I am wondering if any of you have a sense of how long an email response should be? If a client emails a long and heartfelt story outlining questions and concerns, how does a therapist determine how long the response should be? Should the therapist match the length of the client’s email in his or her reply? Should the therapist’s email be longer?
When I send someone a lengthy email (and I can be longwinded) I tend to want an answer that “works”. Granted the email may not have anything to do with psychotherapy, cyberpsychology or any other mental health issue. It may be a complaint to a major department store about my dissatisfaction with a service or a product. But what I look for in a reply is an answer.
Many online therapists tend to think that a lengthy response is the best response. I like to think in terms of giving the best answer which may be long or short. A lengthy response does not necessarily indicate a substantial response. What say all the e-therapists out there? How about those of you that have sought email therapy? What is your preference or expectation?
DeeAnna
