Poll How Do You Feel About Therapist Taking Notes During Session?

[GWhizz]

Mine doesn't take any either. Just writes a note after. I don't think I'd like it - it's too clinical. My psychiatrist does but not the therapist.

 

[Sandstone]

I've had several T's. Most didn't take notes. Of the two who did - one noted things so rarely that when she did it was a distraction. I would wonder what it was about that particular thing that was noteworthy.
The current one takes quite a lot of notes, and will use them in two ways. She sometimes looks back during a session to quote back to me exactly what I said earlier, and she often brings in a chart of the image she is building of me. I like the precision, and I like knowing she has been working on me during the week.

 

[jaccat]

Mine doesn't. She explained at the beginning that her dyslexia meant she wasn't very good at note taking at all, but she's got a good memory! I'm sure she does make notes of some kind after the session though.

 

[Biz]

My most recent therapist does not; she's told me she thinks it's weird. I've been to quite a few who do, some who will let you see them and some who won't. I think notes during session is old school. Now that I've been going to someone who doesn't it's distracting when they do. It makes me feel like a science experiment/overly stared at.

@FridayJones I have an employment-related suit currently and that story gives me some serious hope abt discovery/subpoenas.

 

[illusionist]

Mine did and I think that's one of the main reasons I didn't go too deeply into things...felt like someone else could find out my secrets, something I didn't want.

 

[Weemie]

i'd prefer them to do it after. like i get it i'm a paycheck but be a little less obvious about it, huh?

 

[moonbeam]

Mine took notes the first 2 sessions. They were factual details like siblings first name and age (plus different to me so like +3 years older), parents age and relationship status. Factual details to remember and give her context. But she doesn't in regular sessions and hasn't since then.

I don't know if she takes noted post session. If she did it would have to be hours later. As she has another client before and after me. But I don't think it would be the end of the world if she did. I would prefer they couldn't be traced to me. I think if she was writing like trauma details that would be upsetting. But then I also trust her. So...

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Hardly anybody can remember everything, so I think it is good for a therapist to take notes during a session of important things. Even notes at the end of session can miss something important. I think note taking improves the quality of the treatment.

 

[hodge]

I am glad my T takes notes. To me, it means she cares enough to write down stuff to remember for later. And she does remember stuff about me. That to me just contributes to a good rapport.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

The therapist I was seeing last year took loads of notes every time. I am slightly concerned about what exactly she was writing and why she wrote so much. It didn't distract me too much when I was in the room as I often stare at the floor, or the door - actually, anything that allows me to avoid looking at the therapist! I'm worried about going back in 2 months' time as the new therapist will read all the old therapist's notes before even meeting me. :-/

 

[PTSDbegone]

My therapist doesn't take notes during our sessions. I kind of wish she would as I think she'd remember more that way.

 

[Porphyry]

I take notes during my sessions. If she didn't, I'd be pissed. Of course, I take notes on every damn thing. Habit. So I need someone to at least keep up.