Help! Therapist Terminated Me For Dissociation/flashback In Session

[Riptide]

I was seeing a therapist for several months, 2-3 times a week. Last week, I dissociated badly and had a flashback. I was terrified of the therapist who I believed was going to hurt me. I was so scared and ran out of the office.

The next night, the therapist called me and terminated. Terminated over the phone! Refuses to see me, even though I had never been violent, aggressive, hostile or threatening.

The therapist claimed to have experience in trauma, but seemed clueless what to do. She wanted to move faster than I was ready and triggered me.

I feel so bad like I did something terrible.

Has this ever happened to anyone?

The therapist said that "disorders have spectrums and I was too far on the spectrum."

I am devestated by the way it was handled.

 

[Lucycat]

@Riptide that is a dreadful way to treat a client. I understand your devastation - but on the other side of things, this is clearly not the right therapist for you!

Therapist clearly is way out of his/her depth. That is not a professional way to deal with things at all. At the least there should have been a further meeting to discuss options and alternatives if this person cannot help you.

I am sorry you now have the job of finding a new therapist. Good luck with that. I would suggest it is the old therapist that has a problem, not you, so maybe it is something to discuss with a potential new T.

I feel so bad like I did something terrible.

Not at all. Managing dissociation and flashbacks are such a big part of trauma therapy, that I would expect anybody who claimed to have experience in trauma to be able to work with it.

 

[digger]

That seems a really unprofessional way to behave. Is the therapist part of bigger organisation. I would be putting in a complaint about the way they have handled this I think.

What was your opinion of them and how they worked up to this point? Was there any indication before this incident that suggested they felt out of their depth?

 

[Meadowsweet]

It sounds like your therapist is trying to cover up for not being as experienced as they claimed to be.

I have had therapy terminated because my therapist was not experienced with multiple trauma and dissociation. But we spent a session discussing it, she then looked into various alternative options for me, and then she did the closing therapy session that she does with everyone, to discuss coping mechanisms to take with me.

So yes, sometimes a therapist can terminate therapy, and are probably best to do so if they realise they don't have enough experience. But the way that your therapist has handled this is very bad.

I hope you won't take her mistakes personally (I know that's hard to do) and I hope this will give you the opportunity to find a better therapist.

 

[Badger]

Based only on what you have told us it sounds like you need a new therapist. That is a terrible thing for her to do to you.

 

[EverOnly358]

Riptide,

I had a similar experience where I had some weird flashback thing that occurred because of something my T told me to do. And she was really unprepared and unprofessional. She really didn't seem to know how to handle it. I think part of the problem was that I am often so intellectual in therapy... but when she pulled my PTSD monster out from under the bed, she was really shocked and unprepared for the depths of my despair.

I'm really stuck now. She's a T with experience dealing with PTSD, but would never actually say that she specializes in complex trauma. It's starting to feel like she can't handle me and my issues and that's she's doing so much more harm than good. So... try to look at the other side of the situation... maybe it's a good thing this T terminated... because going to someone again and again who can't handle it or doesn't know what to do... can just be more traumatizing. Don't give up on therapy, just find another T. You'll be able to. You'll find someone else who is a much better fit.

And not to downplay things.. I think what your T did was horrible and unprofessional. Flashbacks and dissociation are just normal symptoms of PTSD. Any therapist really trained to deal with trauma should be able to understand and work with you. You didn't do anything wrong.

Hang in there,
D

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I am SO sorry this happened to you!

It sounds like your therapist isn't as trained in trauma as she claimed to be. It was incredibly unprofessional of her to terminate you like that.

If it makes you feel any better, you could always give an anonymous review of her on one of those "rate a doctor/therapist" websites!

 

[therapybankrupt]

I am sorry you had this experience although I did get my termination over the phone. My old t told me it would be illegal for her to treat me because I was done. She felt it would be wrong to continue seeing me because I did not need therapy and it would be stealing from the insurance company. I was floored and ended up in trouble within a couple of weeks. I got a new diagnosis my PTSD and was on my journey to healing. So I am glad she ended it. I wasted three years with her. She clearly was not good for me.

 

[Riptide]

Hi everyone. Thanks for your replies.

T told me I frightened her, that she felt scared. In all the other sessions I was never aggressive, threatening, etc, so I don't understand why she would not recognize that this is an "episode" and help me...

I feel like a horrible person as I did not mean to "scare" the therapist. I was terrified of her!

I understand she might not be the right therapist, but it makes me feel confused about who to trust can treat trauma. Her website had all the "trauma, ptsd, dissociation, personality disorders," etc. ... and in the end I was too much.

Then coldly terminated on the phone, without a closing session.

 

[Venusian]

Have you thought about sending her an email telling her how you feel? At least be able to get some answers? I agree with the others that how she terminated the sessions was completely unprofessional. It could be that what she perceived was something different than what you know happened.

Do not feel bad, you were in the middle of a flashback and when you left the session maybe to her it seemed like something else. This could just be a very bad misunderstanding. Whatever her response, she clearly does not have much experience with PTSD patients and could at least help you find another therapist.

 

[Lifeline]

That's outrageous. It is the ethical responsibility of a therapist to only treat clients within their expertise and competence. If they can not fulfill this for whatever reason, it's on them to refer you to someone else (as not to hurt the client). This is all according to the APA ethics code (this a guideline and not for legal liability but it still shows the ethical lack of regard for you as a client).

 

[Abstract]

Riptide,

I am so sorry to hear this happened to you. It is absolutely appalling behaviour! She should be ashamed. As others such as Meadowsweet have said it is professional and caring to refer a patient on if you feel you are not qualified but to do it this way is just plain negligent. I truly hope you put a formal complaint in. Were you treated at a clinic or is she on her own? It sounds like she did not even suggest any backup for you.

In fact I think her telling you you scared her was also unprofessional.

This is NOT your fault and you are NOT responsible for her actions. I am sure it is no comfort but it is better that you are away from her if she is not up to it. I too have been damaged by therapists who just continued to treat me.

May I ask if she had reams of other things listed on her website? Other than the ones you mentioned. I am very suspicious when they are supposedly experts of everything.

experience dealing with PTSD

Like this for example. It means nothing as they can say that if they have had one previous client with PTSD and it gives no indications of if they helped them or not. There are many reasons she may have reacted this way and none of them are about you.

illegal for her to treat me because I was done.

Good grief. The world has gone mad.

Please know there are lots of good people out there. This one is just not for you.