Bad Experience Exploring Two Therapists

[Seasounds]

Using my insurance, in my efforts to find a better fit, with a therapist, over the past three months I visited two different therapists, for a few sessions each.

Both therapists were rather disastrous experiences. Therapist #1, kept commenting on my body, when I told this therapist to stop; it felt very violating. Therapist #2 worked in a building where I would panic, since I couldn't find my way around--due to renovation work (getting lost is a big trigger). Therapist #2 was arrogant and snobby; referring to my copay, therapist #2 said, "Remember to leave your pittance." The rich don't understand that one person's pittance is another person's food money for half a week. Both therapists came referred.

The searching is good since I use to stick like glue to therapists, even when they weren't a good fit-didn't know any better. Also, now I can feel with my mindbody, if the therapist is a good fit; before I couldn't match my sensations, to the feelings, that I was generating, when I sat with therapists (stayed frozen).

I'll keep you posted on my future explorations, after I rest up for a while.:)

 

[Sighs]

Sorry to hear you are struggling to find a good fit. My vet has said that the most triggering experience he has ever had was with a "clumsy" therapist who blundered in. Wishing you success in future!

 

[Tanishq]

Remember to leave your pittance

This makes me feel like this therapist works for their own money, not for the betterment of sufferers. I would find very difficult to trust such therapists. I understand everyone needs money for their own living, but when it is made 1st priority, things can get messy you know.

Sorry to hear you are having bad experiences. I hope you find the right therapist for you on right time.

 

[Lukie]

Wow, your 'pittance' huh? Eesh. Sorry you're struggling so much to find the right therapist. Great that you are doing right by yourself continuing to look for a good fit though. Good luck in the hunt.

 

[Friday]

Feel your pain... I've been speed dating therapists off and on for the past 6mo. Ugh.
:banghead::wtf::confused::mad::sick::hungover::shifty::facepalm::inpain::arghh;:dead:...:inlove:? Maybe. Probably not. Maybe. We'll see. At the very least this last guy felt, clear. And sharp. Capable. But mostly clear. And I didn't feel crazy, or like a comic book character, or a piece of meat. Shudder. Nor homicidal, suicidal, or violently ill. So, while I generally believe hope to be a four letter word... I am tentatively optimistic. At the very least I didn't leave the office needing to kick anything.

Hang in there.

 

[Seagreen]

I had one that complained about his sore back the whole time. He kept making overly dramatic facial expressions and groaning every time he moved. Then he just talked about how dumb one of his dogs were. I never went back lol.

Good luck, Change, a good therapist makes all the difference. I hope you find a great match soon.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Pittance? Nobody held a gun to his head and said "you WILL be a poorly paid therapist!!!" Puh-leeze. He needed to retire at least 5 years ago.

 

[Seasounds]

Thank you, everyone, for your support, and for sharing your experiences, and for helping me turn pain into laughter. :joyful: True buds!

 

[Kefira]

Oh my. I know this too well. One of my former therapists, who was something of a "celebrity therapist" because of his work on a well known case in the area, tops my list of bad Ts and I've had several who were appalling. He consistently ran 1 to 2 hours late (really), was writing a children's book and talked about it more than anything else in our sessions, and our last session together was right before I was leaving the country for a couple months. I was understandably super anxious and was just finishing telling him everything I was feeling about the trip and about lacking access to treatment for a while when he interrupted me turned, around his iphone that he'd been using, and said "isn't this a funny app" while showing me an app for one of those guns that has the little 'bang' flag that pops out.

I figured he could just think I stayed in Italy. Never called him back once I got home thank goodness. My next therapist of course knew of him since she was in the same area, and asked why I left his practice. Her response was along the lines of, I believe you but I find it so hard to believe someone of his status would behave that way. But really, it would also be very hard to make all of that up.

 

[Seasounds]

That would have been really weird, going to a well known therapist, and seeing how the therapist, isn't, anything.

The fact that therapists are in the priviledged position to take advantage of clients, in so many ways, that their collegeues can't believe, bugs me. (This reminds me of what my friends said about my parents.) I wish clients could video tape sessions, and be the only one who has a copy of it.

It is a celebration that we don't go to them anymore!

 

[City Slicker]

'remember to leave your pittance' ??? I so admire your restraint. (although I had one therapist in the very first session tell me to 'leave the money on the nightstand on the way out')

Hang in there Change. You'll find someone good to work with.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

@Kefira,
Sadly, some people get their status out of luck. Maybe that therapist knew the right people and that's how he got on that locally 'famous' case? After that, the fanfare went to his head, his ethical principals went out the window (if he had any to begin with!) and after that he felt like the rules didn't apply to him so to speak.

TONS of people have one side of them that is public and another that is private. (Just look at all the things that come out of the closet on famous celebrities that we have "known" for decades!) And, a therapist may know that he can get away with bad behavior, because who are people going to believe....the well known therapist with the stellar reputation, or the 'mental' client?