For many individuals, therapy can be very helpful when it comes to the heeling process. As in individual in therapy I want to point out with what my provider could have done better.
1. Asking the wrong questions
I have done multiple intake style appointments at multiple therapist offices and they all have been drastically different. Some ask very straight forward questioning such as " Have you ever been raped?" while others ask you questions like " Do you have any odd beliefs?". There are benefits to asking both these styles of questions but there needs to be a balance. Too many vague questions can lead to answers that may not have the intended effect and to many straight forward questions can lead to the person feeling like they did not get to express their issues. Personally, I think that a great first question is " What struggles do you have on an everyday basis?". This could tell a lot about a person about outside factors contributing to their mental health or what symptoms they way be experiencing.
2. We deserve a diagnosis
We are next expecting a diagnosis on day one. What we do expect is that with regular visits you can help put a name to what is going on. You may ask " Why is this important Sarah?" Well, I have attended therapy over 100 times and I still do not have an official diagnosis for my most life- altering issue. It leaves me feeling like their is no one out there like me and their is no one who understands me. They are so focused telling me its not schizophrenia that they will not look into other psychotic disorders to help me figure out a name to what is happening to me. All this does is cause my other issues to get worse as I deal with the stress of the loneliness. We deserve answers and not to be made feel like an outcast.
3. Be informed on medical treatment options
With this statement, I will be talking specifically talking about service dogs. As a very upcoming treatment in behavioral health, when a client wants to talk about the possibility of a service dog you should have an idea of what they are. Saying that they did not know psychiatric service animals exist is not just unprofessional but concerning. Am I missing out on potential helpful treatments because you are uneducated in your field? Then once they are brought up, you should do the necessary research on the topic so you as a provider can be well informed in the event this treatment can help someone else. You should not rely on your patient on how to write a service dog letter or tell you the laws. It is your job to be well informed on treatments your patients may benefit from.
4. Medication is not a guessing game
Please I beg medication management doctors to not go and try medication willy nilly. If a patient comes in with anxiety and depression please do not prescribe them with bipolar medication when that is not their concern. Yes, I understand that often times one medication can do a range of this but I have done my research and know that Prozac does not cure all illness. Also listen to a patient about side effects. If someone complains about side effects of the medication please take them seriously. It is even more important to listen if those side effects are making other diagnosis worse or creating new ones. I had to have genetic testing done to prove I was too sensitive to take most medications because the guessing game would not stop and I was worse off on medication than not. If a suggestion from the therapist comes in for a depression medication do not disregard it and say " Well I haven't heard of you speaking of this". Medication management is not typically as frequent as therapy and no you will not hear me talk about my symptoms when you spend each session pushing new medications.
5. Patients should not be coming out of your program worse off then when we started
I pay for my sessions and they are not cheap. If I ask for help I should receive it. I should not be worse off because of your actions.
6. Please fill out paperwork in a timely manner
Many schools, businesses, and landlords may need paperwork for accommodations. It should not take six months for my paperwork to be filled out. I understand you are busy and have many clients but for a letter that takes 15 minutes out of your day it should not take six months to complete.
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