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I have had a couple of sessions at a university psychological service with grad students as counselors. They videotape each session for their supervising professors' use and if the client is not comfortable with that, they audiotape it. I thought I might not like it, would be intimated or inhibited, etc., but I forget about it. Maybe a practice with something like that would be better for you in the future. Good luck!
...My second piece, oddly, and I hate to say this, but show up neatly dressed and groomed. They all note how you are dressed and groomed! Who knew there was a dress code, or that it was getting jotted down every time, frustrating...
Actually for people going to counseling and not worrying about court cases - just going to get help...
I would recommend going as you would normally be dressed. Or as you feel like dressing. Same with taking a shower/bath. If you don't normally do that or don't feel like doing that, then don't change it just for the mental health counselor.
To suddenly change these things would be dishonest and could mislead the counselor as to your diagnosis. The exception to that is if you feel like getting super dressed up just for the counselor - go ahead and do that (as that is what you "feel" like doing.)
The way a person dresses, personal hygiene, and so forth can be helpful "clues" as to a person's state of mental health.
Same with what you tell the counselor. Be honest. They are not mind readers.
Actually for people going to counseling and not worrying about court cases - just going to get help...
I would recommend going as you would normally be dressed. Or as you feel like dressing. Same with taking a shower/bath. If you don't normally do that or don't feel like doing that, then don't change it just for the mental health counselor.
To suddenly change these things would be dishonest and could mislead the counselor as to your diagnosis. The exception to that is if you feel like getting super dressed up just for the counselor - go ahead and do that (as that is what you "feel" like doing.)
The way a person dresses, personal hygiene, and so forth can be helpful "clues" as to a person's state of mental health.
Same with what you tell the counselor. Be honest. They are not mind readers.
You know that I agree in principle, but again, I wasn't in the midst of a court case when I went to see him. I didn't anticipate that I would be, and I didn't know that ... after we talked and joked about yard work on Saturdays he would then turn and write "she showed up again completely disheveled". In most cases (not with him, but with some of my child's therapy records, etc.), there was a simple sheet where the person would check a few boxes including one on hygiene. But I would just advise caution. The 21 year old college student getting some therapy doesn't realize that he/she might one day be a 38 year old in a court case, or applying for security clearance, or something else ... dealing with old records.
I knew one woman who did therapy out of her home and wouldn't work with insurance companies. She said that once a psychologist had gone to therapy after (I think) the death of a child or something like that. They had diagnosed her with major depressive disorder, and this had been problematic for her later in getting a license ... something like that.
And then I know of a psychiatrist who also does private pay who does a lot of high level security clearances and is just extremely, extremely, extremely cautious about the records he keeps. He writes very little down, only enough to remind him of things for future sessions.
That whole garden clothing thing is ridiculous. And his subjective opinion of it is too.I know there are times when we have to be subjective, but he should have written"presented in gardening clothing to session. She had mud on her shoes".
I am on a peer ethics commiittee in my state. If he were a social worker he would have come very close to unprofessional behavior and a possible sanction. But I hope you won't let this hold you back. Sounds like you have made progess. Best to you, OP.
That whole garden clothing thing is ridiculous. And his subjective opinion of it is too.I know there are times when we have to be subjective, but he should have written"presented in gardening clothing to session. She had mud on her shoes".
I am on a peer ethics commiittee in my state. If he were a social worker he would have come very close to unprofessional behavior and a possible sanction. But I hope you won't let this hold you back. Sounds like you have made progess. Best to you, OP.
Thanks Sue! I appreciate it. It's all good now, but I'm thinking of writing something up. I've definitely moved beyond and resolved everything, it's not that, but there were lessons learned.
You know that I agree in principle, but again, I wasn't in the midst of a court case when I went to see him. I didn't anticipate that I would be, and I didn't know that ... after we talked and joked about yard work on Saturdays he would then turn and write "she showed up again completely disheveled". In most cases (not with him, but with some of my child's therapy records, etc.), there was a simple sheet where the person would check a few boxes including one on hygiene. But I would just advise caution. The 21 year old college student getting some therapy doesn't realize that he/she might one day be a 38 year old in a court case, or applying for security clearance, or something else ... dealing with old records.
I knew one woman who did therapy out of her home and wouldn't work with insurance companies. She said that once a psychologist had gone to therapy after (I think) the death of a child or something like that. They had diagnosed her with major depressive disorder, and this had been problematic for her later in getting a license ... something like that.
And then I know of a psychiatrist who also does private pay who does a lot of high level security clearances and is just extremely, extremely, extremely cautious about the records he keeps. He writes very little down, only enough to remind him of things for future sessions.
Different psychologists/therapist keep different types of records, but unfortunately when you signed the release, you allowed all records, despite what they may contain, to be brought into the custody case. In the future, you may want to request records for yourself so you can preview what will be sent to lawyers. It can't hurt to know and plan accordingly. Now, I personally think after writing a record like that he should have attended any court case to further explain his frame of reference, but he doesn't sound like the most moral character.
The releases we use require the client to specify what information is used. Attorneys often call for an entire chart and I always recommend the client not sign a blanket release. I know of one attorney who would do that who was married to a social worker. He knew the kind of liabilty insurance we are required to obtain. He would comb through the chart looking for an ethics breach in order to sue the social worker.
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