![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dissociativejane on December 4, 2003, at 9:07:11
How does a therapist write notes in a session and what does a therapist write about? What is significant.....does a therapist look over notes? I wonder what course they took in school to learn the "note-taking" practice...
Posted by Dinah on December 4, 2003, at 9:27:11
In reply to Therapist's Notes, posted by dissociativejane on December 4, 2003, at 9:07:11
I'm reading a book now on becoming a therapist. It's a pretty elementary book, and yes - they do learn to write process notes! They need them for their supervision.
I think it varies a lot from therapist to therapist. Mine says he's required to write something, but generally only writes any med changes, and very general notes on how I'm feeling. Client appears depressed. That sort of thing.
Posted by justyourlaugh on December 4, 2003, at 10:26:58
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes » dissociativejane, posted by Dinah on December 4, 2003, at 9:27:11
jane ,
i was very concerned what he was writting and who was going to see it so i asked for my folder..
i learned i had a dx...
how off base i think he is..
what a few docs thought..
mainly it was boring..
each week he copies his notes to my pdoc..
stuff like;thinking of si,
not as weepy
no eye contact today...
general over view but adding detail to concerned issues..
?
we have the right to see evrything dont we?
j
Posted by Karen_kay on December 4, 2003, at 15:46:40
In reply to Therapist's Notes, posted by dissociativejane on December 4, 2003, at 9:07:11
I'm pretty lucky in that my therapist never takes notes. He did one time and I was like "Just what are you writing down?" Now I can't for the life of me recall what he was writing, but it wasn't about me. So, he has a good memory and doesn't take notes. I know he keeps notes that he sends to my doctor, but not when I'm around. Do we have the right to ask to see them? I have a few times in the past, but I feel like I'm just being nosey if I do. Also, sometimes he gets things wrong. Little things but it makes me feel like maybe I lied to him, like maybe he caught me in a lie. Even when I'm quite certain I didn't. Does anyone else feel like their therapist is playing head games? Or maybe I am and I'm projecting my feelings on to him? Why does this have to be so hard all the blasted time? :) Good grief!
Karen
Posted by noa on December 4, 2003, at 19:42:32
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes, posted by Karen_kay on December 4, 2003, at 15:46:40
I beleive you do have a right to see your file, including treatment notes.
If a therapist keeps private process notes only for him or herself, ie, never shows these to anyone else, or discusses them with anyone else, and they are never part of the medical record, I think they are protected as private for the therapist only and not something you have a right to see. I think it comes under the legal category of "work product". But in today's fast paced way of doing things, I doubt many therapists actually even keep personal process notes.
I bet it varies a lot from therapist to therapist. And, I imagine there are different reg's in different states.
My therapist says he doesn't keep much in the way of notes besides the legal requirement to note date and time of session, etc.
It would annoy me if he took notes during our sessions, though. He did take notes in the first 2 or 3 appointments when he was taking a history, but never during regular therapy sessions.
Posted by lost-in-therpy on December 4, 2003, at 22:32:17
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes, posted by noa on December 4, 2003, at 19:42:32
my therpist takes notes everytime i am there and it makes me really really nervous i still dont know what he writes ... it has been 3 yrs and i am still curious
Posted by noa on December 5, 2003, at 11:15:15
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes, posted by lost-in-therpy on December 4, 2003, at 22:32:17
So ask!
(OK, I know easier said than done, but really, I think it is fine to just ask. OR, start by telling him about how you are curious but very afraid of asking)
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 12:22:53
In reply to Therapist's Notes, posted by dissociativejane on December 4, 2003, at 9:07:11
I asked my therapist yesterday what he was writing in his notes and what he actually DID with the notes.
He said after each session he dictates the notes into some sort of voice recognized software program on his computer. The written notes are kept in my file and he apparently reviews them before every appointment, although a lot of times I really don't think that is true since I'll bring up something from the last session and he'll sometimes have NO idea what I'm talking about.
So then half way through our session yesterday he started telling me exactly what he was writing down as he was writing it down which got to be pretty annoying. Things like "patient dealing better with marital situation" or something like that. I told him after 5 minutes of this that he didn't need to continue telling me!
Posted by Karen_kay on December 5, 2003, at 12:47:47
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes, posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 12:22:53
> So then half way through our session yesterday he started telling me exactly what he was writing down as he was writing it down which got to be pretty annoying. Things like "patient dealing better with marital situation" or something like that. I told him after 5 minutes of this that he didn't need to continue telling me!<<Sounds like your therapist is a bit of a smartalick, eh? Did you ask if he was a bit put off as to why you asked about the note taking? It sounds to me like he was offended a bit. When I ask about my therapist's notes (such as the ones he wrote to my Pdoc) he just lets me read them and then we move on. Were you put out at all that we was brazen enough to waste your time with those offhanded comments? I would be upset about that. Maybe I'm getting the wrong idea, but the way I'm seeing it is that he was upset you asked. Am I wrong?
Karen
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 14:17:42
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes, posted by Karen_kay on December 5, 2003, at 12:47:47
I wasn't upset by his reaction. He is a bit of a smartass, but so am I so I respond to it.
I don't think he was offended. He has a quirky personality and I just keep it in perspective.
Posted by phazedout on December 6, 2003, at 13:35:17
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes Karen Kay, posted by Miss Honeychurch on December 5, 2003, at 14:17:42
Well my therapist writes volumes every time I see her - but to no avail as she completely gets everything WRONG! She also read up the notes from my previous T and was quoting as if I'd told her - now that made me mad! She also seems a bit OCD cause she will only write in green ink (go figure)? I'm just about to have a big row with her anyway (I have to psych myself up) cause she went off sick in June, we started therapy in February and she reckons we had 24 sessions (one a week) and she had two week vacation and so did I - so her maths aint that good either!
Posted by Karen_kay on December 8, 2003, at 10:47:01
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes Karen Kay, posted by phazedout on December 6, 2003, at 13:35:17
Wow, sounds like you aren't getting along with your therapist right now. I would be quite annoyed if my therapist took that many notes. I'm quite glad my therapist has a wonderful memory (and good looks and charm to match!). Guess I like my therapist again right now. Funny how a weekend can change everything, huh? :) Have you ever asked to see your therapist's notes? I'd want to check them out to see just how accurate they were. Just a suggestion. I'd want to make sure the facts were straight.
Karen
Posted by Kalamatianos on December 8, 2003, at 22:32:15
In reply to Re: Therapist's Notes » dissociativejane, posted by Dinah on December 4, 2003, at 9:27:11
> I'm reading a book now on becoming a therapist. It's a pretty elementary book, and yes - they do learn to write process notes! They need them for their supervision.
>
> I think it varies a lot from therapist to therapist. Mine says he's required to write something, but generally only writes any med changes, and very general notes on how I'm feeling. Client appears depressed. That sort of thing.You want to be a shrink? Have you ever consdered being a "coach" like Anthony Robbins (infomercials) instead? Doesn't take five years after you get a master's degree like a shrink credential.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.