Posted by Honore on July 5, 2007, at 10:01:27
In reply to Re: Sudden termination initiated by therapist, posted by Maria01 on July 4, 2007, at 22:57:40
Maria, that sounds really devastating, and very unprofessional, very much as though she got caught up in a countertransference (the feelings a T has about a P), which weren't properly recognized and worked through from her side.
One would hope that this was something the supervisor (or her training supervisor) would be aware of and work intensively with her on, on your behalf. But it sounds like the supervisor may have let you down too.
I really hope not, but I'm concerned that the supervisor was sympathetic to whatever your T's version of things was-- presumably something that made you seem at fault (yes-- they do do this, unfortunately)-- and perhaps even impossible to work with. It's not that hard for a T to do that-- and often people will be prone to believe a co-worker, rather than a patient. It's terribly unfair, but it does happen.
I would very much hope you could find another T at a much better agency, someone who could help you sort out your feelings, which could be terribly confused and upset. But I too think there's nothing that justifies your T and her supervisor's actions.. Even if you were going through a difficult time nothing justifies the comment made--and the abrupt dismissal without any decent referrals. That's just awful, IMO. Nor her attitude over the months when you were struggling.
A better-- possibly more experienced T-- might help, now. I wouldn't look for too much help at the agency your T works for. What you need is support and caring, not having to explain and justify yourself to a skeptical (possibly) audience. Plus they probably won't do much. Certainly your ex-T needs much more supervision in her work--but they should know that already.
Again-- this has been known to happen-- it happened to me with a much more experienced T-- they just lose it sometimes, when the stakes get too high for them-- It was a really difficult time for me. It was more my next T who was able to help, though. He was able to resassure me and communicate a more stable and calm sense that I wasn't to blame, and that my T had mishandled things badly. Which was really what I needed.
Maybe you should concentrate on getting that, even though I know you must feel you need better closure with the old situation. I hope Racer has some good leads for you.
Honore
poster:Honore
thread:767675
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20070628/msgs/767815.html