Comments on: Your Patient Rights in Therapy

By: numby

numby — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:21:37 +0000

I am a client in psychotherapy (psy d)and I have a situation. I dissociated during a session where (possibly my pre-conceived notion) was that T was trying to terminate me…was very anxious that day and it is something I do. I remember feeling like I was trying to convince her not to do it but I remember almost nothing. In last session I explained this and asked if she remembered what was said or does she have notes…never takes any during sessions. She said “does it really matter what was said?” I let it go because she had given me another appt. that day and called back when I needed support during the three week break. This is mainly a “one sided relationship” I understand that but on the other hand they are my records and I would like to see what was written…probably at the end of the day since she stays busy but what is the problem of me seeing what was written for a particular visit? This is the first time I have asked in 15 months with this psychologist. I don’t try to make it difficult and obviously I am the one trying to work out my issues…I don’t understand why it should be a problem. This is in the state of Michigan if any respondents know of any laws against it. I have no diagnosis officially…I suspect it would be only depression/anxiety/slight ocd/add. Please advise…would like to hear more any advise for or against my opinions.

Thanks in advance.

By: 20-something.

20-something. — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:06:45 +0000

Well that’s odd. It’s possible that you are misinterpreting though. For example, she may not refer you to a different therapist in her clinic, because they may all pretty much do the same thing, especially if this is a formal group therapy. If she’s a new therapist, she may simply not know any therapists who are experienced in what you have a problem with or know of any other group therapy programs in the area that are different. I would talk to her again, explain how you are interpreting things and ask for more clarification. Be specific. Get it in writing, as in via email, if necessary. If you want to do individual therapy, specify that. If that doesn’t get anywhere, simply go to the director of the clinic or program. If that doesn’t work, you can simply drop out of the program and find your own therapy, through Psychologytoday.com, the yellowpages, word of mouth, or a referall from another another doctor or health insurance company. Unless this is some sort of court-ordered thing, nothing is stopping you from leaving the program.

As far as her saying that you can’t hang out with others in the program, many groups actually specify that group members not hang out outside of group for a variety of reasons. For example, privacy since you might talk about group in a public place or just that it would change the dynamics of group, if some people hang out and other don’t. It’s probably not a personal thing. Feel free to ask for clarification on this policy if unclear. If you don’t like the response, like I said above, you are free to leave.

By: Kc

Kc — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 05:26:30 +0000

I’ve been attending group therapy for a year now & my therapist has been incredibly unprofessional on SEVERAL occasions. Among other things, I wanted another therapist but she told me that with what she put in my file any other therapist would most likely tell me to do the same thing she has & she would/did not refer me to any other counselor….even after I made a request. The latest issue I’m having is sh is telling other people in group NOT to associate/hang out with me (specifically using my name) because I’m a “bad influence”. She has done this more than once & I was wondering if that was legally ok to do?

By: Kristi

Kristi — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:13:29 +0000

Thanks for this post. It is absolutely critical that therapy patients/clients understand what their rights are BEFORE entering into the therapeutic relationship. Most consumers are ill-informed regarding their rights and appropriate/inappropriate behaviors on the part of the therapist. We definitely need better consumer education. I’ve seen similar Patient Bill of Rights lists in publications from the California Board of Psychology and Department of Consumer Affairs. Thanks for putting this out there.

If you’d like to learn more about what can happen when patient rights are abused, check out http://survivingtherapistabuse.wordpress.com.

By: skillsnotpills

skillsnotpills — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:57:06 +0000

Best post I have read at this site probably since I first started reading here.

No addendums or clarifications requested.

Sincerely,

Skillsnotpills

By: Linda Cooper

Linda Cooper — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:20:38 +0000

John I would like to add;
In the UK confidentiality will be broken if there is evidence of;
Child abuse – Self harm – Suicide – Harm to others
And now – Terrorism.

Many thanks
Linda

By: kfdonohue

kfdonohue — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:40:12 +0000

I meant to say, not the medications are not the ONLY treatments that can have adverse effects…

By: kfdonohue

kfdonohue — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:21:22 +0000

“You have a right to be informed of expected results of all therapies prescribed, including their possible adverse effects (e.g., medications).”

Mental health care providers should remember that medications are not the treatments that can have adverse effects. Some psychotherapies, including critical incident stress debriefing, recovered-memory techniques, and expressive-experiential therapies are associated with exacerbation of symptoms.

Please read this recent post on Psychotherapy Brown Bag (http://www.psychotherapybrownbag.com/psychotherapy_brown_bag_a/2009/04/making-things-worse-through-treatment-iatrogenic-psychological-interventions.html) or Lilienfeld’s (2007) article in Perspectives on Psychological Science for more information on this important topic.

By: headache symptoms

headache symptoms — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:53:53 +0000

Thanks for sharing the following right for patients who are under therapy since they are still humans and need to be respect.

Great Post.