If your therapist has informed you that she has a trip planned during the time you have your session, it can potentially have several impacts on her work with you. Here are some considerations:
Rescheduling or Cancellation: The most immediate impact is that the scheduled therapy session during her trip may need to be rescheduled or canceled. This can disrupt the regularity of your sessions, and it's essential to discuss alternative options for maintaining continuity in your therapeutic work.
Preparation and Focus: If your therapist is aware of the trip well in advance, she may take extra measures to ensure that the sessions leading up to her absence are focused on addressing important issues or setting goals that can be explored further upon her return.
Therapeutic Alliance: Depending on the duration of her absence, the therapeutic alliance (the relationship between you and your therapist) may be impacted. Consistency in sessions is typically valued in therapy, and her temporary absence might affect the sense of continuity and rapport.
Client Concerns: The news of her trip might trigger various feelings and concerns for you as the client. You might experience feelings of abandonment, worry about the temporary break in therapy, or even curiosity about her well-being. It's essential to discuss these feelings with her during your sessions.
Therapist's Availability: If she is unavailable for an extended period, she might provide you with information about who to contact in case of an emergency or crisis during her absence.
Therapeutic Planning: Your therapist might use the sessions leading up to her trip to plan the focus of your future sessions and how to address any specific issues that may arise during her absence.
Boundaries and Professionalism: This situation can serve as an opportunity for your therapist to model healthy boundaries and professionalism by informing you in advance and working collaboratively to address any potential challenges arising from her trip.
It's crucial to have an open and honest discussion with your therapist about how her absence might affect your therapeutic work. This conversation can help address any concerns or anxieties you may have and allow her to plan for maintaining continuity and addressing your needs during her absence. If needed, you can also discuss coping strategies to manage any potential difficulties that might arise during the time she is away. Remember, therapists are well-trained to manage these situations, and it is a normal part of the therapeutic process to navigate through such temporary breaks.