[kessa19]

At my clinic there are two receptionists that greet patients. They also answer the phones and transfer you to your T if you need to leave a message. I have left MANY messages for my T and am now paranoid that these women are annoyed with me and/or think I'm crazy
I also wonder how much they're told and if they transcribe therapy notes. I don't mind if other T's know about me for supervision or support but the thought that these women may know about my deepest thoughts and struggles bugs me to no end. I don't want to ask my T about this because if the answer is yes I'm afraid it will make matters worse. Are there rules about who sees progress notes? Anyone else feel uncomfortable with other employees in T's office?

[Kiya]

yeah, i do sort of. there's a gal in mine that i pretty much like over the others, but then didn't like how she was talking to someone about not calling back another patient. and it does make me wonder if she thinks i'm crazy or... and now my MD is moving into the bldg where my T is so they'll be seeing me a lot. makes me nervous.

[serafim_etal]

Usually in medical offices, the transcription person is completely separate from the reception employees. Transcription is a "skilled possition" whereas "reception" is not...therefore transcriptionists are usually a higher paid (ie: lets not waste their skill) employee. However, T offices are different. My T has no dictation to transcribe...therefore, no transcriptionist. Therapy notes are usually very different than medical records/doctor's notes.

I think I would feel uncomfortable needing to leave a message with a receptionist though. My T has direct voicemail...I don't even talk to anyone to get to her message box to leave a message. Since you have to go through the receptionist, maybe you should leave messages that don't really say anything. Something like, "I am having some difficulty and need T to call me back, urgently". Set something up wiht T so he/she knows what time frame you are meaning. If I say urgently to my T in a message, she calls back within the hour. If I say "When you have time", then she calls me back that day, etc.

[InsaneMax]

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kessa19 said:
At my clinic there are two receptionists that greet patients. They also answer the phones and transfer you to your T if you need to leave a message. I have left MANY messages for my T and am now paranoid that these women are annoyed with me and/or think I'm crazy
I also wonder how much they're told and if they transcribe therapy notes. I don't mind if other T's know about me for supervision or support but the thought that these women may know about my deepest thoughts and struggles bugs me to no end. I don't want to ask my T about this because if the answer is yes I'm afraid it will make matters worse. Are there rules about who sees progress notes? Anyone else feel uncomfortable with other employees in T's office?

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LOL--- don't worry, I sincerely think they don't pay any attention. Especially if it's a busy enough office for two receptionists. I haven't heard of receptionists transcribing therapy notes before either. You could always just ask your therapist. He probably wouldn't mind answering honestly. I'm pretty open about concerns I have about the process of therapy. I've even told him not to write certain things down before, and he won't violate my wishes. Is this a new T for you?
And yes, there are privacy rules. The only person who could see the therapy notes would be the therapist or a legal court order for some legal matter, but even then, they are really ultra protected. No one else can see them. I can't imagine your T. showing them to someone either, as if he wanted to seek the advice of a coworker, he would just speak with them. It's taken really seriously, and you'd be hard pressed to find a T. who was unethical enough to violate that.

[kessa19]

I'm feeling better about this now! I saw T on Tuesday and smiled at receptionists and thought to myself, well if they do know all about me I hope I'm entertaining enough
My T also reassured me that I am not calling too much and am not annoying anybody. Whew!

[InsaneMax]

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kessa19 said:
I'm feeling better about this now! I saw T on Tuesday and smiled at receptionists and thought to myself, well if they do know all about me I hope I'm entertaining enough
My T also reassured me that I am not calling too much and am not annoying anybody. Whew!

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That's a relief, isn't it? Yeah, I always say, at least I'm not boring