Bad surprise of my T :(

Xeneon · May 21, 2011, 06:07 PM

That would of totally mad me mad. I probably would have up and left because i hate surprises. You have the right to feel angry at her. Maybe she didn't think it would make you upset because in her eyes this is just making improvements for you. Maybe you should email and tell her how you feel about the session because if she doesn't know how you feel then she is going to keep making you upset because she going to be pushing this other person in to your business and i assuming thats going to make you even more mad. ((((IAMSPECIAL))))

roses4me · May 21, 2011, 07:28 PM

two points:

firstly I agree that she shouldn't have sprung it on you like that. I am treated at at teaching hospital and I am always asked if another person can be present.

secondly, why did the visiting T have to ask so many questions. she could have just observed. then she would be up to day without being intrusive. I would be ticked off at her too

roses

iamspecial · May 21, 2011, 07:40 PM

BC: Thank you for your comment....means alot...needed that hug....(((((((BC back))))

roses4me: Thank you for your comment...the person i didnt know was the one asking most of the questions and i really didnt like it and they both could see i was hating it....im not letting them read my poems...im not ready to let them read them.

SerenityNow1981 · May 22, 2011, 11:46 AM

I am special - it is so hard to build trust with people, why would your T not know that they couldn't just spring another person in on you? I know it would have rattled me, and I can't say if I would have just let it go on or not, but I shut down in front of people very easily and I probably would have given into the panic and told them that the session was off for that day. And I would be really uncomfortable with my T reading my postings here. T's are not friends, no matter how much we like them or how well we click or they know us, and although for some maybe them reading the postings here would provide an extra insite, I wouldn't like it. I would maybe censor some of my thoughts if I thought my T would be reading them. I wouldn't want to print out the poems either, it seems so personal. I don't know, it could be helpful, but no more then just you summarizing them. I would be angry and embarressed if the situation happened to me, and I am glad you came here for support. I hope you have the courage to continue, and if you make your needs known, i.e. telling the therapist how it made you feel and what you expect in this situation in the future, you may save some other client from these feelings.

nannypat · May 22, 2011, 11:51 AM

Isn't this why we have Hippa Laws? I believe this is a total violation of your privacy rights and there could be consequences to be paid for what she did. It was also a total lack of respect of the theraputic relationship no matter how well meaning she was. I would be equally upset as you are, but I would use that anger in a positive way to get through to her how wrong she was, and find someone more safe. If she is afraid of your safety issues, she sure didn't help things by what she did. Stay strong and keep fighting. It;s got to hurt but you are worth it. You are also worth someone who treasure your trust and confidence in helping you on your journey to health. You can do this. You have everyone here to help. Sending safe {{{hugs}}}

iamspecial · May 22, 2011, 12:37 PM

serenityNow1981: Thank you for your post, i'm sure she could see how upset i was getting just by looking at me like they were....i did tell her when i first started with her that i didn't like it if i am not warn before springing someone on me like she did..i have writen her a letter telling her about how hurt and upset i am with what she did..i just hope its ok...thank you for the encouragement and thank you for my PM

nannypat: thank you for your post....i really dont know the answer to your question sorry...thank you....for what you have written...means a lot...i dont know what i will do about getting a new T....i might ask to see if i can. back thank you

SerenityNow1981 · May 22, 2011, 01:09 PM

According to HIPAA, it is not a violation for doctors to show other doctors your personal treatment information if it is in regards to your treatment plan, even without your consent. It would only be a violation if they discussed it in a public situation where others could over hear it and gain personal information about you.

iamspecial · May 22, 2011, 01:43 PM

thank you for that....i didnt know if it was or wasnt...im still upset but even more upset about another thing now...my T is the last thing i want to think about right now...there is something else that has me upset and docjohn has posted about it so it saved me posting......i just cant believe shes gone

mgran · May 22, 2011, 02:16 PM

Special (((hug))) I'm so sorry.

iamspecial · May 22, 2011, 04:28 PM

Thank you mgran..love you back

May 22, 2011, 05:20 PM

HIPPA laws DO require written client permission to release and/or discuss private confidential mental health information. I totally understand why a therapist needs to share information. She might be looking for peer consultation on a difficult or challenging case or she might be working to provide a solid safety net for a client who is experiencing serious difficulties and the therapist is going on vacation or is going to be unavailable for some reason. New therapists are required to obtain a specific number of hours of supervision from a more seasoned therapist. In all these cases, the therapist is required to let the client know this and the client needs to agree by signing a release of information form. These forms are usually signed during the intake interview and since many individuals are anxious, they might not remember signing the form. But it is a requirement and a therapist can find themselves in a lot of hot water if they don't get the forms signed and then allow another therapist to read a client's confidential file. Therapists will share information on a case without obtaining permission by not mentioning a clients name and masking identifying information, but they need to be very careful not to step over the line and reveal confidential information. Inviting someone into a client's private session without first obtaining the client's permission is not an "okay" thing to do, even if the therapist has the client's best interest in mind. Although some people might be okay with this, it obviously wasn't a good thing for you, iamspecial, and I'm sincerely sorry for that. I hope you're able to really talk about this with your therapist--showing her your post might be a good start!

