Posted by GeneLady on August 11, 2008, at 17:48:46
In reply to Re: Responsibility of psych to spouse » GeneLady, posted by Dinah on August 11, 2008, at 11:12:10
I guess that what I'm looking for and in a sense requesting from the psych is a bit unusual. For that matter, I'm not particularly even complaining ... just sort've mulling things over in my mind. Not quite sure where to go or what to do.
Because of the mental status (including a certain amount of dementia caused by a neurological disease) my husband often believes erroneously that people are mean to him or the world is a bad place, etc. i.e., he doesn't have all the mental tools to deal with it (sort it out) effectively and never will have. He lashes out and is sometimes mean.
Obviously that is of considerable distress to me especially since he is/was very intelligent. In a sense, it is in his best interests that I am "treated" or at least engaged in some kind of meaningful/theraputic relationship with the psychologist in order to maintain my own sanity and maintain a life for both of us. I do believe it helps the psych to know what's going on in real life also. I feel that despite the standard opinions that the psychologist has a responsibility to me. Going to a separate therapist has been a miserable failure especially since most do not understand this rare disease.
The psychologist is in many ways a nice guy and I "love" him (in a sense) and has told me that I can come whenever I want to. I'm trying not to overdo it. The psych has pushed me to the point that we've gotten into yelling matches but I think that was intentional ... he was looking for my response for some reason (what is it?) In a way I feel slightly guilty as if I'm taking advantage of the psych but at the same time don't really think I am. I doubt he would let me.
These situations in which one person has some incapacity are so complex ... and so emotional.
> What do you mean by responsibility? The husband is the patient? Do you mean does the psychologist have a responsibility to make sure the spouse is not in danger? I think that if there is an immediate threat to another, the psychologist has to report that.
>
> In other ways, the psychologist's primary concern is the client and he has to act in the client's best interests.
poster:GeneLady
thread:845479
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080810/msgs/845569.html