Rights in US regarding "psych" assessments at hospitals and inter-agency privacy of trauma history details?

[IceQueencop]

@Justmehere -you are absolutely right about this being illegal. HIPPAA requires healthcare professionals not release ANY information they have obtained through their professional service, without your consent. So, assuming that the director had gotten information about you through another professional, that’s a problem.

The mental health system needs to be overhauled, the only way that will happen is by regular folks insisting health care providers follow the rules.
So far in my journey, I have filed a complaint against a psychiatrist who evaluated me without listening to a word I said. I filed a complaint against an insurance company using a document processing party who was trying to access my records by unencrypted emails.

There are definitely triggers that go with fighting this fight on your own behalf. On the other hand, I would not have any problems fighting this fight for someone else. It’s just that I’m invested here. There’s definitely emotion involved. I definitely feel attacked, which means I hit fight or flight mode. That makes it easy to let these documents sit on my desk for awhile. I can tell myself I will deal with them later, but it’s hard. It’s a hard fight to pick.
With the psychiatrist, I knew he was evaluating lots of us, and his methods were not ok. That made it easier for me to pick the fight, because I knew it would help others. It has, but he’s also gotten people killed.
As for your suicidality, please remember that in trauma, especially life/death traumas you are going to relive that emotional apprehension of death and you will feel that again when you feel threatened. Challenge your suicidal ideation by asking yourself if you actually want to die, or are just feeling the fear of death. I know those feelings are overwhelming, but your trauma is real, and you deserve competent mental health care.

Best,
IQC

 

[Justmehere]

My focus is finding out my rights and reporting what the assessment said to me to the proper regulatory agencies. They can chase down the crazy train of whatever was said by whomever to her. I see that as "not my monkeys, not my circus" kind of thing to sort out. She wants to work in mental health care AND say this crap to a patient? FINE. She can explain to the proper regulatory office her lack of professionalism and idiot behavior.

I called the state regulatory offices and began the process with them. They said over the phone that this might involve 3 different regulatory agencies. Ugh.

Therapist was strange. Told me she thought about it and has a solution! Join her process/recreational therapy group. Then asked me to explain dissociation more to her. She did validate that following the grievance process out is a sound idea and what they did is wrong and she added that it’s all a good sign they have no capacity to help if this is how they handle setting up an assessment. She didn’t have any ideas about advocating for proper treatment or where to find it outside her group she runs with her husband.

 

[Justmehere]

She sent me the paperwork for her husband isn't even licensed in my state. Brillant. This is just fantabulous. Breathe jmh, breathe. Is it too much to ask for a therapist who knows what dissociation is and is licensed in my state?! This isn't what I need. This isn't it. I needed her to advocate for something different.

 

[IceQueencop]

@Justmehere -
Keep breathing.
Can we process this and look at things with a bit of a different perspective?

First, I assume you went back to the therapist because you thought she could help and you thought she was helpful. So, give her the benefit of the doubt for just a moment (you can always change your mind and doubt her again).

Second, maybe she should have asked, “what does dissociation mean for you?” Instead of the way she asked it, because if you search dissociation on this site, you will come up with lots of different versions of dissociation. So, maybe that’s what she meant?

Third, process and recreational therapy sound a lot more fun than sitting in a stuffy office going rounds of talking about your trauma. Maybe the goal here is just to get you out in a group to laugh and play. Laughter and play take a backseat to a lot of things, but have proved to be really helpful in recovery of a lot of things. So, it might not matter if her hubs is licensed as a therspist, if what he is doing is encouraging play.
Fourth, regulation. If you go to your state’s law library they can show you how to dig through lots of information about the regulations. You can also go online to GOOGLE SCHOLAR, check the radio button that says caselaw, you can then type in HIPPAA and look through court cases, filtering by your state as well as federal courts. Or you can let the regulators handle.

Hugs,
IQC

 

[Justmehere]

I am very sure she means very well. No doubt about that. Her style may be very helpful to others. I went to her to for the goal of her to evaluate me, and for her to advocate/provide help with navigating the system here with the goal of finding 1.) an experienced trauma therapist and 2.) skills-based group therapy. She does not treat PTSD, complex trauma, or complex PTSD. She has never treated anyone with my symptoms before. Ever. That's why the entire goal with her was to get help to get help elsewhere...

Instead of moving towards more qualified care, she took a big turn toward less qualified care. The disclosure notice went on and on about how he wasn't there in a therapist capacity due to the lack of a license. I have lots of recreation in my life. I don't need more. While I filing a grievance and recovering from another really crappy therapy experience, both of which have left me worse than ever, I find myself needing things to be well qualified and tested, on the up on the up and up, and targeted to my goals.

I really needed someone to advocate for me to get help elsewhere and support me in navigating the grievance process. I'm really burned out with trying to get help and not sure I will continue to try in the near future.

 

[Nessa7]

Would you be able to also check on the county level? In my state, you would be able to go through either your own county and the county that the facility is in. They are also able to advocate on your behalf with state agencies.

 

[hithere]

I hope you can pursue this and find the answers. I also really hope that legal action is taken against these people.

 

[IceQueencop]

@Justmehere - Gotcha!

You might check with any of the folks who work for the VA, they may have a private practice where they could see you outside the VA.
I’m glad you are following up on the bad experiences you have had. I think it’s important.

Best,
IQC

 

[EveHarrington]

I'm really burned out with trying to get help and not sure I will continue to try in the near future.

It’s ok to take a therapy break. I worry though because of your symptom level, although it’s very true that no therapy is better than bad therapy.

I took a therapy break for a few years as I was tired of therapists not meeting me where I was in my healing. I think it helped me regroup and find the energy to push forward as my therapist says I’m very hard working and moving forward. (I trust her word as she is a no nonsense, no BS kind of person.)

If you do take a break, please make sure you have other forms of support.