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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Austen on December 28, 2004, at 14:23:52
Well, it's Christmas time and my therapist has gone on vacation. She gave me plenty of advance notice, but she wouldn't tell me where she was going. So, I've spent the past few days wondering if you was in Thailand and got washed away in the recent tsunami that hit that area. She left me the name and phone number of a colleague that I could contact in case of an ememrgency. This morning I finally called and was assured that my therapist had not gone on vacation in the tsunami zone. I feel very relieved about that and I understand ones need for privacy, but it seems like if would have been a lot easier and caused me a lot less anxiety if she had simply told me where she was going. Your thoughts?
Posted by thewrite1 on December 28, 2004, at 15:21:19
In reply to Therapist on Vacation, posted by Austen on December 28, 2004, at 14:23:52
My T is usually pretty good about telling me the general area where she may be going on vacation. I wouldn't be offended if she didn't. She's entitled to her privacy. I don't mean to offend you, but it strikes me as odd that you would automatically think "maybe she went to Asia." Being that it's the holiday season, she most likely went to visit family and unless she's from Asia...
I only say that because I have a friend that lives in Thailand and I haven't gotten bent out of shape about it. I've called and left messages and I hope she will contact me soon. That's all I have.
Posted by Augustina on December 28, 2004, at 15:23:30
In reply to Therapist on Vacation, posted by Austen on December 28, 2004, at 14:23:52
Hi Austen,
my therapist went on vacation too but he told me where he was going (though I didn't ask him). I know I would have wondered where he was off to if he had not told me voluntarily though.
I agree that it would have been a lot "easier" and less anxiety-inducing if your T simply told you her travel destination but I'm wondering if you asked her about it and how she responded if you did? I would not have asked my T mainly b/c I would be afraid that he would say it was none of my business (in a nice way of course), and then I'd really feel hurt!
Maybe this is something you can talk to your T about when she returns from vacation.
Posted by Dinah on December 28, 2004, at 16:00:13
In reply to Therapist on Vacation, posted by Austen on December 28, 2004, at 14:23:52
Hi, and welcome to Babble.
Sounds like something I'd worry about, if only because I was afraid if I didn't worry it would come true.
I'm glad you were able to check to make sure she wasn't in tsunami zone.
I never ask my therapist where he's going except the one time we had scheduled our vacations for the same weekend and my family was going to a locally popular destination. I just asked if he was going there so I wouldn't have to worry about running into him. But he nearly always volunteers the information.
It's one of those things I don't think I'd ask, but I'm really happy when he discloses as if it's no big deal.
Posted by Fallen4MyT on December 28, 2004, at 19:15:34
In reply to Therapist on Vacation, posted by Austen on December 28, 2004, at 14:23:52
The odds of your T being in THAT area are rare so I doubt he/she was but why the person didn't just tell you NO NOT THERE RELAX but I cannot tell you is beyond me....to me I would call back over and over till they fess up...but...I can be a persistent loon
Posted by mair on December 28, 2004, at 19:38:20
In reply to Re: Therapist on Vacation, posted by Fallen4MyT on December 28, 2004, at 19:15:34
I generally ask my T where she's going - not in a prying way so much as a conversational way. She doesn't seem to mind, and always answers openly enough.
I can see me being worried if I had any reason to think she might venture as far as Thailand. I don't think we're at our rational best when it comes to thinking about our Ts.
Mair
Posted by Austen on December 29, 2004, at 11:42:29
In reply to Re: Therapist on Vacation » Austen, posted by thewrite1 on December 28, 2004, at 15:21:19
Thanks for all your inputs and kind words. Yes she is from Thailand and despite that many people travel there (Asian and non-Asian)during the holidays and throughout the entire year. We had discussed where she was going. She usually goes to California and visits her son over the holidays, but this time she was going someplace else. She opted not to tell me and of course she is entitled to her privacy, so I let it go. I was pleased to hear that she was in the states.
Posted by thewrite1 on December 29, 2004, at 13:12:35
In reply to Re: Therapist on Vacation, posted by Austen on December 29, 2004, at 11:42:29
That's a completely different situation, that she's from Thailand. I'm glad she didn't go there. I hope I didn't sound judgemental. I am a little hyper-sensitive just because I haven't heard from my friend that does live there.
I once called to check on my T because she didn't get to me in a reasonable enough time for me. I was worried that something happened to her so I called the main office and asked if she was in. They told me she was in a meeting and that was enough for me to know she was okay. I did tell her about it next session.
Posted by Shortelise on December 30, 2004, at 13:55:21
In reply to Re: Therapist on Vacation » Austen, posted by thewrite1 on December 29, 2004, at 13:12:35
Lots of people here go to Asia over Christmas. Especially to Puket. It's a favoured destination. Warm. Friendly. And only about what, 16 hours away by air?
:-)
ShortE
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