Posted by mikhail99 on January 23, 2003, at 8:48:42
In reply to Therapy frustrations, posted by laurarn on January 23, 2003, at 8:13:09
> I have been in therapy for one year now. I have to voice these frustrations I have and then I will discuss them with the therapist. This is a word of advice from a patient perspective.
>
> While in therapy yesterday, my therapist took a phone call. It was short and he took a number down and said he would call back. It was obvious something said in the call distracted him. In fact, he later he apologized and said he had lost track of what we were talking about. Being the perfect patient I reassured him that it was OK.
>
> But, later on I became saddened. First of all, I pay good prices for each hour. If an appointment obviously didn't go as planned due to interuptions and distraction, offer to reduce that day's fee. Or offer a free appointment. I prioritize setting aside money to pay for each appointment and it isn't an easy thing for me to do.
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> Another insight. I was scheduled an appointment in error, on a day when the pdoc was on vacation. I drove 45 minutes to get there. This is a private practice therapist. If it is obvious this is secretary error, offer a free appointment to make up for all of the lost time. If I miss an appointment with no notice I must pay for the time anyway. How about the same consideration for the patient?
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> Enough said. I tossed and turned over this all night. I just needed to vent my feelings. Off to work now.Laurarn~I think you're perfectly justified in feeling the way you do. Your therapist needs to get a pager OR a good voice mail system so his time with you (and other clients) is uninterrupted. Of course, no one is perfect and if a therapist is distracted by stuff that's going on in his mind, that can't be helped. But he should be doing his best to remove outside interruptions. It's very unfair to you. As for the appointment scheduled for when he wasn't even there, that's completely outrageous. I had something similar happen to me, I showed up for an appointment the day after mine got back from vacation and I was early. One of his associates came out and told me he wasn't back yet and he sounded so positive, I left. I don't drive as far as you do but it's about a half hour drive. I think you have some legitimate concerns to bring up with your therapist and I'm not sure the free appointment suggestion will go over well but perhaps he can offer some kind of reparation that will satisfy you both.
Stick to your guns!
Mik
poster:mikhail99
thread:2274
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20021230/msgs/2275.html