[Victoria'smom]

She's fresh out of college. I'm worried I'll be to much for her but she does need practice with clints like me. I'm writing about a paragraph a day to T. Last T I had mentioned PHP the first time she read it. This T is fresh out of college. I'm worried I'm to much for her and she'll send me IP. I need to do the letter so she knows what she's getting into. I'd rather be transferred now then later. What would you do?

[MobiusPsyche]

She does need experience with patients like you, but it needn't be at your expense. Maybe save that impulse to be generous with your time and experience for a time when you're more stable? (I don't know how stable you are or aren't, but if they're mentioning PHP....)

Whatever you decide, it might be good to address this with her directly at the start of the next session.

I would ask her about what type of ongoing supervision, clinical supervision, she receives. Does she have a plan in place to get support when she needs it?

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[Victoria'smom]

it needn't be at your expense She could be a very good therapist for me. I'm not stable at all but I'm never truly stable. I think I need to address this but I don't know how she'll react.

[Waterbear]

Lay it all out in the table and see what the response is. I think that is where I am at right now. That is what I should do but it is only my advice, take it for what it is worth.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

it needn't be at your expense She could be a very good therapist for me. I'm not stable at all but I'm never truly stable. I think I need to address this but I don't know how she'll react.

I'd just be honest with her about your concerns. Ask what she'd do if she was concerned about her ability to "handle you"--seek supervision? talk about referring you? etc.

[Ad Intra]

Hello!

Having an inexperienced T can be good and bad. I've come to find out the Ts are not the ones who 'know everything', but are the ones who are patient, willing to learn from you and are open to feedback. You can find these traits in new and old therapists.

My current T earned her MSW in 2014 and started her first therapy job in the fall of 2015. At times she has no idea what's she's doing. When that happens I just explain why don't think the activity will be effective for me and she adjust it because she is willing to met me in the middle.

I believe it best to lay this all out in person.

I must point out that I'm of the belief that 'new' is actually a positive. She will be up on and versed in new therapies, theories, and practices. She would have no bad habits yet. She also wouldn't be entirely inexperienced. Not sure the training where you are but here a psychologist has 7 years of schooling 3 of which are clinical. What I'm saying is this just might be a good thing.

[annielovesbacon]

Of course you and I are completely different people, but my most recent T was a doctoral intern, so she was finishing up her PhD while working as a therapist. I actually found it to be very helpful that she was new, and she was very capable despite being inexperience, so don't write off this one just yet! But of course make sure you are doing what's best for you. Remember that it is ultimately your wellbeing and yours alone that you need to be concerned about in this situation!

[Victoria'smom]

I think its a BA. She's an addiction therapist which I'm a MI with no addiction history. I guess I have a lot to talk about Friday.

[annielovesbacon]

Let us know how it goes! I think I also would be questioning if it's a good idea to see someone who specializes in addiction if I did not have an addiction. Who knows? I'm interested to hear.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

it needn't be at your expense She could be a very good therapist for me. I'm not stable at all but I'm never truly stable. I think I need to address this but I don't know how she'll react.

I assume she's under some sort of supervision. That can make up for lack of experience.

I hope it goes well for you and you get to express your concerns.
I know lots of people who wouldn't see a trainee or relatively new t either or a t that was younger than them and of course we all have our own needs when it comes to working with a t. Personally age or experience don't matter to me, I have seen many ts who are older, have years of experience and are burnt out, old fashioned, ignorant and condescending. Their training is out of date but they still practise and claim they are seasoned and well practised.
In my opinion they have no business practising as they do a lot of harm by thinking they know everything but they forget their empathy and are not willing to keep an open mind and to step into another's shoes for an hour. It's very sad but happens a lot.
Then on the flip side there are trainees who have done very little personal therapy and are unfamiliar with the process and think it's all about techniques and interventions. So I guess my point is that it is really about the person that the therapist is, what reason is she doing this for? I would meet her because it is about the relationship too and how you two interact together.

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[divine1966]

It could be good. Or bad. I saw young intern in the past and she was useless to say the least. I go for older Ts, mine has over 30 years of experience. Saying that in every profession there are very good professionals at any age as well as bad ones. She might be excellent regardless of age, I would talk to her more and tell her exact reasons you worry about her age and see what she says

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