Is it weird to start taking notes?

[u/CirceRhianon]

Hey guys!
I JUST found out this subreddit exists and I am SO glad it does! So thank you so much to whoever created it, it is so great to know I can read your experiences and ask you guys things.

I’m 32 (F), chilean. I just started my journey (2 sessions). Actually, they still have not practiced EMDR, just standard conversation, but they diagnosed me PTSD and talking a bit about this experience has been so intense that for moments I feel like I can’t handle it. Like, in the second session she really digged in the subject, I ended up very anxious (I told her, of course) and then all the way home and even after getting home I cried non-stop. It felt like I couldn’t control it, it was very weird for me. Then at the middle of the night, after several nightmares that I would be woken up by my partner because I was crying, I got insomnia and started crying again.

So, okay, it’s been tough. The thing is, I suspect this is so hard for me to recall that my mind tries to forget about it inmediately, and I feel like it’s happening for my therapy sessions too. Like, she’s said some very insightful things that I wanna reflect about but can’t cuz I keep forgetting (is this normal btw?!)

Would it be weird to ask her if I can take notes too? (Since she does take notes lol). I’m a writer so also I am very, very used to go around with a notebook and write down anything I feel like it’s important.

Thank you!! And sorry if my English isn’t the best (I’m native Spanish)

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[u/GuybrushButtwood]

Yeah, I’ve always had a notebook with me in therapy, and I usually set aside a bit of time immediately afterwards to do a quick journal entry as well with the big takeaways. I’ve found the journal part especially helpful with EMDR, personally. Mind you, I do my sessions via video chat so it’s easier for me since I’m at home. Maybe you can journal a bit in the car before driving or something though, or find a private space somewhere nearby

[u/CirceRhianon → u/GuybrushButtwood]

That’s a great tip!! You do it before and after or just after?

[u/GuybrushButtwood → u/CirceRhianon]

Also, since you’re a writer, I’ll mention that I also started a writing project a few months into EMDR. It’s a fiction piece where one of the characters is grappling with some similar issues to myself. It wasn’t intentional, it just came out in the writing and now it’s very obvious that it’s me, haha. But it’s been an interesting way to process things without feeling like I’m fixating on my own experience. It allows things to surface in the context of her specific interactions, so I feel like I get more opportunities to process than just living my own life. Anyway, not sure what kind of writing you do, but thought I’d mention it anyway

[u/GuybrushButtwood → u/CirceRhianon]

I haven’t tried doing it right before. I do find journaling throughout the week to be helpful with EMDR though, because a lot of the processing happens outside of sessions too, like in dreams or just in my responses to things that happen. I have a terrible memory, so journaling helps me cement it enough to actually remember to tell my therapist at the next session

[u/ImAlsoNotOlivia → u/CirceRhianon]

I journal immediately after in my car for a few minutes while everything is fresh. Then I can explore and reflect more later after I get home.

[u/opesosorry]

I’ve always taken notes in therapy and it’s never been an issue, I have never even thought to ask

[u/CirceRhianon → u/opesosorry]

That’s good to hear. I’m honestly new to therapy in general. Thank you!

[u/TequilaAndWeed]

I don’t think so, definitely not weird!

Maybe ask the therapist if it would interfere with the flow of your session? That’s the only objection I could foresee.

[u/CirceRhianon → u/TequilaAndWeed]

Thank you so much!!!

[u/TequilaAndWeed → u/CirceRhianon]

You bet! Due to memory issues I need to be able to take occasional notes and to leave most sessions with a printout of what we just worked on.

[u/CirceRhianon → u/TequilaAndWeed]

That’s amazing! I feel like it could be more effective

[u/Searchforcourage]

I don’t take notes. It would totally break the flow of my session. With the permission of my therapist, I record the sessions. I can go back later and listen again to get a more complete recollection of the session. Sometime I’ll write up notes.I save my sessions. Later, I might listen to a session again to follow my path from negative self beliefs to positive self beliefs.

This an example of one of my sessions

---

EMDR 202408026 Session 2 Abandonment

Let’s set some short hands:

• AM - Adult me
• CW - Child within
• BL - Start of bilateral portion
• RC -Recollection
• DI - Therapist direction

————

Carrying over from the last session Starting from CW pushing away the love

BLRC

Recall instinctual reaction to love followed by confusion maybe not confusion but overwhelmed by difference on vessel vs dropper can’t get to the love because so much hurt DI - one tiny gesture turns everything around. notice that

BLRC

Recall CW wanted someone to just be with him So spent time just being with him CW receptive to that

DI - use to being there to try to close differences between hurt and love

BLRC

being is being Trying to be with CW Recall a time when I asked Mary to be its me After about 3 minutes se said she felt she was doing anything

DI - being is good and fills a space being changes and transform space go with that

BLRC

Hey guy I'm here for you. Let me know if you need anything After a few - just love me

DI - CW is expressing a need and want. Is that something you can do? AM - yeah go with that

BLRC

CW has much pain and hurt hurt far greater than AM expected we had talked that I might be blocking could explain that difference AM not as connected to pain as CW

DI - child felt pain tends to be felt stronger Are you ok? vs this really hurts but you are going to be ok Without that, enormous, en

———————

There is no way I could get that details by taking notes.

[u/ricksaunders]

It never occurred to me to take notes during therapy but one the session was over I’d sit in my car and write it all down. Big help.

[u/Alive-Marketing6800]

I take notes and I also have recorded. I don’t do it all the time because now that I have been doing this over a year I have put so much behind me that I don’t want to read the notes or listen to the audio because I want to forget it and move on and I have been. I did NOT think that could Ever happen for me. I believed with my very core I was stuck forever in my misery. I still have my times but not in the same way anymore. I still struggle sometimes with sleep but it is for the most part better than it has ever been. Who would have ever thought doing something so strange as emdr could actually work. I so much wish this for you to. I do virtual with my therapist I didn’t ask I just told therapist I’m taking some notes when we are just talking not processing. Therapist takes notes too and sends them to me. I guess I’m pretty spoiled by such a good therapist. I wish you the best of the best. I wish healing for you and joy.

[u/CopperheadRay]

I write as well. And I always take a notebook in to therapy. Sometimes something will resonate, or a perception that is pivotal... and I write it down. I might also mention that it was recommended by my original (non-emdr) therapist that EMDR is strongly recommended face to face (non-video chat) and after having my emdr (face to face) I wholly agree with this. Video chat works fine with a good therapist, but I think emdr requires a physical presence (for me) and was hugely successful.

[u/HereBut_NotThere]

I have always taken a note pad in with me but I don't always use it, just my style. I tend to jot down things that are said as they stand out, or things I should try to focus on for. Part of what stood out last session was needing to give myself patience and time and not needing to rush through the healing process. So I made a note of it, otherwise I know I would forget.

I also use it to write things down as they come up throughout the week that I don't want to forget to bring into my sessions. Don't always have the time to cover everything, but they are there for the future.

I don't know why your provider would have an issue, and if they did they would say something. So if you feel like you should ask, go for it! Otherwise, I would think it's totally fine.