iamspecial · May 22, 2011, 06:51 PM

Thank you for your comment.....she just said she was concerned and she wanted this person in just in case she is away and i need to be seen asap.....i didnt sign anything....i wasnt asked

nannypat · May 27, 2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybird57

HIPPA laws DO require written client permission to release and/or discuss private confidential mental health information. I totally understand why a therapist needs to share information. She might be looking for peer consultation on a difficult or challenging case or she might be working to provide a solid safety net for a client who is experiencing serious difficulties and the therapist is going on vacation or is going to be unavailable for some reason. New therapists are required to obtain a specific number of hours of supervision from a more seasoned therapist. In all these cases, the therapist is required to let the client know this and the client needs to agree by signing a release of information form. These forms are usually signed during the intake interview and since many individuals are anxious, they might not remember signing the form. But it is a requirement and a therapist can find themselves in a lot of hot water if they don't get the forms signed and then allow another therapist to read a client's confidential file. Therapists will share information on a case without obtaining permission by not mentioning a clients name and masking identifying information, but they need to be very careful not to step over the line and reveal confidential information. Inviting someone into a client's private session without first obtaining the client's permission is not an "okay" thing to do, even if the therapist has the client's best interest in mind. Although some people might be okay with this, it obviously wasn't a good thing for you, iamspecial, and I'm sincerely sorry for that. I hope you're able to really talk about this with your therapist--showing her your post might be a good start!

Thank you for clarifying that issue. I know the laws are quite strict and a client has to agree to almost everything.

(JD) · May 27, 2011, 09:55 PM

Most all doctors require you sign that agreement before they even see you the first time. The problem with the agreement is that it only covers the doctors... because once they release your information, the agreement says that the 3rd party is not responsible for what they do with the information nor who reads it, and neither is the doctor who originally released it. The agreement is not one that is to protect the patient in the long run, unfortunately.

iamspecial · May 28, 2011, 11:10 PM

Thank you for commenting JD, i never agreed to it tho, i was shocked my T told this other person with out me knowing.....she just sprung her on me...i wasnt pleased or happy but i guess i have to get over it at some point right? you are ace JD!!!! thank you

MadyJohannah · May 30, 2011, 02:03 PM

I think you are right to be upset. That wasn't a very ethical thing to do. Your T should have at least called or let you know (since asking was apparently out of the question) during the last session you had. That is so wrong. If nothing else, it is an invasion of your privacy. I think, if you can, you should talk to your T. Was that even legal? Doesn't that go against dr/patient confidentiality? If your T doesn't think there was anything wrong with it, maybe you should get a second opinion. This shouldn't have been done without your permission.

iamspecial · May 30, 2011, 05:21 PM

madyjohannah: thank you for the comment....it means a lot really it does...i really dont know if was legal or not...i will have to find that out to see if it was or not. and again to your other question...i dont know...i really dont...i didnt think they was alloud to tell anyone without the permission of the patient but looks like it is b/c my T did and i didnt know about it....i only knew when i got there....which really thew me b/c she never metioned it the last time i saw her oh well i think im over it now...i see her tomorrow with this other person too i think i might do that...i really am not happy with it. Thank you again special

laceylu · Jun 08, 2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamspecial

Im not having a good day...i had my appointment today with my T and has a surprise (not a good one) there was someone with her i didnt know what to do with myself and didnt really want to talk i did talk tho and the other person joined in (kept asking me questions )....i couldnt look at them for feeling really bad It wasnt a group session.....the other person works with my T (they are colleagues) nope...nope it deffo wasnt a group session....i dont do group sessions my T said that b/c i have been feeling the way i have (for a long time now and i havent improved) she wanted this other person to JOIN us with our chats so that if she isnt available i still have someone that could help (been feeling really bad and wanting to die) not good i know but still i didnt like it....i kept picking my nail varnish off instead of looking at them b/c i just couldnt look at them (my T knows about this website) and i told her i post poems on here so now this other person wants to read them my T never asks to read them ever till now i didnt know what to say to her b/c i didnt know this other person but she acted like she knew me and i couldnt...i just panicked and didnt know what to do..its really got to me now....cant believe she pulled this on me I wish she told me 2 weeks ago that she wanted someone in with us next time we met then i could have prepared myself for it or i would have said no thanks and not gone to see her...i feel soooo stupid now and im soooo upset with her and angry (i dont normally feel angry but upset....i always am) UGH!!!!

