Problems with therapy

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hi

I was just wondering if anyone has had the same problems as me with counciling/therapy.  I was referd because of anxiety problems. I was really geared up for  the first appointment which went quite well. It took the whole hour to explain the problems I had.  When I left I was really positive and was looking forward to the next session because It went so well. When I went to the next one I had a different person and she didnt have a clue about my situation. No notes were given to her so I had to do it all over again, which again took the whole hour. Session 3 was the same, another  person and no notes.

1 like, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • Posted

    that does not sound very good having separate counselling sessions with 3 different counsellors. There's no continuity there and I don't blame you for any frustration with it.

  • Posted

    That is not any good , i too have anxiety problems and can shake via to going into the room , you need to see the same person each time as otherwise you are spending the entire appointment explaining your mental health situation , like when i see a psychiatrist - i see the same one , is there someone you can explain your concerns with - i am under the local NHS healthcare , CMHT so any problems then i let them know , can you do that because anyone who has genuine understanding in mental health illness should be aware of how hard it is for you seeing different people , you cannot put your trust into different people , a person needs a comfortable relationship with their therapist to be able to feel they can open up , i did CBT 2 years ago , it wasn't for me as i have trouble verbally expressing myself as well as anxiety setting in but it wasn't the therapist fault - she was okay , the gentleman i see at my local Cmht is actually trained in CBT but he is also the team leader and over the 12 months of seeing him he has been able to coax out of me my thoughts , feelings , also i did Art Therapy over 6 sessions - that was better suited to my needs , please try and speak to someone with your concerns - if like me you cannot speak out then a letter maybe ? you don't need that unsettling situation .

     

  • Posted

    I'd agree,ita not usual to have different therapists, it should always be the same one for the length of therapy. Just ask next time why your seeing different ones and that you'd prefer to have consistency, there shouldn't be a problem.

    • Posted

      Ive given up going. Cant see the point. Its getting me down.
    • Posted

      Well there's no point in giving up, your only denying yourself treatment which has potential to work. It won't punish them by you not going. You have to be honest with them with everything and that includes if treatment isnt going how you like, then it gives them a chance to fix it. Thats a shame if you have taken yourself out of it, the waiting lists to get back in will probably be very long

    • Posted

      I just went back and read all the posts. I was so incensed at their treatment of you, I saw red and replied right away. I see that you have stopped going there. GOOD FOR YOU. Now, just because you didn't like a pizza at one shop, surely you don't stop looking for a better pizza, If you are like most people, then you get all your pizzas there.

      Well, I would like you to try again, following the idea of trying for ONE at the place you were, or if not happy with that idea, look elsewhere. I was not every persons cup of tea, but others loved the way I worked. The next one you try may not be your cup of tea, but trust me the very finest one for you is out there. Please don't punish yourself by not find your "angel"...those people you went to don't care if you go there or anywhere.....I CARE, WE CARE!!!!

      So, get going darlin', the right person is out there...waiting for you. Be sure to let us know how the search goes, and why not start today.wink

  • Posted

    rRichard, Maria and jmcg are all right, of course. This is a ridiculous situation - I've never heard of anything like this!!

    Wait till Cia sees this - she'll advise you, Twpy.

    Lots of love from Tess          xxxxxxx

    • Posted

      Totally agree - you need to put your trust into one person - that way you can feel more positive in attending the appointments as you explore the inner thoughts , feelings - get that relationship you need between the client and therapist , i , too have never seen a situation like this - i guess different healthcare trusts differ from county to county hence why so many people with mental health illness are still missing out on vital care x
    • Posted

      Sorry - I should have made that clearer.

      Cia is a member of this forum and was a counsellor for many years. She always replies to posts like yours but as she's in the US it may be night-time and she hasn't seen your post yet. But she will!!

      You could always PM her.     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  cheesygrin

  • Posted

    During or after your session you can take notes . one therapist I had would take notes and read them to me. It was required for her to write a summary to get paid. But I didn't get a copy

  • Posted

    This is ridiculous! In my years as a counselor, I would never think of such a thing. The point of therapy is to first establish a trusting relationship. Honey, you are wasting your time and money.It sounds like a meat market. 

