How to cope with break from counselling

[ByZippyDog]

I have recently started seeing a counsellor which was a massive step and I have had 5 sessions so far. Due to both of us being on holiday, it will be nearly 4 weeks until our next session.

We are getting to the point of unpacking stuff which will be hard and I thought a break would be good at this point, but I am now struggling with various feelings and thoughts about having a break which I didn't expect.

I disclosed SH in one of the sessions and the counsellor is the only person who knows. The counsellor has been going very slowly but some of the sessions have been brought out lots of overwhelming feelings in the following days.

How do others cope when their therapist/counsellor is away?

Keep a notebook and take your emotional temperature regularly. You may actually find that the break allows things to ‘happen’ in your head — I know things I wasn’t even thinking about came to the surface in unexpected ways during breaks, and I went back with different ideas.

Thank you, this is a great suggestion. I am worried about somebody finding a notebook but have been making notes on my phone. I know it helps me more to write down though rather than typing out.

Well done for starting counselling OP! Breaks can be hard, but I also suggest writing things down and also it sounds like this relationship is becoming important so just take time to acknowledge that. That this a huge step too! Take care and know that you can keep your counsellor in mind over the break and also think of things to take back with you afterwards.

Take it in chunks and landmarks. So only 3 days until X good thing then after that there's 2 days until Y good thing. Then just the weekend until Z happens. And so on.

Tell your counsellor that you struggle with their breaks. Mine knows I struggle and texts me periodically when he's away to check in and that helps as well. Obviously I do still miss him on the longer breaks but it does help keep the connection a bit.

PS. Under the spare wheel is a great place to hide a notebook in your car.

Op, I hope you are doing okay. I can relate to how this feels. I finished one block of therapy and I'm on a waiting list for counselling which is likely to be a couple of months. I view it as part of my self care. I really feel the benefit of having that safe space to go to and offload my worries, particularly as I have a fair bit going on right now.

There were gaps in previous therapy and I did feel it was disruptive but a longer time like this, more disruptive still. Writing things down is a good suggestion. It is not the same but could bridge the gap a little.