[ToeJam]

An interesting session 1:1 with a group therapy facilator today.

Been on 'cool off' period for near on 8 months due to the hospital admission that started last october... but I've been seeing him once a month to 'chat' (though he'd probably call it therapy) as far as I'm concerned.

Since I've got used to him (takes the following a long time its self) I've become used/resigned to his wishy washy approach.... sits so much on the fence I'm surprised he can sit at all due to splinters.

I should probably back up and explain -

To begin, after two weeks in hospital the consultant insisted I go back to group therapy (I've let the following rest re complaint... but I was on 10 minute observations at the time while on the ward... and for some reason I was suddenly allowed to travel un-escorted to the location (I kind of trust you get the stupidity risk here). I say that from a relative level of stability now.... but I was all over the shop at the time... had had the pin (an alarm based system each staff member carries to be pulled in emergencies) pulled on me several times... including a few hours leading up to leaving... still pissed off in retrospect (not even got to the proper why yet) as I was moved to a different ward before I could talk to the consultant about this negligence).

Sorry for excessive brackets

Anyway... buses were running late and I called ahead to advise I'd be delayed to the receptionist. Was in the middle of the city when I got a sudden call from the group facilitator telling me he was shocked to hear I was on my way and that I was not to attend (transpired later that there had been no communication between the hospital and the center re suitability to attending the sessions).

Well... sent me into a right mess several miles from hospital.

Regardless... been seeing him monthly since then and like I said it's been seriously wishy washy... one month things look positive towards returning... the next he's concerned re risk management.

Today was the last session - final decision.

As said, I went in resigned to what will be will be. He was quick with a no and said a letter was in the post to my psychiatric nurse (care coordinator). Explained it was due to high risk management and my having ASD (which doesn't fully fit into the remit of the facility - specializes in personality disorders). He had been keeping up dated on my notes which are accessible via all of the mental health services that are involved in my 'care' via the NHS.

Here is where it got interesting - I was very calm (I'm used to him now) and accepted what he said... but that I wanted to get into discourse about it:

I explained that there was a dichotomy in how notes were no doubt being written. That (without meaning to blow my own trumpet) I am highly educated and services I have access to (which includes the times I've been in hospital) are used to dealing with educationally disadvantaged service users... so they are accustomed to dealing with things 'staff led' rather than 'client led'.... = butting heads and frustration from both sides. That in some respect I found myself hitting a glass wall that was holding me back from moving on - self esteem/confidence.

I explained that I had been patient with the cool off period (irritated but patient) and that on his advice I had discontinued 1:1 therapy (private) some months ago as he had worried it would intefere with the additional weekly therapy his facility would be providing (style conflict).

That yes my stability has been a tad rocky... but due to no therapy and no discourse at an educational level to... I guess, 'my expectation?'... the only person I had been discussing things with was myself... so not very healthy.

That I had found the group therapy useful... all of the service users are of a similar academic level (the group itself is called 'analytic therapy') and to have had it put on hold had been a difficult pill to swallow since I saw potential for moving forward.

Wasn't actually trying to change his mind as such... was just being candid and passively aggressively pissed off

Well... he suddenly said 'damn it... wait here, I'm going to go and try and retrieve the letter before it gets sent'. Was a little stunned as he left the room.

Came back advising the letter had already gone... but he'd call my nurse to ignore it. He told me that in all his years doing the job, I was the first person he'd said no to... to change his mind.... and that I will be returning to therapy at the end of this month.

I asked him to put that in writing.... I have it in my bag.

[unaluna]

It's like the award scene of the wizard of Oz, all in one! Well done!

[Waterbear]

Good for you for sticking up for yourself! Good result too, I am pleased for you.

[ToeJam]

Originally Posted by unaluna

It's like the award scene of the wizard of Oz, all in one! Well done!

Heh, thanks Been exhausted since... guess the well oiled 'argument' machine I had when I was in academia has become a bit rusted, so took a lot out of me.

But, yeah.. pleased with the outcome. Saw my psychiatric nurse the next day and she said she'd received an email advising the reversed decision and that he was sure I would tell her all about it... she has a bemused working relationship with him.

[Fuzzybear]