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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Diane J. on September 10, 2000, at 19:25:13
I have filed a complaint with the CA Board of Psychology against my former therapist, a clinical psychologist. Dr. H breached confidentiality several times, she committted unprofessional behavior, and she was verbally abusive. Presently, I have a new therapist who I like very much, and she is helping me with the fall-out from this experience. However, I do see my Dr. H occasionally because she and my psychiatrist share the same waiting room. Just the sight of her or the sound of her voice makes me extremely anxious. I am still afraid of her. I don't know why, really, since I haven't been her client since early May, and my psychiatrist and the new therapist are very supportive. Also, I am not afraid of anyone else I know. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Posted by Nibor on September 10, 2000, at 20:15:05
In reply to An abusive therapist, posted by Diane J. on September 10, 2000, at 19:25:13
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I don't know if this will help; I hope it does. But what you could keep in mind is that Dr.H has more reason to be afraid of you than you of her. I'm glad your new therapist is being helpful.
Take care,
Nibor
Posted by Snowie on September 10, 2000, at 20:19:55
In reply to An abusive therapist, posted by Diane J. on September 10, 2000, at 19:25:13
Ohmigosh! I just started therapy with a clinical psychologist on Saturday. So far so good though. I congratulate you on having the guts to file a complaint against your former abusive psychologist. In spite of what you've been through, you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders, and a good support group. As for Dr. H., she's not worthy of your anxiety. If the charges you have brought against her are proven to be true, hopefully when this is all said and done she'll be saying, "Is this combo meal for dine in, or to go?"
Snowie
> I have filed a complaint with the CA Board of Psychology against my former therapist, a clinical psychologist. Dr. H breached confidentiality several times, she committted unprofessional behavior, and she was verbally abusive. Presently, I have a new therapist who I like very much, and she is helping me with the fall-out from this experience. However, I do see my Dr. H occasionally because she and my psychiatrist share the same waiting room. Just the sight of her or the sound of her voice makes me extremely anxious. I am still afraid of her. I don't know why, really, since I haven't been her client since early May, and my psychiatrist and the new therapist are very supportive. Also, I am not afraid of anyone else I know. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Posted by shellie on September 10, 2000, at 21:06:46
In reply to An abusive therapist, posted by Diane J. on September 10, 2000, at 19:25:13
>
> Diane, just a few guesses. One, that you may not have fully worked through the abuse with her yet; (two her abusemay be bringing up old feelings in you, maybe feelings from situations in your childhood when you actually had no power. If the feelings are related to old feelings, not only are you not helpless anymore, but you are advoacating for yourself. That can go against what you learned as a child and cause unconscious anxiety. As I said, just a few guesses. Try to think of a time or person in your life that created those feelings in you, and you may have an answer. I'm sorry if I'm way off track. Shellie
Posted by allisonm on September 10, 2000, at 21:24:25
In reply to An abusive therapist, posted by Diane J. on September 10, 2000, at 19:25:13
This probably isn't practical, but if there's a time or a day that your psychiatrist is in the office when Dr. H is not, would it be possible to schedule your appointments then?
Best wishes,
allison
Posted by allisonm on September 10, 2000, at 21:31:54
In reply to Re: An abusive therapist » Diane J., posted by Snowie on September 10, 2000, at 20:19:55
Snowie, you're so funny!
Combo meals indeed.
Thanks for brightening my evening.allison
P.S.: At work we always say that when work gets too awful, we can always be cashiers at the Hallmark card store. I hope there aren't any cashiers from Hallmark card stores out there... no offense...
And tell me how you new psychologist is sometime.
Posted by paul on September 11, 2000, at 0:11:37
In reply to Re: An abusive therapist » Snowie, posted by allisonm on September 10, 2000, at 21:31:54
just imagine the witch in her underwear everytime you see her. you'll laugh your ass off! she's the one what'll end up with her butt in a sling. make sure you are kept informed as to any actions that the regulatory board takes against her. this can bring you great peace. it might also help to have a confab w/an investigator @ the board-they were really helpful in letting me know what would most likely be the outcome of the complaint i filed angainst my drooling dr. houdini.and if all goes well, the next time you see her she'll demurely quip:
"do you want FRIES with that???"
p(c(l))
Posted by Cindy W on September 11, 2000, at 9:21:54
In reply to Re: An abusive therapist, posted by paul on September 11, 2000, at 0:11:37
> just imagine the witch in her underwear everytime you see her. you'll laugh your ass off! she's the one what'll end up with her butt in a sling. make sure you are kept informed as to any actions that the regulatory board takes against her. this can bring you great peace. it might also help to have a confab w/an investigator @ the board-they were really helpful in letting me know what would most likely be the outcome of the complaint i filed angainst my drooling dr. houdini.and if all goes well, the next time you see her she'll demurely quip:
> "do you want FRIES with that???"
