[Ad Intra]

I feel like **** (emotionally) and would rather sleep then go.

Usually I go anyway and end up telling her I didn't want to come and we talk about why and it ends up being a good session. I didn't want to go today, and that would have ended up happening this time too, if she hadn't texted me yesterday to cancel because she's sick.

I'm sorry you're feeling that way.

When I felt like that, I knew it was probably important that I go. So...I went. Sometimes, I gave fair warning that I was ornery. Her response, "I can deal with it."

Sorry your not feeling up to it.

[Argonautomobile]

I'd go anyway if it were me...Not wanting to do a thing is a sure sign I need to force myself to do it anyway.

[rainbow8]

I wish I for once in my life felt like I wanted to skip a session. I've never wanted to in all of my many years of therapy, except when I had the flu! I wonder if I'm unique.

However, if I did want to skip a session, for no good reason, I would tell my T that I felt that way. There probably would be a reason, and that reason would be important to discuss in my next session.

[Pennster]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

I wish I for once in my life felt like I wanted to skip a session. I've never wanted to in all of my many years of therapy, except when I had the flu! I wonder if I'm unique.

However, if I did want to skip a session, for no good reason, I would tell my T that I felt that way. There probably would be a reason, and that reason would be important to discuss in my next session.

I feel the same, rainbow! I have never wanted to skip a session either, and find it really difficult when either one of us has to cancel. If I'm sick we usually just switch to skype.

I would also tell my therapist if I wanted to cancel- I generally think it's good to tell him about unsettling thoughts.

I'm sorry you are feeling crappy. Does it ever help to cancel? I could imagine that sleep might be sometimes helpful as well, though it would be my inclination to go.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I always force myself to go if I want to skip session. One reason is because I have to give her 24hr notice for canceling otherwise I get billed anyways.

[stopdog]

I cancel and don't go. I have never regretted not going. I have found, for me, going when I do not want to do so, is a bad plan.

[AnxiousGirl]

Out of the year I've been seeing my T it's happened maybe 4 times.

1st time - I didn't want to go but ended up going anyways, didn't even tell T how I was feeling about the session

2nd - 3rd time - I just cancelled and made the appointment a week after. I did tell T that I did not want to go because I was having a rough week, and T was fine with it

4th time - I emailed my T 2 days before the session saying how I had the urge to cancel but wasn't sure what to do, T ended up convincing me it would be best to go

I have a session next week I dont want to go to but it's probably going to be the most important one.

Goodluck with yours!

[Cinnamon_Stick]

I have been feeling this way lately. Whenever I want to skip a session is when I really need to go and it ends up being a very good thing that I went. I see it as push to go to my session.

[Out There]

I have cancelled and had more space between sessions when I have needed the space. And my T has respected that , which is important for me.We did also talk about it which was very productive.

[RedSun]

If I don't want to go, which is very rare, I email T. Because once I did that and she said okay, of course, but it would be good if you did come and we talk about it etc, so I went and I really benefitted.

So, I tried that again recently as I was feeling really bad, and T said okay, see you next time then. I thought ffs T! You're supposed to say, Red, please come if you can, I hope you're okay, I'd like to see you.....jeez.

[nottrustin]

It has happened a couple of times over the years where I was endorsing fried. So I emailed her telling her I wanted to cancel. She knows I never cancel she asked why so I told her. She responded she understood and was okay with me canceling but to consider coming in and we would discuss less intense stuff. In one of those sessions we had a big break through. She started talking about a subject and initially I went with it. After a few minutes I told her I really didn't want to discuss it then. She was very supportive and chanced the subject. She noted that was the first time I spoke up about such s thing and thanked me. ..I have done it a few times since.

Another time I didn't want to go wad because I was angry about simmering she had said in an email. I went anyway and the session was pretty tense. At the end I brought up the comment. While I hasn't misinterpreted what she said she explained why. ..I didn't like it but it made perfect sense. I realized I need her to challenge my thinking sometimes. Also realized it was okay to be upset with her and we would be okay.

[Chummy]

I go anyway. Even though I would rather stay home and I don't want to see T, there's also a part of me that think I should go because otherwise I'll regret it. Not going to a session means one time less to see her. The few sessions I didn't go were because my anxiety was too strong.

[Hopelesspoppy]

Originally Posted by Cinnamon_Stick

I have been feeling this way lately. Whenever I want to skip a session is when I really need to go and it ends up being a very good thing that I went. I see it as push to go to my session.

I am the the one who claims to have misunderstood the timing; and then my phone happened to be on mute. Only happened once or twice in over a decade, but I figure that if my resistance was that strong it was for the better. He probably returned phone calls or did paperwork or whatever.....

Personally, I'm the kind of person who, if I feel like a session is going to be nonproductive or a burden, I cancel the session. I've never regretted that decision. I usually go to the next session more motivated and focused. If I get overwhelmed with therapy, I find that cancelling for one, two or even several months works for me. My therapist has also recognized that this plan of action is productive for me. I think she was skeptical at first and encouraged me to come even when feeling like I didn't want to be there (the old, "that's when you most need to be here!"). But over time, she's really begun to understand that isn't the case for me. Sometimes, for me, I just need to sit with the feelings alone, and then return to work on them at a later date.

If I decide I don't want or need a session, I cancel and understand I need to follow the cancellation policy or get charged if I don't. I rarely cancelled though as I almost always found my sessions useful, even when I didn't feel like going in the first place. I was more apt to cancel toward the end of my therapy when I truly reached a place where I began to see I didn't really "need" to go anymore.

[seoultous]

I rarely want to cancel. My therapist has told me its fine by her if I cancel even without a 24 hour notice. She trusts me enough to know that if I cancel it's because I am doing ok.

I have been seeing her for 7 years and have only cancelled three times, once because I was sick, another time I was pissed off at her and the other because my car broke down.

Often I have gone into the session without a clear idea of what to talk about but I always manage to fill up the time. I almost always feel good about my decision to go even if I didn't feel like going in the first place.

[luvnola]

If I want to cancel, I cancel as long as I'm still able to do so without being charged. If it's within the 24 hour no cancellation policy time, then I go but usually don't find it productive.