See clients back to back?

The whole thing is so bizarre to me. T going from one topic to another with a whole different person.

It almost seems kind of cold...."Next"

At least if they scheduled some time in between like hours, they have time to adsorb the client's comments and think about then and then refocus......instead of "Next."

[splitimage]

I often wonder how my T does it. I know she takes copious notes in my sessions so that she can see what we were last talking about in prior sessions. But I think it must be really difficult to have to go from one mode to another in switching between clients with different problems and different levels of intensity.

I really wonder how she doesn't burn out.

--splitimage

[ECHOES]

They have extensive training and they are highly intelligent. They listen with a "3rd ear".

My T takes no notes. She remembers everything including things I've forgotten! It delights me to no end that she does.

I'm just glad they are there

[chaotic13]

My T takes very few notes, at least while I am there. Maybe she has a tape recorder stashed somewhere

[Perna]

They respond in the moment (which is what they're trying to teach us I think). I don't think they have any baggage either, so it's not as hard to remember the story/thread. Too, most therapy sessions have 10 minutes inbetween and some therapists write down a few notes then, between sessions about what happened with the previous client.

I don't think T's necessarily have a whole lot of clients every day, either. They could only have 3-4 a day maybe or 6+ maybe 3-4 days a week, etc. so they aren't always back-to-back and "continuous". I think a good workload is supposed to be like 20 people a week and if you think of a 40 hour week, that's 4 a day, not too hard to keep track of?

But you know 10-20 people easy; friends, relatives, work, neighbors, etc. and don't forget about them?

[Rapunzel]

I think that I will need to schedule so that I will have time to write some notes in between. I don't know how my T remembers everything that she does, and she gives people the whole hour too. I don't know when she writes notes.

[ECHOES]

Rap, there is also a phone system I've seen used in medical doctor offices. They dictate into a phone and it's recorded and I assume then it is transcribed from there. That would be even quicker than writing.

[chaotic13]

I think they also ask those great open-ended questions to by time and jog their memory. :-)

Honestly, I think the good ones have learned and trained themselves how to focus and listen. When you do this you can remember a lot of details. My T also does not try to multi-task during the session.

I also noticed that sometimes my T doesn't always remember the details. However, she appears focused, interested, and is a good communicator; so she simply asks me to refresh her memory when something is fuzzy. I don't mind doing it, she is only human.

[Kiya]

Mckell said "I also noticed that sometimes my T doesn't always remember the details. However, she appears focused, interested, and is a good communicator; so she simply asks me to refresh her memory when something is fuzzy. I don't mind doing it, she is only human. "

yeah - same here... and i know my t does see ppl back to back to back..... I am not sure how early she starts...8am? 10 am? (i think 10), but then goes until after dark, then has some groups, and sees at least me after the groups! i know she doesn't get out on some nights till 8:30 - maybe even later. SHe's the head of the clinic, too, and stays there even after i go. i think she has one day off a week, also also maybe sundays and i know she works some sat.'s as well. but she loves her work. she's a PMHNP and a Psyd. I asked her if she's just exhausted and she said no -that she loves her work and it envigorates her.

Having a lot of other clients, and then us - an MPD system with many alters - I don't know how she remembers! She does a really awesome job! I don't know how she switches modes between clients so quickly. When I walk out someone else is walking in.

[happyflowergirl]

I think the fact that every case is different, it keeps them interested.