Smartphones and Phone Sessions
Smartphones are designed to help us look up information, communicate quickly, and multi-task, and those of us with smartphones often do this most of the day. It can be hard during a phone session to stop using our smartphones for other things.
The two of us have been able to be honest and laugh with each other about using our smartphones while doing phone sessions with each other. We first talked about it because it was sometimes clear that the other person was texting while being counselor. Their directions were disconnected and less useful.
We have also discussed the topic with other Co-Counselors and know that many of us struggle here. People sometimes look up the current news, text with friends, respond to work e-mails, and so on, while listening.
Capitalism makes all of us scared and pushes us to get more and more done each moment, each day. We have noticed that we are less tempted to multi-task while counseling when we have gotten good discharge and feel less scared or “bored.”
We have also tried using a land phone, or Skype or another video call service so the other person can see our expressions, see that we are present. Asking each other before we counsel not to use our smartphones has been a good reminder and has had us laughing about it before the session.
We would love to hear how you have struggled here and what has worked for you.
Urbana, Illinois, USA
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
Reprinted from the e-mail discussion list for RC Community members
(Present Time 193, October 2018)