What to do when a former therapist distorts notes in records?

I'm in the midst of changing from one VA hospital to another. I gave permission to the former therapist to release my records to the new Program Director of a DBT program. The Program Director did not call today as she said she would, so I called.

A thirty minute discussion ensued in which the Program Director asked me questions, then cut me off repeatedly before I could barely start answering. She was not asking yes or no questions, but rather how certain events transpired. The most disturbing comment she made was stating my former therapist's notes indicate I refuse to discuss a former suicide attempt with doctors. This is not true. We never had a discusison about anything like that. And that incident occurred before I met the former therapist, so I don't know why she would put that in my notes.

The new Program Director said it doesn't matter and I must first repair my therapist/patient relationship with the former therapist before she would continue interviewing me. When she had cut me off multiple times, I finally asked if she was asking me rhetorical questions, or should I actually answer. She said I should get used to being cut off in discussion because it will happen in group therapy and she would decide when she had enough of an answer, that is not up to me.

When you know you are being judged by incorrect information noted in medical records, what do you do? Nearly everything this Program Director said seemed aimed at excluding me from her program and I need this.

Additionally, this Program Director initially said her program was designed exactly for people like me. It was not until she spoke with my former therapist that her attitude toward me changed so drastically and suddenly I don't seem to fit criteria for her program.

Has anyone else had this experience? Any ideas how to remedy the influence on a new therapist by a former therapist?

Sorry this happened to you your X-T sounds spiteful...I wouldnt be interested in a program where someone decides they have enough info mid-sentence, 2 much opportunity for more distortion,eg;I talk bout my intrusive thoughts bout burning down our house,& get stopped before the part where I deflect the thought & DONT kill my family! I can see how that would look on paper. No thanks.Maybe speak to X-T, see if you can rectify it.Maybe she thought you were avoiding the subject by not broaching it.

I don't know if you have any other options or not. For the meantime, try the Yahoo DBT class and other on-line resources. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/dbtclass/
PC also offers a DBT class via chat on Saturdays that I have not yet been able to attend.
I don't see how the class could be designed for people like you, like us, if she constantly cuts you off. Cutting you off is showing that she doesn't care a bit about what you are saying; she is basically invalidating you before you can even open your mouth, and that's one of the main reasons most of us became BPD in the first place. Good luck.

Hi, I have had things like this happen to me. Its very frustrating. For me, I wont tolerate being treated like that. Sometimes these people are having a bad day and they take it out on other people. Who is her superior, I would go above her. I asked my therapist, what do I do in a case of my own like this. He said if you dont like what someone is saying go to someone else. She sounds very angry, I wouldnt be afraid. I dont see how its your job to repair you last therapist issue either. Its a good sign that this is not who you need to be talking to.

A psychiatrist (in 2010) referred me to a local DBT clinic at the mental health clinic and they did not call me either. I followed up and the lady there treated me the same way. the only difference was she never even evaluated me. She just said, "We don't serve your zip code, we don't accept your insurance..." And she was very angry and seemed irritated at me for even calling.

I called the doctor back and she said, "Billi, we can't help you. You need to go elsewhere..."

About your topic about the therapist, I wondered what that psychiatrist, who had referred me, might have said to that woman at the DBT clinic. I was not certain that she might have colored this woman's thinking about me.

It was horrible.

I wanted to die that day but I did not act on it.

After that, I adamantly began self-help and logged onto dbtselfhelp.com. My attitude was: "I will do it myself then!" And I started my own DBT work online and my blogging.

Sounds to me (to me) like this woman (who was dealing with you) has her own problems and wants to control people, so, like I said in my earlier thread, "Rejection is a blessing."! Good riddance, our DBT groups might have hurt us more than they might have helped. She might have done you a lot of damage anyway. As in my own situation.

Billi