[atisketatasket]

I was musing about how these terms often seem interchangeable to therapists and in mental health discussions in general, including on here. Maybe it seems odd to me because of my language background, but etymologically patient originally meant "sufferer" while client meant "follower/obeyer." (And yet client is supposed to be the term that indicates greater equality.)

I dislike both terms as applied to therapy actually but can't think of an English word to replace them. (There's probably a German one, though.). Thoughts?

Eta: that's supposed to be helPs in the last poll option.

[ruh roh]

I don't like either, either.

[BrazenApogee]

I prefer client, but I know my T uses the word patient. Just not to my face, which is good.

I read somewhere that the word patient really means "one who suffers" so it makes sense, I do suffer.

[runlola72]

Patient, because it implies he is caring for me. Client sounds like an ordinary business transaction. The work we do in session is so sensitive... I hate to even remember that I have to pay him for it.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I think my T uses "clients". I prefer "client" over "patient", but neither really bother me.

[Mully]

I think my T uses client? I honestly haven't noticed much before. She will usually just say "people I work with", if anything. It doesn't really bother me, either way.

My t uses "client", which I prefer to "patient". I'm not sure why.

I just tried to explain myself and deleted the explanation because it sounded stupid.

[awkwardlyyours]

Alice Miller in one of her books (can't remember which one but possibly the famous 'Drama of the Gifted Child') talks about how she specifically prefers to use patient because that conveys the real meaning of therapy Miller style whereas client implies something more business-y / less serious etc (not sure if I'm paraphrasing her right since it's been a while). Then again, I've only read her in translation -- so, who knows?!

ETA: Given my adoration of Miller, I'd go with patient -- current T says client. Potential new Ts -- haven't asked.

[confusedbyself]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

I was musing about how these terms often seem interchangeable to therapists and in mental health discussions in general, including on here. Maybe it seems odd to me because of my language background, but etymologically patient originally meant "sufferer" while client meant "follower/obeyer." (And yet client is supposed to be the term that indicates greater equality.)

I dislike both terms as applied to therapy actually but can't think of an English word to replace them. (There's probably a German one, though.). Thoughts?

Eta: that's supposed to be helPs in the last poll option.

I didn't vote because I agree with you and don't care for either but don't know what I would like

[Chummy2]

T uses clients. Most T's do. I think patients is only used by doctors and that kind.
I prefer client. Patient make me feel like I'm sick. I feel like that's more for when you're in the hospital. I don't know what my Pdoc used. I think patient.

[therapyishelping777]

I"m not really sure what my T calls me or thinks of me as? He is Dr /psychologist, so maybe patient?

[Pennster]

I wouldn't tolerate being called a patient by my therapist. I suffered a lot at the hands of the medical industry when I was young, and some of the worst things inflicted upon my in my life were at the hands of people who called me their "patient". It's a power dynamic I want nowhere near my therapy. Client is an ok word to me.

[88Butterfly88]

Client. But I'm not too picky. T called me one of her people, which was cool.

[annielovesbacon]

I prefer client, because it sounds like a business transaction... which implies that I have a choice in the matter. Which I do. "Patient" makes it sound like I'm sick and I need healing. I suppose a mental health diagnosis could qualify me as "sick," but I don't see it that way. And I don't go to therapy to be healed, either. It helps me find ways to cope and think better

[junkDNA]

he calls ppl clients. i dont care about it.

I actually don't think he has used either to me that I've ever been aware of. He just calls me by my name. I don't particularly care how he refers to me otherwise. Just not important to me so long as he is good at what he does and things are working for me.

[Out There]

He uses client and so do I , or people I work with. I don't think I've ever heard him say patient.

[Argonautomobile]

He uses them interchangeably. I have a hard time bringing myself to care, either way. I find 'patient' mildly....infantilizing, maybe? It doesn't strike me as a particularly empowering word. On the other hand, 'patient' allows me to think of therapy as 'treatment' or 'medical care,' which brings an aspect of legitimacy. Simplifies the issue a lot.

'Patients' have conditions for which the seek treatment. I can fit myself into that mould.

But 'Clients'? What do they have? What is therapy to them? The answers are more complicated; the framework less ready-made.

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by Argonautomobile

He uses them interchangeably. I have a hard time bringing myself to care, either way. I find 'patient' mildly....infantilizing, maybe? It doesn't strike me as a particularly empowering word. On the other hand, 'patient' allows me to think of therapy as 'treatment' or 'medical care,' which brings an aspect of legitimacy. Simplifies the issue a lot.

'Patients' have conditions for which the seek treatment. I can fit myself into that mould.

But 'Clients'? What do they have? What is therapy to them? The answers are more complicated; the framework less ready-made.

This is an excellent point. What's client-y about therapy except the therapist gets paid, one way or another?

I kind of like the "my people" some posters have mentioned, though that would never be accepted as a professional term.

[Argonautomobile]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

This is an excellent point. What's client-y about therapy except the therapist gets paid, one way or another?

Nicely stated. When it comes down to it, I would honestly rather have people (everybody from random strangers to medical professionals to my own family and friends) think of me as a 'patient' receiving treatment for a condition than as a 'client' with god-knows-what they think that entails.

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

I kind of like the "my people" some posters have mentioned, though that would never be accepted as a professional term.

Come to think of it, he actually uses this term, too. (or 'folks' sometimes) It avoids the pitfalls of the other two words---but you're right, it's not a professional term.

[MobiusPsyche]

Either is vastly preferable to "consumer," which has been used in some public mental health systems in the U.S. It makes me feel like I'm just taking up space, consuming resources that could be better used elsewhere.

Given just the two options, I prefer patient.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

I was musing about how these terms often seem interchangeable to therapists and in mental health discussions in general, including on here. Maybe it seems odd to me because of my language background, but etymologically patient originally meant "sufferer" while client meant "follower/obeyer." (And yet client is supposed to be the term that indicates greater equality.)

I dislike both terms as applied to therapy actually but can't think of an English word to replace them. (There's probably a German one, though.). Thoughts?

Eta: that's supposed to be helPs in the last poll option.

The words client and patient have shifted in meaning. I don't like patient for anything. Mostly because sufferer seems a bit over the top for anything about me. I sometimes use customer when talking to therapists just to get a rise out of them - but I think it is not inaccurate. I prefer client between the two choices and will correct a therapist who uses patient at me. I explain how the meaning of the two words has shifted to patient being the one without power in how western medicine uses the word.

Because I saw a pdoc who treated me medically, I always knew he referred to me as his patient which was completely accurate. So, honestly, it didn't matter to me what my T referred to me as. Not really important to delineate that for me. I had other things on my mind.

But again, I really can never recall my therapist referring to "clients" or "patients" to me. If he referred to others, my mind has him saying something like, "I have someone to see later" or "I have appointments all morning" or "I once saw a person who" or something like that. I just have no memory of him ever using some "term". I was called by my name.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by 88Butterfly88

Client. But I'm not too picky. T called me one of her people, which was cool.

Kind of funny what strikes people. If either of the ones I see tried calling me one of their people I would think they had gone mad. And I would correct them. I don't mind "person who pays me" but I do object to the possessive in general and combining with one of her people would not go well with me. It is certainly not how I view the interactions.

[Daisy Dead Petals]

Neither term is great, but I prefer patient. I know that I am a mentally unwell person, so patient seems an apt reflection of reality in my case. I understand why people find it pathologizing and condescending, however.