The summertime warmth has set in and you are headed on a road trip with your friends and or family. You are so excited to leave the day-to-day behind you and simply relax.
You’ve been here before, you are so excited for this break and you are hoping to leave your anxiety behind. And yet you know that your anxiety tends to be a consistent, persistent, and that annoying side kick that creeps up most when you are faced with uncertainty. And road trips, vacations, and adventure often include a few with twists & turns or at a minimum other peoples opinions that you cannot predict or plan around. Cue anxiety just thinking about it, haha-kidding not kidding.
Before the pandemic & the world going virtual, most people would have bypassed therapy while they were on vacation. And as an anxiety therapist, I can certainly support my clients in taking a break from everything to unplug & be in the moment. That said, there is definitely an argument for keeping your therapy appointment intact while you are out & about because virtual therapy can be accessible in the majority of the places you may be traveling within Utah.
Many clients have asked about keeping or cancelling their anxiety therapy appointments as we roll into the summertime months, and here is what I typically consider or ask them to consider.
Things to Consider with Virtual Therapy on the Road:
Personal preference
Are you someone who loves to fully unplug from your life in order to re-charge. Does the mere thought of doing anything “normal” while on vacation make you feel cringy or annoyed just thinking about it? If so then feel free to let your provider know.
What are you addressing in therapy, and what is the degree of difficulty or severity?
Always consult with your provider about this as well, since anything that is highly distressing or poses a safety risk (depression, eating disorders,etc). This should be a conversation with your provider because some mental health challenges naturally have a level of minimization or denial as a part of the struggle. For example, if you want to do a backpacking trip but you are early on in eating disorder treatment, it may not be safe for you to be away from medical services and or an ability to replenish food sources. Because you’ve been managing your eating disorder for a long time, this may not be obvious to you but your team wants you to be safe, while also living your best life, but in that order:)
Length of your trip?
There could be a significant difference in your needs or stressors if you are gone for 2-3 days vs 2 weeks. Most people’s travels land somewhere in between which can mean that you likely miss one session, maybe more or maybe less.
How does your trip support or challenge your struggles?
If you struggle with family relationships, and you are going on a family vacation- you may feel like having a session midway into the trip could be really helpful. But if you are having anxiety at work and you will be enjoying a break away from work & said stressors, then it may be less relevant and unnecessary to do a session while you are enjoying your time away. If you are dealing with mood issues such as anxiety or body image, then the context of the trip would come into play.
In this situation it may be more nuanced than straight forward, such as what are the activities on the trip and how much may it challenge your mood? Or who is on the trip and how do they talk about food, body image, and mental health generally speaking? Will they be open to supporting you if your struggle or do you (and your provider) feel like you have enough tools on board to navigate the challenges even if the trip may be challenging-such as a week in your swim suit at Lake Powell.
If You Postpone Your Weekly Session, Here are Few Tips for a Successful Trip:
Talk to your therapist about a “cope ahead plan”
Identifying potential triggers or challenges that may show up on the trip and how you can best support yourself or seek the support you may need, including a review of therapy tools that would help.
Take inventory of your past trips
Where have you done well on this type of a trip? Is there a reason or reasons why you feel it went well? Where there tough aspects of the trip that you navigated well, and if so how did you do it? And are there ways where things went south and why? What didn’t work & why so that you can identify ways to modify skills from the past or outline different tools for this trip
Trust yourself & the process
A common phrase I say to my clients who are healing their relationship with food/body image is “not one week can make or break your progress”. This may not apply to clients in the early stages of eating disorder recovery, but those who are doing well are often most worried about making mistakes or having set backs. If your therapist and you both feel like it’s appropriate for you to miss one appointment, then trust yourself to navigate the situation well enough or to phone a friend or family member to help you along the way.
Progress over perfection
Going on vacation is a great way to add aspects of fun, laughter, play,adventure, and relaxation into your life. You typically get to connect, make new memories, and often return home feeling like you are now able to take on the challenges of the day-to-day.
If You Keep Your Appointment, Here a Few Things to Keep in Mind:
A good internet or cellular connection is key
It can make or break the fluidity of the session.
Do you have the physical space to have the privacy you need?
This one may seem obvious but in my experience people will often feel like they are fine doing therapy in the car en route (as the passenger) or in a hotel room with others in the background. Even if the only people within earshot know you well and you fully trust them, I still find that people tend to be less focused or not as free & open as they typically are in session with full privacy.
Do you have the support or safety to do the session?
Can you step away from the activities and be supported by others for taking time away or be in a location that has physical & emotional safety. Vacations are often predictable and having a hotel room or parked car (weather permitting) seem to be locations where people seem to open up most.
What’s your back-up plan if things need to pivot?
Make sure you & your provider discuss a back up plan for coping skills in case either of you need to cancel the appointment for any unforeseen reason such as illness, tech issues, and such. You don’t want to be thrown off by feeling like you were going to talk about the trip once you are on the trip. A tentative outline for support on the trip is always wise & helpful even if you build it out more once you are in motion.
Virtual Therapy Can Make Access & Consistency for Therapy More Do-Able.
There are many advantages to having support in more real time ways such as travel. And there are emotional benefits of unplugging and being present in the moment too. So check in with yourself to see what you think, talk to your providers to get their input, and then see how it goes. Unless you are out of cell phone range, most of the time you can change your mind and add in a session or cancel a session depending on your therapist's scheduled & attendance policies.
So soak up that sun in St. George, take in the grandeur of Zions National Park, or Moab for mountain biking or hiking, or hit up Park City for a relaxing mountain whilst enjoying city trip vibes. Go and live your best life, knowing your therapy session can come with you or be left behind depending on your needs.
If you feel you need more support with your anxiety, body image, eating disorder or inner critic, give us a call, you don’t have to do it alone. 801-699-6161.
Need Anxiety Treatment in Salt Lake City, Provo & Across Utah?
Travel plans don’t mean you have to hit pause on your healing. Whether you're headed to Lake Powell, Zion, Park City, or just stepping away from your usual routine, you don’t have to choose between vacation and your mental health. With virtual options available throughout the state, anxiety treatment and eating disorder treatment can travel with you. And if you need a break from sessions while away, we’ll help you plan ahead so you feel grounded, supported, and safe.
If you're navigating body image struggles, perfectionism, or anxiety, there’s a team of caring professionals—therapists, dietitians, and physicians—ready to help you stay connected to your values, even on the road. Therapy isn’t just for the hard moments; it’s also a way to protect the joyful ones. Here’s how to stay supported this summer:
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At Inside Wellness, we understand that healing doesn’t pause when you pack your bags. That’s why we offer more than just eating disorder treatment—we provide flexible, compassionate mental health support tailored to real life. Whether you're managing anxiety, navigating body image struggles, or just need the continuity of online therapy in Utah, we're here to walk with you. Explore more about our services, or dive into our blog or FAQ to see how therapy can travel with you this summer and beyond.