Quote:
Originally Posted by sixtimes
I'm not sure what therapist I should be seeing so I contacted one who is covered by my insurance and who does CBT. She seems knowledgeable on the phone and she sent me an e-mail with a bunch of forms before our first appointment next week.
She wants a bunch of information from me. WAY more than I want to give. She wants a list of all my doctors (past and present) and a detailed family history for my parents and grandparents, including their medical conditions. This is just the first page and a half. There are about 30 pages for me to fill out. I don't want to give her all that information. I don't even know if I will stay with her or leave after an appointment or two. If I do end up leaving, I don't want all this information being left behind. There is only 2 pages of information that I am ok giving. She insists the information is necessary for treatment so she can figure out the best plan for me.
Also, she wants me to give her my credit card number to bill me for the appointments. I don't want her billing my credit card and would rather pay her in cash. I don't need my credit card company knowing I see a therapist and it appearing on my statement. I am, also, uncomfortable with giving my credit card number, security code and expiration date to anyone. However, she refuses to take cash and insists on needing my credit card information.
I feel like this therapist might be able to help me because she seems qualified, but she is asking for things from me that I do not wish to give. Is this a sign that she is not right for me? Should I give in and provide her with information I am not comfortable providing?
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from your post it sounds to me like the standard intake forms like we do here where I live and work...
you dont ***have*** to give out any info you dont want to but the family history and such are things this therapist is going to need to know and things you will probably be covering during treatment..
example my intake forms asked for my family history. if I hadnt put down I was a survivor of sexual abuse my therapist wouldnt have known that important information the result would have been her having a male coworker cover my case when she was on vacation, out of town on business. having a male therapist would have activated many of my problems because of my abuse was by a male.
another example I have a history of self injury.. if I hadnt disclosed that, my therapist might have jumped to the conclusion that I was trying to kill myself and hospitalize me.
Another example I have a history of seasonal depression... if I hadnt disclosed that on my intake forms my treatment provider would not have been able to take into consideration the fact that I spiral downhill during the winter months. Again that could have lead to her hospitalizing me because she would have seen the sudden downhill spiral as possible suicidal thoughts, intentions..
Another example in my family tree there is bipolar disorder.. if I hadnt disclosed that my treatment providers would not have been able to keep that in mind, which would have prevented them from noticing / misinterpreting my depression/mania patters for something else like suicide, ADHD and other health issues. but because they were informed they were able to get me on the correct antidepressant/antipsychotic meds that are different than ADD/ADHD meds.
The credit card info again you dont ***have*** to fill them in.. when my insurance covers my appointments I place the words N/A (not applicable due to insurance company's name is paying for this.)
Intake papers are pretty standard here in NY,USA but you only have to fill out what you are comfortable filling out. on our forms the spots that are mandatory (have to fill out) are the ones with the star next to them or the words not optional with a reason why they need that info.
example name, ss# birthdate on our forms are starred and the reason is because thats how the computer system keeps track of filing and billing.. as fun as it may seem you dont want someone else other than you and your insurance to receive the bill or worse receive (you or your insurance) a bill for some strangers appointments here.