How about a list of positive experiences with mental healthcare providers?

My T lent me money for my bus pass once. She took me to a Starbucks and to my grocery store (though I'm sure this was part of therapy).

[LesFleursDuMal]

A psychiatrist I saw when I was 16 sent me a postcard during summer. I was so sure she hated me, I certainly wasn't expecting this.

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[Waterbear]

I appreciate my old T hugely. She was empathic, understanding, kind, gentle, safe, dependable, reliable, trustworthy, honest and strong. She gavr me space but prodded and probed just the right amount. She listened, accepted, cared and saw strength in me when I could not. She was there when I needed her and helped me through a really difficult time, when without her I probably would have fallen back down the hole. She was not the one to do long term work with me but she stuck with me until I had found someone. She admitted that even if she could have, she may not have been the best person for the job. When I was struggling with transition she was there, but was just closed enough to make me continue to seek further support, rather than to keep fostering a relationship that could not continue. She became a positive voice in my head and for all of those reasons I will be eternally grateful. I genuinely think that something pointed me in her direction when my Mum passed and, when I am in a positive frame of mind I like to look at it as a parting gift from someone who could not be those things to me. It hurts to have 'lost' my old T but as the saying goes, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

[rainbow8]

My T has been giving me a reduced rate for 2 years, since I have different insurance that she doesn't accept.

She came to my husband's funeral and came on a different day to my house too.

She displays my artwork in her office and tells me when someone compliments it.

I could go on and on. I love my T!

[bounceback]

So many things. When I was in chronic pain. One therapist bought me a huge bottle of Advil from Costco. The same therapist got me a set of tools. I wasn't suppose to know because it was a christmas gift from the giving tree but I know it was her. My counselors helped me get a grant to pay for driving lessons. When I graduated all the caseworkers and therapists got me a card. I am sure there are others. These are the ones I remember right now

[stopdog]

The woman stays back and does not get into my life - which is a super good thing for me.

Originally Posted by rainbow8

She displays my artwork in her office and tells me when someone compliments it.

I could go on and on. I love my T!

My pdoc has a painting of mine too.

[annielovesbacon]

My T and I had to terminate because my T is moving -- we were both unhappy about it, we hadn't had enough time together and we were just really starting to make significant progress. But she went out of her way and used her personal time to look up therapists both in my college town and in my hometown (where she went to college, so she's familiar with the area) to see which ones she thought would be a match for me. Thanks to her I have a T she rec'ed lined up for the fall... I'm nervous to have a new T but way less nervous than I would be if I had had to search for a new T all on my own.

[atisketatasket]

I suppose things like No. 2 once sending a check-in email (and she hates email, so this was a bigger deal than it might otherwise be). Or Nos. 1 and 3 offering what I think are called transitional objects in the biz, personal objects in their offices that were part of the vibe.

I know they meant them to say, "I care," but such behavior just confused me.

[AllHeart]

I appreciate her endless patience and understanding.
I appreciate that my t goes above and beyond the call of duty for me often.
I appreciate that she never gives up on me.
She isn't a perfect t, she makes mistakes, and I appreciate that she always owns up to those imperfections and mistakes.
There are so many things I appreciate about my t. The most important is that I appreciate the love we have for each other and the silly ways we say and show it. And of course, the serious ways, too.

my t consistently goes above and beyond in so many ways, and has so much patience and love

[junkDNA]

so many things...

T gave me money once to buy food.
T slept in the house i was in one night bc i wasnt safe (it was a house off campus of a treatment program). he also came to my house once and basically tucked me in.
T drove me to another city and sat with me during my lawsuit mediation
I got to fly to another state with T to go to a training
T gives me a 75% reduction in rate bc i am poor
just some i can think of right now

oh and T hasnt given up on me in the rollercoaster of the past 6 yrs

[junkDNA]

and my old pdoc paid a large sum of money for me to go into the treatment program i was in which is where i met my T

[The_little_didgee]

I appreciate a lot of things that she has done for me. Simple actions like listening and not being judgmental are a big deal to me especially after the misdiagnosis hell I went through. The biggest thing she has done for me was getting the hospital to acknowledge the mistake they made and apologize which was very healing. Another thing I appreciate is the chocolate and candy she gives me.

It could be a long list, but I'll keep it short. Mostly I appreciate the professionalism and consistent care the therapists provided for me and their determination to get me through the bad state I was in and beyond it to a place where I could live a more stable, fulfilling life.

