[justbreathe1994]

Saw my dietician today at the clinic and of course got triggered, lol what else is new? I suppose the trigger during session is not super important, because the trigger after session felt much worse. When I got triggered in session, I shut down a bit but was not dysregulated or raising my voice in anyway. I gave short answers and just really wanted to leave. I wanted to go out the back door because I didn’t want to walk by ex T’s office. She then told me she had to “escort” me because apparently that’s something they do with everyone? She told me that due to privacy of other clients, they need to make sure clients actually leave and don’t go in any of the other rooms.

I felt like she thought I was crazy. I felt like she thought I was a stalker for driving by ex T’’s house. Maybe I am crazy. I just feel triggered that people think I’m so incompetant that I need to be “watched” so as to protect other people. I have never acted violent or malicios in any way.

[susannahsays]

I don't think this is about you. I have worked in a therapy office. We didn't let clients walk around unaccompanied outside of the waiting room. That was just the policy - for everybody. Try not to take it personally.

[SlumberKitty]

I agree with Susannahsays. Try to not take it personally. I have been escorted into and out of every therapy appointment I've ever had. Even with my former T that I saw for 10 years. I don't think it's about trust or not trusting. I think it's just policy a lot of places. I understand that you felt like she thought you were crazy. Try to fight those feelings because I think those feelings are lying to you. I don't think she thinks you are crazy. I think it's just one of those policy things. HUGS. Kit

[LonesomeTonight]

Hm, I'm a bit puzzled by the "escorted" thing. Current T lets me walk out on my own, despite other T (and other practitioner--like massage therapist) offices back there. Ex-T never walked me out. Ex-MC walked us out sometimes, but it was mainly because he was retrieving his next client. I mean, maybe it's just a new policy there?

[WishfulThinker66]

I'm in agreement here. It isn't about you it's about a policy for everyone to follow.

[susannahsays]

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

Hm, I'm a bit puzzled by the "escorted" thing. Current T lets me walk out on my own, despite other T (and other practitioner--like massage therapist) offices back there. Ex-T never walked me out. Ex-MC walked us out sometimes, but it was mainly because he was retrieving his next client. I mean, maybe it's just a new policy there?

Your current therapist is an independent practitioner. I don't know about the others. But it's typically different when you are part of an agency. There are usually policies about where clients can go unaccompanied in agencies.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by susannahsays

Your current therapist is an independent practitioner. I don't know about the others. But it's typically different when you are part of an agency. There are usually policies about where clients can go unaccompanied in agencies.

Good point. My ex-T and ex-MC were part of a practice, but independent practitioners within it. Trying to think of how it worked when I was at an agency like 12 years ago...

[ScarletPimpernel]

My T is an independent practitioner. She always walks me to her office. However, when we're done, she only walks me to the door. When I was seeing ex-T, she'd walk me in and out.

[atisketatasket]

Is this where you saw your ex T since her office is there? So you were probably escorted then too if it’s policy (even if no one explained it), so you can reassure yourself it’s not you.

[justbreathe1994]

Originally Posted by atisketatasket

Is this where you saw your ex T since her office is there? So you were probably escorted then too if it’s policy (even if no one explained it), so you can reassure yourself it’s not you.

Yes, I saw ex T there too. Ex T never escorted me

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by justbreathe1994

Yes, I saw ex T there too. Ex T never escorted me

Maybe a new policy?

[atisketatasket]

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

Maybe a new policy?

Yes, or your ex T didn’t follow the rules. Or it’s because you wanted to go out the back instead of the front.

You were doing the right thing for you and trying to avoid her office.

[amandalouise]

yea Im with the others on this...

any mental health agency private or otherwise they dont allow clients to wander around the building unaccompanied other than going tot he restrooms and the lobby, when ever I have come or gone by less public access that was not part of the main entrance and lobby/waiting room either the receptionist went with me or my therapists.

think of it this way... imagine if you are in a therapy session and someone else looking for a non public exit walked into your session with your therapist, or a client who had just had a hard session walked into your session, pulled a gun... or a suicidal client walked in to your session with your therapist and committed suicide in front of you....

none of those things are anything you want to happen to you during your own sessions right...

now on the other side of things.. what if while heading out of the back exit you are thinking on what just went on during your sessions and you reach for what you think is the back exit but ends up being someone elses therapy session, this other person is venting their anger and crying and swearing saying things that can trigger and upset you, make you afraid for your life because you are only hearing a piece of that persons session.....

again not something you want to happen right?

on the therapist side of things would they be upholding your confidentiality if while you were trying to find the back exit your neighbor walks out of one of the other therapy rooms? ooops busted right.

and I have to admit that there have been times when escorted to the back door I have heard a word or sound that peeked my curiosity, un escorted I know I would have stopped for a second and listened to see that what ever was going on behind that door was ok. I wouldnt have opened the door but would have taken a moment to listen in for a few moments to make sure everything was ok.

I was also raised with common courtesy where when someone is visiting another the person of the house or person I am visiting walks you to the door. in this day and age many people have forgotten or just are not taught about manners and common courtesies. So when I witness or am part of it by being escorted to the door I take time to enjoy this. kind of like being a queen or royalty these days in the world that lacks manners and common courtesies. lol

my suggestion is not to take it personally, just the way it is.

[Taylor27]

It's probably there policy, my addiction counsellor would walk me to the door to the waiting room. My therapist opens his office door when i am ready to leave so maybe also it's her way to end the appointment. Im sure it has nothing to do with you. Hugs

It probably is just their policy, not anything you did

[lesliethemad]

This sounds like a good policy to protect you and other patient confidentiality.

I interviewed a therapist that was in a shared therapy building and I chose not to work with them because so many extra people were coming and going in the waiting area. Like, a lot a lot. And the entire session kids were playing in the room next to us. Which is find. But a bad setup for someone doing trauma therapy.