> p(c(l))Allison, I'm so sorry you had a bad experience with an abusive therapist! Hope you will be able to talk this out with your new therapist.--Cindy W
BTW, it's not just "do you want fries with that," and "regular or extra crispy"...in California, it's also, "do you want red or green sauce?" and "how about a hot apple turnover?" ;)
Posted by Racer on September 27, 2000, at 15:54:25
In reply to An abusive therapist, posted by Diane J. on September 10, 2000, at 19:25:13
First off, congratulations on filing a complaint! Good for you, and good for all the others who won't be abused by this one again!
As for why you're scared of her, here's one more babble thought:
Therapists are funny figures in our lives, almost like mothers to infants. We make ourselves more vulnerable to them than to anyone else, and we have to put trust in them. We have to open ourselves so much it's scary. Then, to be betrayed by someone who's had access to the deepest caves of our souls, well, that's devastating. I don't know the details of what went on in this case, so I can't say what's really going on, but I'll guess that somewhere inside you're going through that guilt thing about 'maybe I'm so very bad that I deserved it/maybe she saw how really awful inside I am and that's why she did it/somehow I caused this/etc' For what it's worth, you're not nearly powerful enough to make a good person do something really, really bad. And you're not so terrible inside that someone would turn on you because of it.
Some people become therapists because they are so screwed up that they are drawn to a profession where they have absolute power over their clients. Most don't, and I've been to some really exceptional people over the years, but there are always those bad apples in the barrel. It's unfortunate that you got stuck with one, but you're obviously good enough and strong enough to draw the line and end the problem. Good for you, and let's hold cyber-hands as we try to internalize the rational outlook on your ex-therapist and my ex-job, eh?
Good luck to you. My heart really goes out to you, because it's as though you finally did something to help yourself, and then got slapped for doing it. Grrr! No wonder there are so many unhappy people in the world!
Posted by shellie on September 27, 2000, at 20:57:17
In reply to An abusive therapist, posted by Diane J. on September 10, 2000, at 19:25:13
Hey Diane. Please let us know how you are doing, with seeing the "other" therapist. We haven't heard back from you. Shellie
Posted by Diane J. on February 21, 2001, at 23:16:21
In reply to Re: An abusive therapist » Diane J., posted by shellie on September 27, 2000, at 20:57:17
> Hey Diane. Please let us know how you are doing, with seeing the "other" therapist. We haven't heard back from you. Shellie
Hello--I was really surprised today when I revisited the site. Obviously I've been away for a LONG time--today is February 21, 2001. I didn't mean to ignore everyone. I haven't been back to Dr. Bob's forum until now. I guess I wanted to forget about Dr. H and everything involved with our therapy.
My new therapist, that is, the one I started seeing last autumn, is a wonderful woman. It is amazing to me that she is supportive, kind, and helpful. I don't feel awful following sessions, but rather, I have some thoughts to chew on. Dr. C never yells at me or tells me I'm acting like a two-year-old. She doesn't act superior to me. She is considerate and sensitive to my pain. Sometimes we even laugh together.
Maybe you are wondering why I would think this is amazing. I think it's because I was used to the abuse from Dr. H. I just can't get over how different it is to be in therapy with someone who is kind.
I hope you are all well.
Posted by Fred Potter on March 21, 2001, at 15:40:01
In reply to Re: An abusive therapist, posted by Diane J. on February 21, 2001, at 23:16:21
Hey I've been talking about my abusive psychiatrist on Psychobabble. He called me "a 5 year old", "an adolescent" (they can't both be right) and called me "incredibly arrogant" for daring to disagree with him. He also turned to my wife periodically and sniggered about me. I reported him to his superior (the goldfish in the corner - no seriously the chief psychiatrist for the Unit)
Posted by Diane J. on March 23, 2001, at 19:15:56
In reply to Re: An abusive therapist, posted by Fred Potter on March 21, 2001, at 15:40:01
> Hey I've been talking about my abusive psychiatrist on Psychobabble. He called me "a 5 year old", "an adolescent" (they can't both be right) and called me "incredibly arrogant" for daring to disagree with him. He also turned to my wife periodically and sniggered about me. I reported him to his superior (the goldfish in the corner - no seriously the chief psychiatrist for the Unit)
Dear Fred,
I hope you get a new psychiatrist. The one you have ought to be treating you with respect--he's supposed to be helping you, right? How is telling you you're acting like a five-year-old going to benefit you? Also, isn't he supposed to respect your privacy when you talk to him? I spent way too much time with my former therapist, and I began to believe all the unflattering things she said about me. Don't let that happen to you.
Diane
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