[RedSun]

My T answers my emails, not straight away, but always a helpful, considered, compassionate response.
The other day I emailed in a bad way and asked her to email something nice. She wrote a supportive paragraph, tbh I meant a smiley emoji

[ScarletPimpernel]

I'm thankful for my T emailing. She doesn't really like doing it. I couldn't see her this week, so I asked for an email check-in. Normally, she only writes 2-3 sentences (that's all she's comfortable with), but I asked her to write a little longer this time. She did! And I so needed it. This has been a rough week, and now I have her words to carry with me until I see her next week.

[Luce]

I am so very thankful to ex t for everything she did and everything she continues to do. Years after ending t with her she still supports me via email when it is needed.
There is so very much I am grateful for I wouldn't even know where to begin. There are too many years of thankfulness there.

With current short term t I am grateful for her ability to listen and accept the things I need to say. I am grateful that she believes me - that enables me to dive straight in and get to the work I need to do.

I appreciate that she gives me (I know she does this for every patient) extra time when needed.

I appreciate the effort you put in.

And when you help me out in the snow!

[ruh roh]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

I suppose things like No. 2 once sending a check-in email (and she hates email, so this was a bigger deal than it might otherwise be). Or Nos. 1 and 3 offering what I think are called transitional objects in the biz, personal objects in their offices that were part of the vibe.

I know they meant them to say, "I care," but such behavior just confused me.

Mine has also sent check in emails a few times, which has always surprised me because I have gotten the impression she would prefer that I not email (tho she's never said not to). It's nice and also confusing. I hadn't thought about the care factor. Mine is careful not to suggest anything like that, but then she goes and does something like a check-in email or 90 min session or responding on a day off.

[kecanoe]

Today-offering to check in via text over the weekend. I am moving and grieving.

[Cinnamon_Stick]

My old-T did so much for me I could write a book.
- She let me call her in emergency's when my suicidal thoughts got to a dangerous point.
- I had a session on my bday and she went out of way to make it a good day/session and as a bday gift she gave me an adult coloring book with sparkle colored pencils
- She gave me a transitional object when I was struggling with the connection between sessions
- She did a video and tons of recordings (for different situations) so I can always have her voice saying comforting things
- She got me in for emergency sessions sometimes with little notice
- She empowered me and made me feel so good and had the best insights
- It was clear she cared and loved me. Her actions showed it more than hearing her say the words.
-When we ended therapy together she got me a book and a stone that says 'You are loved" so I would always know she loves me and she hand wrote me a letter.
- She helped me destroy a SI letter I wrote (after she read it) and suggested we destroy it together as a symbol that she was helping me carry the burden and to "leave it there".
- She let me email her and replied each time with such helpful, supporting words
- She was happy and encouraged me to record my sessions.
- Her hugs were so healing and it was nice to have extra ones when I was really struggling.
- Now that we have ended therapy she has kept her promise to stay in touch and we chat on the phone every couple of weeks.

[Chummy2]

Current T:
- she was and is very understanding about how hard it was for me to change to another therapist (her) and helped me with it
- she gave me a bracelet with some beads to help me remind me some things that had to do with going to school
- she gave me a small stone with a ladybug to help me remind myself to be nice to myself
- she gave me a card to congratulate me on passing my exams
- she seems a good schema therapist
- she seems very open and honest to me
>>> And I've only been with her for about 3 months

Other T who is with maternity leave
> Lately I haven't have much positive thoughts about her and I've much anger, but before she told me about her leaving I had so much appreciation for her:
- she was the first T who understood me and was able to help me
- she has been very patient.
- she told me I could email her about things if I found it too hard to say in person and this helped me to open up to her and to talk more to her
- in the beginning of our therapy we went outside during my sessions to do exposer therapy together (no T before her had done something similair with me)
- she hasn't refered me even when I was really depressed and made no progress and I was convinced I couldn't get better (I was afraid to lose her as a T)
- she has been supporting
- she had a very positive character
- I got a half hug and three kisses at the end of our last (?) session
> there's probably much more, a lot of small things. But her leaving hurt me so much, it's bigger than all the good things she has done.

[MobiusPsyche]

I appreciate that my t always sends thoughtful responses to emails. I don't email often, but when I do, I'm always more than satisfied with her response. She really understood what I was saying and many times what I wasn't saying. I usually send her links to articles or videos or similar things that "spoke to me." I appreciate the effort it must take to write a thoughtful and insightful response.