyway :) I walked out smiling because it made me feel so good :D

[Katmandu40]

There was a time I didn't care if my therapist went on vacation or not or even if she never came back!! Out of sight, out of mind kind of thing. I miss that! Now it can be difficult for me when she goes on vacation...quite a change for me; a good one I think!

To help me handle her absence, she usually lets me know if she will be out of town or staying at home...she assures me that I can get in touch with her if I need to. She is very safe in doing this as I would NEVER bother her during her vacation unless it was a real and true emergency (which hasn't happend yet)! I have access to her home number, her cell phone, and email and I try not to abuse the privledge. I don't know if she does this with other clients, but I'd like to think it's only me she does this with! :wiggle:

[Fluffy Flowers]

I too struggle with this. I completely feel without a safety net and also like she is never coming back.

My first counsellor went away for 2 months during the summer and that was horrible, although she did set me up with someone to see should I need to.

My current counsellor went away for a week recently, but, as harsh as this sounds, she didn't want to. She was going on a course, away from home and it was the first time she had left her son, so I felt less abandoned because she didn't want to go. That sounds mean, but I thin it was to do with her not choosing to abandon me. I think?