[atisketatasket]

I ask because twice now I've picked up on an air of disapproval from three of my therapists about their immediate predecessors. No. 1 had no predecessors, and she referred me to 2, so no issues there. But when I mentioned 2's affect in session to 3, 3 offered unsolicited criticism of it, and when I returned to 2, she in her turn seemed unsolicitedly critical of 3. And DBC/4b clearly has several issues with 3 (down to suggesting she wasn't actually trained to deal with my issues).

So, what is this? Not jealousy, I wouldn't think. Different methods? Attempts to distance the client from the former therapist's way of working by subtle criticism, and so to open them up to new therapist's way?

So if you've had multiple therapists, have you ever noticed this?

[awkwardlyyours]

I'd say 'Not sure'.

To sum up what current T has said about former T:
1. "Sounds like there was a lot [counter-transference] going on".

2. "Sounds like there's some projective identification [on former T's part]".

3. "I am surprised you managed to leave" (I think this was more a comment on my issues).

4. Expressed general surprise (like "Oh wow") at the stuff that former T did / didn't do (E.g. She 'diagnosed' a couple of folks in my life without having met them; never told me she was concerned [or expressed any emotion at all] about me; hardly ever cracked a smile at my [awful] jokes; etc).

[ruh roh]

Mine has shown disapproval of previous therapists, but nothing specific that I can remember, except in one case where she thought I could have filed a complaint, but she wasn't advocating it (I would not have done so anyway).

I think, in general, all of mine have been restrained in their criticisms of previous therapists.

Yes but only have one experience, my second therapist's reactions to my first one. It wasn't consistent. Very early on when I started with the 2nd, I told him quite a bit about my previous therapy experience in general including a few critical things about the 1st but not only negatives at all. He (2nd) expressed a keen interest in "working through" those with him (whatever that means). He was more on the other T's side for a little while as though I, the client, were unaware of some key factors. But very curious, even asked the 1st T's name (I gave him) and then he checked out his colleague quite thoroughly online. Much less impressed when we next talked about it and soon he was on my side and criticized his colleague for infusing my therapy with his issues too much (well, that's what I thought from start). Not sure if he (2nd T) just wanted to mirror me or that became his genuine opinion with more info on me and on the 1st T, but it became a stable view of his.

What does it all mean? Not sure... probably no general patterns among situations but I assume professional competitiveness (don't think that equals to jealousy) plays a role between T's just like in most other fields. I imagine when they speak against a former T that the client liked but the two don't know each-other directly, they perhaps use a tactic to try to discourage the client from going back in case things turn sour. Just guessing.

One could say ask the therapists what it means but I doubt any of them would give a very genuine or full answer, it would not be their best interest.

my t is apalled by all the things last t did

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by Xynesthesia

What does it all mean? Not sure... probably no general patterns among situations but I assume professional competitiveness (don't think that equals to jealousy) plays a role between T's just like in most other fields. I imagine when they speak against a former T that the client liked but the two don't know each-other directly, they perhaps use a tactic to try to discourage the client from going back in case things turn sour. Just guessing.

Makes sense. In my case, 1, 2, and DBC are in the same area, while 3 is 500 miles away, so I was guessing it was more like converting me or something.

[junkDNA]

Words he's used "asshole" "douchy-mcdouchbag" "sick"

[MobiusPsyche]

My current T has not criticized former T's but I didn't really have issues in that area. Previous T's didn't do anything wrong, I just want ready to work on stuff with them.

[velcro003]

I am not sure what my T thinks of my last T. She was surprised at how long I stayed in therapy, especially since it wasn't exactly helping me very much. I think she thinks the style my T used wasn't very helpful for me (pretty blank slate/and neutral to the point where I assumed she was always on the verge of firing me).

[growlycat]

Kashi talked to both my long term t and CA t. He thought CA t - sparky- was like any other clinician he's ever talked to. He seemed underwhelmed. However, the long term t I've known since I was in my late teens, well, he was in awe of that t. Kashi said jeez, I'm being compared to him?! Long term t spoke of me almost as if I were his child while sparky spoke of me as a patient. At least sparky told Kashi that he would like working with me, that I'm likable and enjoyable. At least I entertained sparky. Always interesting when the t's speak to each other.

[stopdog]

The second one I see said the other two (first one now and one I had in my early 20s) had failed me. The first has not said anything.

[Luce]

My ex T was contacted today by new T to get information. I don't think new T has any preconceived ideas about ex T, but I get the feeling ex T is feeling protective and senses she will be judged. She is being asked to describe our therapy together (issues, progress, obstacles etc) and I can see why it is hard for her to explain it. In some ways we didn't make much progress at all, due to my issues and ongoing contact with perpetrators. But that was my fault, not hers.
I am feeling protective of her too. Despite not making a ton of progress in some ways, I learned to have compassion for myselves with her, and learned to trust and be loved.

[xenko]

I briefly saw someone to help me with the damage caused by a previous T and they admonished him severely. They pretty much said he should not be practicing and handled things terribly with me. Said he was very unethical. The person I saw had a higher level of education (more degrees) than previous T.

When someone has been mistreated by a T it hurts the entire profession. I am totally disgusted and never recovered from damages caused by prev. T

My T doesn't offer an opinion. Unless she was in the room with me and another person she couldn't have the truth.

[ScarletPimpernel]

T doesn't like ex-T. She doesn't agree with the things she did, mainly the termination. And talking about love. But she hasn't said anything mean about ex-T. She says she doesn't know her personally, so she can't make that judgment. I respect that and appreciate it. I don't want to feel like I need to defend ex-T. I'd rather the focus be on my feelings about ex-T than T's feelings.

When I first saw current T, I told him I didn't want him to criticise T1. So he didn't.
Then about a year later I was criticising T1 and he was still trying to stay neutral, so I ended up getting angry with him. I later realised I hadn't told him that I don't need him to avoid criticising T1 anymore.
Since that mini-rupture happened, he has been more open with me about his negative feelings towards T1 including saying his behaviour sounded like grooming, and that I was "very wise" to discontinue communication with him. He has refrained from saying anything explicitly derogatory or from his own feelings, and I think that's because he doesn't see any benefit for me in that. I do have a sense of his feelings towards T1 now though. Sometimes it is as subtle as raised eyebrows when I recount something T1 said or did.

[Mike_J]

I'm still on my first therapist, 12 years seeing her but she is still my first

[Elio]

My t hasn't said anything directly to me about previous t's though I do feel like she recognize the 2nd t's role in my fear of being honest in therapy based on the threatened involuntary hold 2nd t used.

My 1st t was in my early 20's, 2nd t was in late 20's. Now I'm in my late 40's and on t #3. I think there is too much time between 1/2 and #3 to really have much of an opinion.

[AllHeart]

Current t and ex-t kind of know and like each other. But current t has said she thinks she is way better than ex-t.