[imapatient]

It was suggested to me that I get treatment for sexual compulsivity (some childhood sex abuse as victim, too).

I finally called after a year. The intake person wasn't available so I had to leave a message.

I can't believe I (had to) leave a message. There are no set hours to get in touch with her just for intake. I told her she should call me on my cell--I rarely use a landline--but be very discreet.

I wish you could at least email/site-input-form some info to get off the ground rather than trying to via first phone call. Or someone in the office takes basic info. At least that they'd offer some instructions on the phone message other than "I'm out. Leave a message."

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by imapatient

It was suggested to me that I get treatment for sexual compulsivity (some childhood sex abuse as victim, too).

I finally called after a year. The intake person wasn't available so I had to leave a message.

I can't believe I (had to) leave a message. There are no set hours to get in touch with her just for intake. I told her she should call me on my cell--I rarely use a landline--but be very discreet.

I wish you could at least email/site-input-form some info to get off the ground rather than trying to via first phone call. Or someone in the office takes basic info. At least that they'd offer some instructions on the phone message other than "I'm out. Leave a message."

I would personally never leave a message that was personal. I would tell them I was interested in beginning therapy and leave my callback number. Also, any voicemail from a business that says "I'm out. Leave a message" seems rather unprofessional. My T's voicemail is like this: "Hi, this is Dr. blank, blank. I'm sorry I missed your call. Please leave me a message and I will return it as soon as possible. Thanks." Also, when I called for my first appointment, I never had to give the assistant personal details. They have a form that you fill out the day of your first appointment, and then you see the T.

I'd be worried about the quality of services you might be getting from this potential T. It doesn't in itself mean anything, but something to consider when you go to your first appointment. If you don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the first meeting, I'd really evaluate it and see if this person is someone you should consider seeing. If you should happen to not want to return to this particular T, make sure you make an appointment with another T in replacement. Sometimes you have to go through a couple of T's to find the right one.

I hope it works out for you.

Oh yes, I forgot to add that the voicemail begins with a recording with the office manager saying "You have reached the office of _______. We are unavailable to answer the phone at the moment. If this is an after hours emergency, please press star and we will direct you to your doctor's after hours contact information. If it is not after hours, and you would like to leave a confidential voice message with your psychologist, please press 1 for Dr. ____, press 2 for Dr. ________, 3 for Dr. _____, and 4 for Dr. _____. If this is a message for one of the office staff, press 6 and leave a message. We will return your call as soon as possible."

My T owns the practice with his other partners. I realize that not every T has partners or office staff though. I'm lucky.

[imapatient]

Thanks Simcha.

It's the program assoc with the big public univ. here, so there are a lot of people with the organization. I'm not sure how the whole process works, but the in-take person might just be over the phone for a very superficial "traffic cop" screening. You can request a M of F therapist and they do a 2-or-so-session evalution before figuring out how they can best help.

I only went so far as saying "I've been referred to your program" as far as disclosure. And the phone--personal. I didn't get a return call. I'll call back, but the phone situation from what I've experienced so far is very at odds with the way the program ostensibly operates.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by imapatient

Thanks Simcha.

It's the program assoc with the big public univ. here, so there are a lot of people with the organization. I'm not sure how the whole process works, but the in-take person might just be over the phone for a very superficial "traffic cop" screening. You can request a M of F therapist and they do a 2-or-so-session evalution before figuring out how they can best help.

I only went so far as saying "I've been referred to your program" as far as disclosure. And the phone--personal. I didn't get a return call. I'll call back, but the phone situation from what I've experienced so far is very at odds with the way the program ostensibly operates.

No problem. Pardon me while I rant for a minute. I'm prone to ranting every now and again...
I hope I don't bore you with details. I can only be straight with people about my own personal experiences with such things. It comes from work experience, my advocacy experience for other veterans at the VA/university academic affiliations, and personal experience as a patient. I'm a college student but I've been around the block a few times. Some people might not agree with what I will say here, but, in my experience, Universities are usually NOT top notch in terms of the psychotherapy they offer. Diddo for psychiatry any other type of medical services. Oh, I know what they say and what people assume about universities, where many claim that the best services are provided there (medical and otherwise); however, just because a program is listed as being OFFERRED, it does NOT mean that it is quality. I'm not impressed by what you have described here, and I'd say you've been shown a red flag that you need to go somewhere more professional. There are PLENTY of fish in the sea, and it will be very easy for you to make another phone call to another therapist in the private sector, now that you have overcome the barrier of reaching out in the first place. That's the hardest part.

You know, I've never heard of a set time to "evaluate" a patient to decide how the clinician can "best help" the patient--especially something as specific as a defined 2 or so sessions. Therapy is an evolving process; people do not reveal their entire problem in two or so sessions---yet, they claim to be able to understand what the answer to your problem is by then? Do they conduct evaluations to teach their students how to evaluate, and then ship you off to someone else? I have worked for a very large university hospital for quite some time (until recently when I became disgusted and quit). I worked in many different areas, including psychiatry. I know far too much about how they operate and function, and it is actually pretty sickening sometimes. Am I biased? Only if "bias" means that I speak the truth about what I was involved in and what I have personally seen with my own eyes. At my university (which is also where I used to work), you can investigate a lot of stuff yourself on their website. Any therapy offered by a resident or "fellow" (residents and fellows have graduated medical school but are being trained in their chosen specialty, such as psychiatry) are definitely out of the question if you want quality. As odd as it might sound, you would do better to see a graduate student in clinical or counseling psychology than you would to see a resident in psychiatry for therapy. The supervision for psychology graduate students is quite intense, and they also have higher quality education in conducting therapy than the psychiatry residents do.
/rant.

I guess I don't want anyone to have to go through a bad experience. It's tough enough to reach out for help, and THEN to not even know where to turn... and then to be severely disappointed or even damaged by a bad experience.

[imapatient]

Maybe I didn't explain it correctly. It's about intake and figuring the general directions to start you off and try to assess what therapists might be better suited for you. It's a precursor to therapy, not necessarily therapy itself. To best identify broad issues rather than resolve them. They say 1 or 2 evaluation sessions like that.

I've just been signed up for an appointment on Mon. The phone call just asked a few basic questions at the most general categories of why I'm seeking help there. I'm glad to have finally connected with them. Now I just have to deal with the dread of opening up about this stuff.

[Angel_of_the_Past]

Originally Posted by imapatient

Maybe I didn't explain it correctly. It's about intake and figuring the general directions to start you off and try to assess what therapists might be better suited for you. It's a precursor to therapy, not necessarily therapy itself. To best identify broad issues rather than resolve them. They say 1 or 2 evaluation sessions like that.

Interesting concept, I've never done this and I'm not so sure I would like some one else picking my T.

Good Luck,
Angel

[imapatient]

Sorry, they're not picking a T, they're evaluating to suggest courses of action and people.

[chaotic13]

I don't think I would like the concept of an intake person. It took me 3 hang-ups before I could force myself to talk with my T's office manager and schedule my initial appointment. One reason I do not call my T is because, you always have to leave a message with the office manager or answering service. Now I'm able to be pleasant with the office manager, but it took 6 months and a billing problem to do it.

For me... I don't like dealing with anyone other than the health care professional who is treating me. PA, NP, RN, office personal, intake person, custodian,,,whomever else who works at a facility... I prefer not to have to interact with them. I know these people are necessary and that offer very important services that enable good care... I just am a total freak. If other people are nosing through my records...I don't want to know about it.