Posted by Miss Honeychurch on November 9, 2003, at 18:05:48
In reply to HELP!!! Your good / bad experiences with Dr's etc, posted by NikkiT2 on November 9, 2003, at 12:24:24
I have only been in real therapy for a short time (4 months), but before I found my current, wonderful psychologist (I'll get to his good traits later), I had only ONE meeting with a psychaitrist who did the following: This guy was my very FIRST experience with the mental health profession:
1. During our 45 minute conversation, he looked at his watch 14 times.
2. After 20 minutes of me describing my problems (I'm a hypochondriac) he said I needed to be on medication. When I said that I wanted to try to work out my anxiety first without medication, he just shook his head and sighed, making me feel like an idiot.
3. He looked at me twice in 45 minutes for maybe 5 seconds per look.
4. After I had decided I didn't want to be on meds, he said, "OK, you'll have to see my social worker. I assume you want to see a woman." Um, thanks, but no. I prefer to see a man (you see, I want a Daddy!)
So I saw his social worker once. I knew I would never return when at the end of our session, which had gone well, she said "I'm so happy to have met you, this should be fun!" I felt like a side project of hers, an amusing distraction between "real" patients.
Which leads me to my psychologist. I must warn you however that I am totally in love with him, so I may see him through rose colored glasses. The positive things he does:
1. NEVER looks at his watch (he must have a clock hidden somewhere in his office which only he can see)
2. Always looks me in the eye.
3. Never shakes his head and sighs.
4. Uses major positive regard. Tells me he is very proud of me.
5. Discloses just the right amount about his personal life, usually using it to make points to me about my therapy/problems. This makes me feel more connected and closer to him. However, he doesn't believe in hugging, only handshakes. This is good for me since I think he would be gratifying a lot of my transference with hugs.
6. He is funny and sincere and affable. He always seems happy to see me.
7. In every session he makes it clear that he is interested in helping me and making me an independent person. He believes a lot of therapists like to keep their patients dependent so they don't have to delve into new cases and start over.
8. I feel that he truly cares about me. Whether he really does or not, I have no idea, but he makes it SEEM as if he does and that's all that matters to me.
poster:Miss Honeychurch
thread:277908
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031031/msgs/277991.html