I have just got hone from a horrid CBT meeting. The mental health worker was awful, really invalidating. He told me I couldn't do this therapy whilst continuing my other one and I was so angry because if my GP had understoood this she wouldn't have referred me to him as she knows I depend on my therapist. On top of that he said he could refer me for a CBT course and I asked what did he do then as I was of the understanding he was the CBT counsellor and he reported that he did a range of things. I said again he may want to re-explain his service to the doctors he works with as I had been referred to him for CBT and my GP had specifically mentioned it would fit in with my day off in the week! I told him that I was upset because now I had to wait again for additional help and this referral could have been identified quickly with a phonecall, as within 10 minutes he was referring me to CBT! He said my gp could have done this. On top of all this he kept asking what my issues were but not understanding when I said my emotions tend to overwhelm me. He told me that I had told him that I can employ strategies sometimes to manage my thoughts and by that point I felt like screaming at him that my thoughts aren't the main issue, my emotions are. I can pinpoint a negative thought and frequently tell myself how I am thinking and feeling isnt reality but sometimes I am so exhausted or I get so upset (like now) most, if not all, logical thoughts go. Immediately I have the urge to hurt myself. I want specific help with that, not therapy -I have therapy! He was also quite dismissive of my therapist and it seemed he thought she was incompetent if i'd been with her so long and still couldn't cope. It was just upsetting. He kept asking me if I wanted referring and eventually I said no based on how he had been with me, if his colleagues are like him...! He was also really combative to my frustration at being told one thing only to find out it was an assessment! It was the worst assessment ever! Plus he kept blaming my doctor saying she had written down I had a 'trust' issue but I explain to him she is well aware of my relationship and emotional issues but is a medical person not a counsellor so won't write that down on the system! Idiot. On top of all that he didnt know how to make our consultation private on the system and said I would need to talk to the manager about that - why doesn't he do that for me at my request. Should I put in a complaint? I really am sick of incompetent mental health professionals!!!