Video sessions

JaneTennison1 · Mar 19, 2020 at 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoiecat

Jane...How did you do EMDR over video? I usually do the hand buzzers and I like to do EMDR with my eyes closed. My T said we will still do EMDR but will have to do it with him waiving his fingers across the screen (UGH) or I would have to watch a light go back and forth using a YouTube video. With this option I would have to stop it myself or I don't know what. None of these options seem good to me.

How did it work for you?

we usually do the hand movement because I have a habit of checking out if I close my eyes so that part was the same. it worked out ok . we didnt work on anything deep though just in calming some anxiety. We worked on keeping me safe. I missed her but felt way more present by seeing her.

zoiecat · Mar 19, 2020 at 04:33 PM

Jane...I had my first video EMDR just now. I did the tapping by myself on my legs. He told me when to start and stop. It wasn't as good as the hand buzzers and it was distracting being at home but I did it. We started off on something not so deep as well and I actually started feeling better about the issue. I have NEVER experienced that with EMDR before. Then we moved into the hard stuff for a little bit. I still hate the video sessions but I guess I will get used to it. I don't like the fact that I am bringing my EMDR trauma memories into my house. Not sure how long I will be able to do that.

RosyC · Mar 19, 2020 at 07:47 PM

We’re going to try this next week and I’m anxious already. It’s a very triggering format for me, which I haven’t told him due to shame, and doubtful I will share it, so I’m quite scared to be honest. I want to try to push myself to face triggers but I am afraid as I don’t really cope well with managing triggers and the effects linger for a long time. Not really quite sure how to proceed, but I did say I was amicable to trying. It doesn’t feel safe. If he wasn’t a man I wouldn’t be feeling this anxious. It’s the first time his gender has been a huge concern for me. Would really like to know someone else relates because I’m finding this quite isolating and feel like only I have this stupid trigger.

susannahsays · Mar 20, 2020 at 11:24 AM

I don't mind. My time management sucks and I know I won't be late this way. I also like that I can be sprawled on my bed with my dog instead of hunched on the therapist's couch. I'm just more comfortable in my own space, I guess. And my dog is a very soothing presence to me, although I will need to have some chew treats on hand in case he decides to be disruptive or that he needs to lay across my face instead of just perching on my chest or shoulder. But overall, I don't mind at all.

MoxieDoxie · Mar 21, 2020 at 05:05 PM

The WiFi is so bad now because EVERYONE is on it. The video kept freezing and going in and out. We talked not the phone instead and it sucked.

Flinders40 · Mar 21, 2020 at 06:48 PM

That’s a huge fear of mine - that the internet will become overloaded and just freeze. Sorry, I know how how you feel - talking on the phone is excruciating for me ... such a waste of time.

MoxieDoxie · Mar 22, 2020 at 02:10 PM

"When you are sitting in a therapist’s office, there is a certain indescribable connection that happens. It’s a mutual sharing of subtle personal, emotional and behavioral cues and expressions. Back-and-forth, the therapist and client read each other’s reactions to things. When two people are physically in the same room, there is an energy that passes between them. There is a rich, complex subtext to every sentence. There is a meaning to every subtle twitch of the corner of the mouth or eyebrow; a slight shift in position, a tremor of the foot. There is a feeling of understanding and a connection; a joining of the minds, a linking of thought, feeling and behavior that is largely unconscious, but which can be almost tangible. It’s a synergy that is difficult to put into words but which, I think, is very useful to the healing process."

I saved this passage from an articled I read a few years ago. It holds true for me even now. Video sessions lose the connection I had with him. I do not believe actual real therapy is happening through video. He is and other therapist claim you can do EMDR through video. Sorry that would never work for me. Of course i am not going to give up talking to him once a week as that would be foolish but the stress of not being with him in person is making everything else feel worse.

ArtleyWilkins · Mar 22, 2020 at 03:35 PM

Not in therapy right now, but I personally would rather just talk on the phone. Being a bit camera-shy, particularly video-shy, I would just be too self-conscious. I was used to speaking to my therapists on the phone, particularly in crisis situations, so it would have felt pretty normal to do so and would have been more comfortable for me personally than trying to mess with online technology. I'm sort of old school that way I guess. Even with family, we'll text really quick things, but when it comes to needing to really talk at a distance, we'll just pick up the phone (we don't facetime generally). For me, the phone is the least unusual way to communicate if I can't be in person.

JaneTennison1 · Mar 22, 2020 at 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoiecat

Jane...I had my first video EMDR just now. I did the tapping by myself on my legs. He told me when to start and stop. It wasn't as good as the hand buzzers and it was distracting being at home but I did it. We started off on something not so deep as well and I actually started feeling better about the issue. I have NEVER experienced that with EMDR before. Then we moved into the hard stuff for a little bit. I still hate the video sessions but I guess I will get used to it. I don't like the fact that I am bringing my EMDR trauma memories into my house. Not sure how long I will be able to do that.

I'm glad it worked sort of. We all deserve a little bit of "normalcy" and calm. I also hate that the trauma is being brought into my house and hope against all hope this is short term. For other reasons also.

zapatoes · Mar 22, 2020 at 09:51 PM

Wonder if a text back and forth therapy is possible, but I suppose video or face time, or zoom is better then can see each other’s facial expressions. For me text therapy is more appealing in a way, but then again it’s not since would be pretty impersonal.

Christmas cookie · Mar 23, 2020 at 08:37 AM

I never tried video session and not sure I would feel comfortable. I would rather have a session with a phone call.

LonesomeTonight · Mar 23, 2020 at 09:21 AM

Trying another video session with Dr. T this afternoon. Will report back.

