I am a psychologist with ptsd

[Ivewi]

What does provisional therapist mean?

I just don't know what you mean by spaghetti like symptom

Wondering the same. It is rare for me to come across new terms.

 

[Moza]

I have a close friend from this site who is also a rape victim. She has had much more therapy than me. Her understanding and ways of helping me is so appreciated. However, if she gets triggered or disassociates based on our conversations, it is fine. As a professional, it would not be okay, even if you are helping. If a hand surgeon has a bad hand injury she can empathize with her patient that needs hand surgery. Should she operate? Well... is her hand completely healed and does it still function correctly?

 

[Donaku]

If you can't stay present for sexual abuse victims, don't take them on as clients.

It's immoral to take their money kno...

I am a provisional psychologist which means that I am on placement. Clients do not pay to see me, it is all pro-bono. Can I just say that I do not willingly take on clients with a trauma history. It has however come up once or twice. For the record, I dissociated when a client was discussing a suicide attempt. Not trauma. I don't appreciate being attacked.

 

[Docipo]

It's not uncommon for mental health professionals to have their own mental health issues. It seems to make for a more empa...

Thank you for your response. Yes I am currently being supervised, however I do not want to disclose my personal history to my supervisor. I have also just begun (today) trauma processing with my psychologist.

 

[Docipo]

Shrinks usually have a shrink regularly to deal with the rigors of mental health client care? You seeing anyone?

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Yes I have a psychologist who I have been seeing for 8 years. Just today we began trauma processing as I recognized the need for me to remain present in session.

Then choose a different area to work in?

I think having been through trauma yourself can make you a better match for so...

I have spent 8 years of my life studying to become a psychologist and am extremely passionate about it. I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. However I am able to successfully help others who are dealing with issues such as depression/anxiety/OCD/bipolar etc. it is just the sexual trauma I have difficulty with. It is difficult to screen everyone that comes through and sometimes I get caught off guard. I have a supervisor and a psychologist.

What does provisional therapist mean?

A provisional psychologist is someone who is completing their masters or doctorate in psychology. A psychologist in training. They are still at uni and complete placement. They see clients however the student is not paid and the client does not pay. The client attends counseling with the knowledge that they are in training.

 

[Umolo]

I am a provisional psychologist which means that I am on placement. Clients do not pay to see me, it is all pro-...

I wasn't attacking you, not in the least.

I think that if you are going to be so defensive when someone gives you constructive criticism, then you're nowhere near ready to be a psychologist who takes on clients.

It doesn't matter if you aren't getting paid. You still have a moral, ethical, and legal responsibility to your clients. It could literally be deadly for you to dissociate when a client is in crisis! Would you be able to live with yourself if you dissociated in session where a client was in crisis and they later want on to harm or kill themselves? It's honestly a bit disturbing that you want to be a psychologist but you show little to no awareness of how serious your dissociation problem could be.

No, I am not attacking you, not in the least. This is a very serious matter and not something that should be taken lightly.

 

[Eduza]

I guess you could ask yourself, would you want yourself as a psychologist to heal from your rape? If your therapist disassociated during your session, how would you feel? I think that maybe you do need to tell your supervisor about your ptsd? I think that is an ethical necessity.

 

[Docipo]

I wasn't attacking you, not in the least.

I think that if you are going to be so defensive when someone gives you cons...

I hear what you are saying, however as I have mentioned I have a supervisor who is aware of the situation and a psychologist who I have been seeing for 8 years, and today we have begun trauma processing. I am not sure of what more I could be doing? I do not want to dissociate in session and do my best to remain grounded and focused on the client. I am still learning. I have said straight out that I do not have the capacity to see clients with complex trauma due to my own history. And yes, I do think about that a lot. Which is why I posted on here my concerns of feeling like a failure. I'm trying to find a way through the problem. All I was looking for was support.

 

[Winikug]

I am a provisional psychologist which means that I am on placement. Clients do not pay to see me, it is all pro-...

And actually, the fact that you dissociated when a client was talking about a suicide attempt makes it even worse!

As someone who is currently on/off suicidal, this could push me over the edge, taking the time to finally come out of the SI closet only to have my shrink dissociate? It's hard enough to talk about these things, but then having to feel the burden of knowing my suicide attempt upsets a virtual stranger to the point where they just check out of session? Not good.

I'm sorry you don't understand just how bad SI can be. I'm sorry you're not taking this as seriously as you should. I urge you to really try and understand how serious this problem is without taking it as a personal attack. It's...not...personal.

 

[Docipo]

I guess you could ask yourself, would you want yourself as a psychologist to heal from your rape? If your therapist dis...

I have considered telling my supervisor. I did tell my last one. It is a horrible thing to have to admit to someone who you barely know. I think it is something I need to consider though, thank you x

 

[Winikug]

I hear what you are saying, however as I have mentioned I have a supervisor who is aware of the situation and a psychol...

Support comes in many flavors. I stand by my original comments as it is indeed wrong on many levels to be taking on clients and then dissociating in session. IMHO you should take a step back from your career until you get a better hold on the dissociation. It's wrong, very wrong, to know you have this problem and to use client after client as Guinea pigs as you practice not dissociating.

 

[Eduza]

I think people are trying to support you, by helping you realize the seriousness of your post. Yes. You can make a great therapist some day, but it doesn't seem like the best timing for it right now. Your education won't go to waste. Work hard to heal yourself first.