The Uk may have different HIPPA laws than the states. But if they work in the same office and capacity in the states, then she has not broken any law. She may have been asking the other colleague for help with you or maybe she is needing to be off work for a while and did not want to leave you without help. In the states, a patient is asked right before and can decline. The only way to know is to ask. i will be prepared now if this happens to me. thanks for sharing.

iamspecial · Jun 08, 2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laceylu

The Uk may have different HIPPA laws than the states. But if they work in the same office and capacity in the states, then she has not broken any law. She may have been asking the other colleague for help with you or maybe she is needing to be off work for a while and did not want to leave you without help. In the states, a patient is asked right before and can decline. The only way to know is to ask. i will be prepared now if this happens to me. thanks for sharing.

You are very welcome...its ok now....last time i saw her she didnt bring the other person with her...so i have no idea with whats going on with that....thank you for your comment spceial

eskielover · Jun 12, 2011, 12:00 AM

I would think it would be a good idea to not just let that situation slide by without discussing how you felt about it & get to know what your rights actually are in the UK....which might be different than our HIPPA laws here in the US.

I think the main issue I would have had was that she did it without talking over what she was planning on doing with me. I want to know what a person who is treating me is planning & to be an active part in my treatment which means knowing if someone else is going to be brought in to talk to me rather than just springing it on me without any communication at all about it.

Your T needs to know that the WAY she did it wasn't acceptable to you even if it might be within the law....she needs to know how much it bothered you just bringing in someone who knew everything about you without your being the one to tell them.

I know I would have been upset at the way she handled the situation even though it's nice that she was caring enough to bring in someone else who might be able to help more....it's the way she did it that was wrong.

It's good to get things out in the air that have bothered you rather then letting them slide & get burried....it's the things that we bury in life that stick around to haunt us later on.....I have found that out over the 58 years of life.

iamspecial · Jun 12, 2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eskielover

I would think it would be a good idea to not just let that situation slide by without discussing how you felt about it & get to know what your rights actually are in the UK....which might be different than our HIPPA laws here in the US.

I think the main issue I would have had was that she did it without talking over what she was planning on doing with me. I want to know what a person who is treating me is planning & to be an active part in my treatment which means knowing if someone else is going to be brought in to talk to me rather than just springing it on me without any communication at all about it.

Your T needs to know that the WAY she did it wasn't acceptable to you even if it might be within the law....she needs to know how much it bothered you just bringing in someone who knew everything about you without your being the one to tell them.

I know I would have been upset at the way she handled the situation even though it's nice that she was caring enough to bring in someone else who might be able to help more....it's the way she did it that was wrong.

It's good to get things out in the air that have bothered you rather then letting them slide & get burried....it's the things that we bury in life that stick around to haunt us later on.....I have found that out over the 58 years of life.

I think it is different here....if she feels im at risk then she has no choice she has to ask for backup and i think thats wwhat she was doing but she could have told me and not just did what she did do.

I was shocked when she brought her with her...she could see i was bothered with it...i couldnt have made it more clear for her. what she did wasnt right but i cant change that.

I'm just not very good with my words and when i talk to my T it never comes out the way i want it to...i get all shy and scared of her (i know that sounds bad....i just dont trust her or even think confronting her will do me any good) i have tried to tell her that i wasnt happy about it and she knows about PC and i did tell her if she wants to know how it made me felt the best way was to come on here and read it for herself so that she knew how i felt but not able to express it to her...she is getting rid of me now anyway b/c she cant help me so how will anyone be able to help me if she has given up on me? she wants me to see someone else to do CAT (Cognitive Analytical Therapy).....its abit like CBT but diffenrent i guess...i really dont know anything about it but i have been looking it up and im not sure that will work either but i have to try it.

thank you for your comment...and the support...i couldnt keep it in...its what i have always done and now im having to face them instead of facing them when i should have. i will try and tell her again and if i still cant seem to then im just gonna print this off and let her read it...its the only way i think...im not a confident person and im scared of my own shaddow....so the world is a scary place for me but i will live and get by..Thank you again.

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