[imapatient]

Have appointments with 3 potnetial new T' in the next 7 days.

First oen is tomorrow.

Experiencing some clash between my 2 individual T's, one favors a behavioral approach (that's her background--5th year PhD student in a program that emphasizes it), the other a psychodynamic approach--he's much older and from that school of thought. So varying opinions on the candidates. My group t is more behavioral, but doesn't downplay the psychodynamic apporach so much.

The 1st oen I'll meet is in 11 hours. He's a behavioral/psychpodynamic mix who also specializes in csa; I've never had a T who did so my treatment for it has been sketchy. I don't liek the fact that Mr. Thurs. will be bale to see my notes from group, and group T from Mr. Thurs., sicne they're witht eh same big company. They have a privacy issue there. I might wnat to process some thigns in group about my indiv T that I don't want him reading about in my notes. adn vice-versa. It's a long drive 40 mins; all freeway but very long for our metro area.

2 other appointments set. pdoc gave me a name today.

wish me luck tomorrow.

good luck imp! tomorrow's guy sounds like he has a good mix of skills for you. trust your gut!

[deliquesce]

good luck impy!! can you discuss the privacy issue with the new T? even though pdoc/austin work in the same place neither is privy to the other person's records. i ***** about austin-t to pdoc all the time .

[imapatient]

Originally Posted by deliquesce

i ***** about austin-t to pdoc all the time .

Surely you gest!

Forgot to proof my original entry before posting it.

[mobius]

Good luck with the search! I know from experience that it can be difficult and overwhelming, so take good care of yourself too.

[googley]

You should as about the ability of each other to see notes. And if they would read each others notes. That would be an important thing to bring up in a first session. That way you will know. Just because they work at the same place does not mean they have access to each others notes. And even if they have access, does not mean that they would read them. As for complaining about one to the other, that happens all the time. They would be professional and not get offended or tell the other person unless it is a team treatment situation. Good luck with the T search.

[deliquesce]

how did it go??

[WePow]

Good luck!! Take your time considering things. This is a big choice to make.

[imapatient]

Originally Posted by deliquesce

how did it go??

I'm so lame about starting threads and then disappearing.

The session was, I don't know. I tried to clearly lay down the boundaries and that ended up taking too long; some wasted time chatting about admin matters.

He was pretty good personality and interconnectedness-wise. He had some good views on things--he thinks a certain popular treatment is hocus-pocus, so does NYC T and so do I and he wouldn't refer for it, which is good. Various good things to say about CBT. vs. psychodynamic.

At a certain point he said that I might be better spending my time asking about him since I needed to evaluate him. You know he's right, but I don't know how to do that, what to ask. Overall, I think I could work with him, but need to know more, and I have more appointments set up.

I have an appointment with someone else in about 2.5 hours.

Suggestions about how to evaluate, what to ask?

[imapatient]

OK had an appt on Mon with someone. It's now Tues night.

Didn't work. He's very much like a stereotype of a therapist old-school style. Distant, aloof, a bit authority-like but not demeaning--stuffy, maybe? Not warm and fuzzy like I kind of need. Very intellectual and analytical, which I like, but not up to par that way, I think. He seems to, too. At the end I asked him what he thought about working with me. He said "it'll be a challenge." VETO! I asked why and he said because of my intellectual abilities and far-ranging knowledge and whatever else he tried to say about it. What I got out of it is him saying/thinking: I'm not sure I can keep up with you. VETO! with more specific info. I can't see a T who has those thoughts going on inside him from the first time he meets me. I'd always doubt him knowing he's doubting himself. He also is not schooled in or practices with a behavioral bent--I've written about the divide among T's about my need for this. Like I say, very old school; not dynamic--no pun intended.

Most important in a fit everyone (my T's and studies) say is the personal connection between T and patient, with therapeutic style less important. NYC T says what's most important for me is that I find someone who's smart enough for me. Which both he and my local T (working on her PhD in psych at big public uni here) are. The T on Mon. has a traditional PhD in psych from a traditional uni (30+ years ago), so I wouldn't have thought the intellectual inclination--and me giving praise to my NYC for being so, so smart--would be off-putting to him (and he's kinda intellectual). But NYC T has an impressive professional pedigree (MA from Ivy League school A, PhD in non-psych from Ivy League school B, PhD in psych from a top 5 psych dept. uni, on faculty at Ivy League school C [one of my issues is that depression drove me out of working on a PhD at Ivy league school C, so I have fascination with NYC T for getting through all those degrees and schools and a hang-up about not finishing myself, hence a fixation on, and being impressed by, those who did]). It's not like Mon PhD's background is chopped liver. A PhD in clinical psych at a traditional uni is a PhD in clinical psych, schools are just ranked at diff. levels. It's not like he did a lesser degree or lesser work. But whatever, that comment of his seals it, though the lack of fit really is enough to nix the idea.

I see someone Wed. aft. Late 50's. PhD in clinical psych from 30 years ago from a traditional uni. More varied approaches used, more behavioral. Local T really likes his background.

The first guy from last week is looking better.

sorry for typos, need to get to bed.

[darkrunner]

Originally Posted by imapatient

I'm so lame about starting threads and then disappearing.

I do this too sometimes.
Things get busy and I just can't get back to respond to my own thread, or I start regretting what I posted and just want the thread to 'disappear'

Originally Posted by imapatient

Suggestions about how to evaluate, what to ask?

To me it sounds like you did great and asked some good questions.

Originally Posted by imapatient

At the end I asked him what he thought about working with me. He said "it'll be a challenge." VETO! I asked why and he said because of my intellectual abilities and far-ranging knowledge and whatever else he tried to say about it. What I got out of it is him saying/thinking: I'm not sure I can keep up with you. VETO!

Seriously? Ugh! I guess the good thing is that he was honest with you....but
hard to believe he would actually say or even think this.....maybe a reflection of his own issues/insecurities.

I hope the one you see on Wednesday is more promising.