Mountaindewed · Mar 23, 2020 at 12:49 PM

I had mine today. It was incredibly uncomfortable and distracting. My cat was giving me an evil look the whole time. I’d rather not do therapy at all.

Omers · Mar 23, 2020 at 01:14 PM

Just had my first video session with T. He is trying SO hard. He “walked” me around the office so we could do things as normally as possible. He asked if there was anything I wanted to see in his office and even asked where I wanted him to sit. It is still really weird. We are both learning and trying to figure out what will work for us. I couldn’t see his eyes as well as I normally do which was hard for me. We were “off topic” a lot more than usual and I am not sure if that was because of it being phone/video or if it was because we are all distracted by the virus right now. It was good to be able to really see him.

LonesomeTonight · Mar 23, 2020 at 02:33 PM

Today's video session with Dr. T felt much better. I think something that helped me a lot was finding out how to hide the image of myself talking on the screen. It was making me really self-conscious such that I was mostly avoiding looking at the screen, so wasn't seeing T much. Once I covered that, I was looking at him much more. We joked around a little bit, so that helped, too. And I showed him a picture of my new guinea pigs. He was also just really empathetic about what I'm dealing with, in terms of D being home and really struggling with this. Which helped a lot.

So if anyone tries a video session and doesn't like it, I'd say give it another shot. Try hiding your image (I can tell you how to do that in Zoom, if that's what you're using). It's not the same as in person, not at all, but, for me at least, it's better than no therapy at all.

Flinders40 · Mar 23, 2020 at 06:41 PM

I was running late at work today and had to video conference with my T from there.

She and I were in the midst of talking when my boss and producer walked into the studio - they quickly apologized but it was too late - they already saw her ..

I jumped in and said, “meet my “friend C——“ They all said hi to each other ... then asked me a question and left...

Yikes, so it begins....... Lol.

Omers · Mar 23, 2020 at 06:44 PM

Thanks LT! I had the same issue but on Face Time. I may just tape a paper up in that corner!!

LonesomeTonight · Mar 23, 2020 at 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omers

Thanks LT! I had the same issue but on Face Time. I may just tape a paper up in that corner!!

I told T that someone had suggested a post-it note over top. But I said I hadn't taken one into the room with me. Dr. T: "I have a Post-It right here I could give you." Me: "What?" Dr. T: "Sorry, couldn't resist the joke." (because obviously he couldn't hand me something in cyberspace). Which made me laugh and broke the ice a bit.

Mountaindewed · Mar 23, 2020 at 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

Today's video session with Dr. T felt much better. I think something that helped me a lot was finding out how to hide the image of myself talking on the screen. It was making me really self-conscious such that I was mostly avoiding looking at the screen, so wasn't seeing T much. Once I covered that, I was looking at him much more. We joked around a little bit, so that helped, too. And I showed him a picture of my new guinea pigs. He was also just really empathetic about what I'm dealing with, in terms of D being home and really struggling with this. Which helped a lot.

So if anyone tries a video session and doesn't like it, I'd say give it another shot. Try hiding your image (I can tell you how to do that in Zoom, if that's what you're using). It's not the same as in person, not at all, but, for me at least, it's better than no therapy at all.

Yeah my image thing was the main issue too. I kept moving positions so I didn’t look quite as weird and it was distracting me.. I think mine is cloud something and not zoom.

LonesomeTonight · Mar 23, 2020 at 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

Yeah my image thing was the main issue too. I kept moving positions so I didn’t look quite as weird and it was distracting me.. I think mine is cloud something and not zoom.

Someone in another thread suggested putting a post-it over the image, if you can't hide it. So maybe something to try? Or, if no post-its in your place, piece of paper and tape?

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Flinders40 Member Member Since Jun 2018 Location: New York City Posts: 210 5 4 hugs given	Mar 21, 2020 at 06:48 PM #26 That’s a huge fear of mine - that the internet will become overloaded and just freeze. Sorry, I know how how you feel - talking on the phone is excruciating for me ... such a waste of time.
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zapatoes Grand Magnate Member Since Sep 2018 Location: Islandia Posts: 4,263 (SuperPoster!) 5 10.9k hugs given	Mar 22, 2020 at 09:51 PM #30 Wonder if a text back and forth therapy is possible, but I suppose video or face time, or zoom is better then can see each other’s facial expressions. For me text therapy is more appealing in a way, but then again it’s not since would be pretty impersonal.
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Christmas cookie Member Member Since Nov 2019 Location: Mars Posts: 122 4 58 hugs given	Mar 23, 2020 at 08:37 AM #31 I never tried video session and not sure I would feel comfortable. I would rather have a session with a phone call.
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LonesomeTonight Always in This Twilight Member Since Feb 2015 Location: US Posts: 20,744 (SuperPoster!) 9 74.9k hugs given	Mar 23, 2020 at 09:21 AM #32 Trying another video session with Dr. T this afternoon. Will report back.
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,180 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,761 hugs given	Mar 23, 2020 at 12:49 PM #33 I had mine today. It was incredibly uncomfortable and distracting. My cat was giving me an evil look the whole time. I’d rather not do therapy at all. __________________ Ridin' with Biden
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Omers Grand Magnate Member Since Nov 2010 Location: Crimson cattery Posts: 3,512 13 3,133 hugs given	Mar 23, 2020 at 06:44 PM #37 Thanks LT! I had the same issue but on Face Time. I may just tape a paper up in that corner!! __________________ There’s been many a crooked path that has landed me here Tired, broken and wearing rags Wild eyed with fear -Blackmoores Night
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