[3velniai]

My previous T called everyone "clients", it was a policy of the place where she worked, everyone was a client. Even my GP calls everyone "client" instead of "patient", again, policy stuff. My current T used the word "patients" last time I saw her and it felt so weird and not ok and too much. She was talking about therapy clients in general, just said "patients" instead of "clients", not about me, but still, I don’t like it that she calls her clients “patients”. Which word does your T prefer, are you a client or a patient?
Idk, I feel like I definitely qualify for therapy client, but I'm not f*** up enough to be a patient.

[Melbadaze]

IN the 5yrs with my T shes never said client nor patient, she has refered to others as other appointments and her business card says she is a consultant, which really is correct, I go to her to consult about my inner world and explore it...

[Indie'sOK]

My T calls everyone her "clients". But aren't I technically a "patient" of my pdoc's as well? Hmm...

My T uses the term "patient", and it really doesn't bother me. But I can understand if some people prefer "client".

My T says "client", and when I worked for a non-profit, we said "client". Wait-I *think* he says client...maybe *I* say that to him when talking about other people who see him. I don't think he's ever said either. He'll say "I have someone waiting for me" or "I have someone at that time". I guess he calls us "someone"

[_embrace]

Mine uses "patients" but he's an MD (who does psychotherapy), and I think that medical doctors, especially, tend to use "patient" instead of "client," at least around here.

I use "client" as well as "consumer"

[splitimage]

My T uses client. My pdoc says patient. My addictions Dr. says patient or client somewhat interchangeably but I'd say she favours patient.

Me I call myself a consumer.

[deliquesce]

pdoc says "patient". i agree that medical drs probably use "patient" more often.

not sure what old-T/Austin-T say... probably "client", although i haven't paid too much attention.

i would refer to myself as a "client" with my Ts, and i would be upset if they said "patient". with pdoc, i remember being surprised when he used to say "patient", but i think it is almost reassuring now... my trust in him has grown, and so now it's ok that i am his "patient" - he still gives me autonomy to make my own decisions, but it's kind of reassuring to think that he has the capacity to look after me should i need to be a "patient" also.

[fallenangel337]

It doesn't bother me either way, but I can understand why it would bother some.

I think I remember once T referring to us as patients. It was when she was on vacation, she changed her voicemail and said "if you are a current patient..." So yea...

Mine used "Sucker who pay my bills"



** perhaps that is why T is now EX-T.

[Amazonmom]

I know you guys might think this is weird...
but I can't remember if my T uses client or patient...and I have been seeing her for 6 months!

[Rapunzel]

I can't remember hearing my T use either term. "Patient" is more of a medical term, and is technically correct as long as psychotherapy is considered, and billed as, a medical treatment. "Client" is correct too, and sounds less pathologizing. Maybe because doctors have "patients" but lawyers and personal shoppers and a whole bunch of other businesses have "clients." "Patient" seems to imply someone with an illness who is being treated (something done to them), while "client" is someone who pays to receive a service (more active control there).

I noticed a comment Marsha Linehan made on which term she used. She made an argument about both being correct, and for the sake of consistency used one term throughout one book, and the other term in another book. She refers to "patients" in the book that is written to therapists most specifically, but in her Skills Manual, which is more likely to be read by consumers, she calls participants "clients."

Although I call my clients "clients," I'm not sure that I really have a preference which I am called when I go to therapy. One doesn't have to mean worse than the other. When you go to your doctor, aren't you a "patient" the same when you go for a wellness check-up or a sore throat as if you were in the hospital for surgery, etc.?

[Tumnus]

Originally Posted by Amazonmom

I know you guys might think this is weird...
but I can't remember if my T uses client or patient...and I have been seeing her for 6 months!

I don't think it's weird. I just called my T's voicemail to find out. I was pretty sure it says client on there, but I really couldn't remember. And for me it's been about a year. She says client, which I prefer. Patient feels right for a pdoc. I don't understand the term "consumer". I get it, technically, but I think of an animal eating. It's probably just me.

[Lemon]

My T never says client or patient. She'll say "some people" or "other people". I like that she sees people as people. I don't know if I would care if she used the other terms, but client sounds too formal to me, better for a business setting.

[Edahn]

I think all these words are equally irrelevant. If your therapist thinks you're inferior, it doesn't matter whether they call you a patient or a platypus. Likewise, if they respect you, they can call you a client, consumer, or Cadillac. The intention will be the same.

I used to work at a psych hospital where the staff was dog-trained to use the word "Individuals" instead of "Patients." It was the most awkward mess and it totally failed. I was actually against it. In the end, the word "Individual" became substituted and just as stigmatized as "Patients". Even worse though, was that the staff was all awkward and unnatural when talking to the patients, ahem, "INDIVIDUALS", and that affected the normal, human communication that I think is a big part of recovery.

I'm a big advocate of treating everyone with dignity and respect, but I think nit-picking about language isn't worth it. It rests on the premise that changing language (surface change) will affect the core, a premise I don't agree with. The jerks are still gonna be jerks and the kind people will still be kind.

P.S. This isn't a rebuttal to your post Evelyn, I was just sharing my thoughts.

[BlueMoon6]

[quote=Tollhouse;1117466]Mine used "Sucker who pay my bills"

This is funny, Toll! I also think that way

Mine uses patient- definitely. This lady aint beatin' around the bush....

[rainbow8]

After 6 years, I don't know! Maybe she doesn't use either and she thinks of us just as times, and that's why she says "my 11:30 is here!"

she uses client on her machine, sometimes patient when she talks...honestly i don't care what she calls me...she takes good care of me.

personally which one am i? doesn't matter...i have so many medical conditions that i am used to being a patient so really being one with her is no big deal.

and hey i can even be her tues 11:30 too. that works. i'm sort of flexible...just not in my non-rotating rotator cuffs.

[~EnlightenMe~]

How about a patient client? I kind of like platypus myself. lolol

OMG, Antimatter!! LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Amazonmom]

Antimatter, that's the first time I have laughed in days!

[BlueMoon6]

OMG! Antimatter! OMG! Where the heck do you get this stuff??????

OMG...antimatter...our t's share the same office...i recognize the lovely receptionist attilla!

i should have known it was you when i heard the refrain..."receipts? you want a receipt? you don't need no stinkin' receipts damn it!"

[rainbow8]

antimatter--you've made me laugh too!! REALLY laugh! I need that before my session today!

Thank you