    I would ask for the first one as your person. If that is not possible for any reason, ask if there is anyone with a free enough schedule that they can see you regularly. If not, get the heck out of there. If you do get a regular one and they don't meet what you need...change them...or get the heck out of there. You are worth much more than this unprofessional conduct.

    My counselor when I first was hit with anxiey, was licensed with social services, and was all I could hope for....kind, attentive, forgot nothing, had a sense of humor, always greeted me at the door by name and respected me. That's what you deserve to expect.

    What kind of a place is this, who pays, who referred you there, what country are you in?   Looking forward to hearing from you, Twpy.

    • Posted

      Hi

      Thanks for replying. Im in the UK. Its just a Mental Health unit and was refered by my GP on the NHS.  Dont think I want to go again, have no belief in the system.

      x

    • Posted

      The system doesn't consist of a few individuals,you didn't even tell them you had an issue with what was happening. You need to try harder than that I'm afraid, if you want to disconnect from the system,what help do you imagine you'll get? Absolutely none is the answer. The NHS won't come knocking to see what help you want. Dust yourself off, stop feeling sorry for yourself be honest with those who are trying to help and take some control. We all have to do it

    • Posted

      I never said I was "feeling sorry for myself" ! I  work full time and pay my taxes etc....  Just expected some consistency.

    • Posted

      You absolutely have a right to expect consistency. In the US, things are different. I have asked Tess who lives there to address this with you if she has an answer. Sorry i couldn't be more help. I do think you should go back and ask for what you want before ditching it altogether. Somettime the squeeky wheel gets the grease. There are times I heve gotten what I needed just by not going away until I get it.smile

      Stay with us, Twpy, everyone here is trying to help.

    • Posted

      My only answer is that if this is therapy on the NHS it could be daft like this, and if it's paid for by you, you should see the same therapist each time.

      If this is the NHS at their miserable best, you have a legitimate right to make a formal complaint to the Health Authority concerned. I would also get your doctor to write a letter of support and enclose it with your original complaint. Keep copies of everything.

      If this is private counselling, then you are entitled to your money back.

    • Posted

      That's a bit over the top, jmcg. I haven't seen a single post where Twpy mentions feeling sorry for herself - discouraged, yes, and rightly so. That's why she came here - to ask for assistance and support.

    • Posted

      OK, sorry - missed the post which made it clear thhis was the NHS.

      You must go back, honey, and insist on seeing the first therapist, the  one you felt comfortable with.

      If that isn't possible, ask if yet a fourth can see you exclusively and regularly. If they promise that this possible, try it. If the therappist is your dream therapist - problem solved. If not, don't bother asking for another - this is where you make the complaint to the Health Trust. Please let us know what happens xxxx love Tess

    • Posted

      I have to agree with that, Tess. I just re read that posting...totally missed that. It is indeed out of order. We don't want to say anything that will discourage someone from staying with us. Thanks for catching that.

    • Posted

      I agree , when i have had any problems with a CBT therapist couple of years ago my local NHS Customer Services asked if i would like to make  complaint ( i left bad feedback ) - i did , went through it with help of local Advocacy service via email , even my GP was in on it as he wasn't happy with the Therapist , even the guy in charge of the programme wasn't happy with what the therapist did , it was not a easy decision for me to make .

    • Posted

      I've known GPs and even other therapists to not speak well of another therapist, and yet they still to continue to treat people in need of desperate help. The nhs really does trouble me at times

    • Posted

      What happened was that she ceased the sessions - on the 4th session ( should have had 8 sessions ) as i was struggling to verbally express myself , that was fine , she was okay but the reason why i complained was the contents of the letter she sent my GP - was something in it that was untrue , that was why i complained , my GP told me she needed to make a excuse to cease CBT therapy , they all said the way the letter was badly written ,  it was recalled , a new rewritten , my local NHS is good but i still give good feedback and bad feedback when necessary .

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