Posted by GeneLady on April 19, 2008, at 13:29:28
In reply to Re: Bad Student Counselor/Psychologist Wanna-be » GeneLady, posted by Quintal on April 19, 2008, at 11:13:57
I am so glad to hear your comments. One other person in the community recently mentioned that quite often people go into this field (and I say it with all due respect for the many who are in fact dedicated and competent) because they have serious mental disorders. Ok, it's one thing to have a mental disorder that's under control; it's something else to not have it under control and practice adverse behavior in a professional capacity.
In fact, "control" is I think a lot of what this is about! For some reason I'm a threat to her and I think she is trying to get back at me. I expect to have some control over the treatment my family member is receiving as he is not always able to think clearly. I suspect that she doesn't like that; she wants to be the queen bee and I've gotten in her way. It has been a very difficult situation living with a mentally ill and physically ill person plus my own physical needs and the last thing I need is to deal with someone who literally is making nasty faces at me. It is no accident; it is very deliberate. She also talks down (like to a child) to my adult family member which just infuriates me.
I've thought about writing to the psych in charge overall (he knows who I am) but ... this is ridiculous and crazy especially for me but I can't think of the words to use to describe what she's doing !!!! I mean, how dumb does it sound to say "your research administrator is making nasty faces at me" ??? That would make me look even more foolish! I'm wondering what would be the best words to use!!!
I guess that after all these years, if I was going to a therapist who treated me like dirt I would bring it up unless I was too uncomfortable and if I didn't feel better about it would make a beeline for someone who treated me with more respect and dignity. The last thing you or anyone needs is to be put down. Guess that's why Dr. Bob talks about being civil on these boards (big grin).
In my particular instance, I'm not the patient so I have less direct influence/interaction with the trainee. But, I'm still affected by her.
I hope we receive some more insights. This must be at least some degree of a hot button in mental/behavioral health.
Best to you.
> This is a sensitive point for me becasue it reminds me of my pdoc, Dr. W. He has the mentality of a nasty, viscious, little boy. For years I thought it was just me projecting my feelings onto him or something, but I laughed when my social worker recently said the same thing, and she works with him every day. She said "he comes accross as the arrogant prat, doesn't he?". At times I've felt like running out of the room becuase he makes me so uncomfortable. Like you, I want to complain but I'm afaraid it would seem petty, and it is I suppose. Recently I saw his collegue and he was so much different.
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> I don't know what to advise. I suupose there's not a lot you can do since she's careful to be very polite in what she actually says to you. Maybe she has some sort of personality disorder? Not all of them get weeded out by the selection process. I've definately encountered this sort of behaviour before in other members of the mental health profession. Another possibility is that she doesn't know she's doing these things - maybe she's not aware of the signals her body language is sending? Nevertheless it's very irritating behaviour - mine curls his lips up into a sneer most of the time I'm talking and it's very distracting. At the last appointment, as I was leaving he wafted his hand toward the door in a gesture of dismissal and disgust - a bit like how you'd throw away a bag of dog turd or something. Left me feeling like a peice of sh*t, and I think it was meant to. But yeah, he's *usually* very polite and professional in what he says to me, but on occasions things have slipped out which show his true feelings. Once he even bashed his fist on the desk like toddler having a temper tantrum. Even his collegue jumped and shot him a look. It's very upsetting because you start to wonder if you're doing something to deserve that kind of treatment, but having met his collegue I feel more secure in the fact that it's his problem, not mine. I know of one other patient who has had similar problems with him. Again, there's just not a lot you can do about that kind of thing unless they actually say or do something abusive, but I know the frustration. Anyway, best of luck whatever you decide.
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> Q
poster:GeneLady
thread:824190
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080405/msgs/824268.html