dissapointed with psychologist

[jcat]

hi everyone

ive been seeing a psychologist for almost 12 months, only once a month or less due to cancelled appts etc, i see him for anxiety that was bought on due to stressing over a medical condition and the medical profession, he helped me alot in our first few appts and got me to write a daily journal that i email him once a week, he was giving me feedback and suggestions back. Now the last few weeks, nothing, i emailed him a few weeks back with what i thought was a rather desperate journal about a new diagnosis and how i was not coping and got no reply so left it a few days and emailed him again complaining, he responded saying it sounded like i had everything sorted, left it at that, i sent this weeks journal which was again not bright and cheery and again no reply, now he knows some of my major issues are over feeling ignored and disregarded by the medical profession, losing faith in the medical profession and now here he is ignoring me. Ive now stopped writing my journal, because whats the point

i have a appt with him on wednesday and simply dont want to go because i feel like he is another one that just does not care, i dont have any more option as i live in a rural town and i had already seen 2 physiologists who told me i was fine until i saw this one

i just dont know what to do

[baet123]

Hi Jcat,

Sorry to hear that you are struggling at present and that you feel that your relationship with your psychologist has deteriorated to an extent. Something many practitioners take for granted and often overlooked is the importance of a healthy, honest and understanding relationship with their clients.

It seems as if you feel that as of late, your psychologist isn't taking your concerns seriously which are absolutely genuine. It is common for health professionals to undervalue your concerns knowing your emotional and mental health history. This is severely inappropriate and unprofessional and you should be concerned.

You may wish to consider finding another psychologist because the relationship you have with your psychologist is super important to your treatment and recovery process. Finding a psychologist you "click with" and one you believe genuinely cares for you would benefit you immensely.

In regards to your appointment with your psychologist on Wednesday, if you don't want to go that is entirely up to you but maybe consider going to the appointment and voicing your concerns with him in person and see how he replies and acts. Your geographical restraints obviously will make it more difficult to access other psychologists and health professionals but there are online services available for you to utilise that will provide you with subsidised sessions under a mental health care plan which I assume you are on one?

Please don't stop therapy and treatment or writing your in your journal as regular and sustained treatment is so crucial to your recovery and maintenance of your condition. The fact that you are keeping a journal and making regular entries is so amazing and you should be extremely proud. You are expressing mindfulness and being in touch and aware of your feelings and emotions is not easy to do.

Are you currently on medication? Please consider seeing your GP and starting medication as it will help you greatly. When someone experiences anxiety and depression, it is often due to a chemical imbalance in your brain and your neuro-chemistry may be hindered. Medication will be able to improve your imbalance and increase your levels of serotonin and dopamine throughout your body which will improve your physical and emotional health.

Hope this helped and it will be better. Your pain is only temporary and better days are ahead. Let us know how your appointment on Wednesday goes.

Your friend,

Nick.

[Guest_606]

Jcat,

Try not to get to hung up on a psychologists opinion. My own experience has taught me that psychology - at least as in the "talk therapy" kind - is largely a bunch of just-so stories. I have found psychologists tend to have egos far in excess of what they can actually contribute and it could simply be that this person does not know how to help you but doesn't want to say it in those words (ego). "You're better now" could merely be psychobabble for "I don't know the answer, now leave me alone so I can remain deluded in my special psycho-powers".

Don't make the same mistake I did; staying with a previous psychologist for three years because of a misplaced sense of trust in university degrees. If your gut is telling you to get out, then get out. Trust yourself.

I wish I could provide more positive advice than that, but if I had the answers I wouldn't be here.

[jcat]

thankyou for your advice nick, i will look into online support, as far as medication goes that is not a optuin, i tried 3 different brands and due to very bad side effects of which twice ended up in a er visit my gp has now marked them as 'adverse effects' in my notes

[jcat]

he was very caring and understanding in the beginning but now just seems bored with me or just to busy to look after everyone at once, it takes 4-6 weeks just to get a appointment

[baet123]

Hey Jcat,

Thanks for your swift reply!

Online support/psychologist sessions would be great for you given your geographical isolation. The ability to partake in a therapy session from the comfort of your own home is a great thing too! This method of treatment/therapy may not work for you but your experiences in the past have provided you with much frustration and disappointment so its well worth a shot!

I am sorry to hear that you have had extremely negative experiences with medication in the past, however, medication more often then not does work and provides great results in combination with constant and sustained therapy. There are so many types of medication available and I would encourage you to consider medication as another option because not one glove fits all and maybe your the next brand/type of medication can provide you with the assistance that the past 3 medications could not?

Have a great week.

Nick.

[Blue_moth]

Hi jcat sorry to hear your struggling I feel your pain I can relate I have seen a few phsycolicts and only the last few months have found one I actually really like but even with her I often have the same line of thinking .. like they are just doing there job and they are ... they dont really care n sometimes it feels like they dont .. those thoughts and feelings go hand in hand with anxiety and mental illness I do journaling also and find it extremely helpful but it's a personal thing i wouldn't show my therapist my journal because then I dont feel I could be as open and honest in my entries as I am and it's like a conversation with yourself that you dont have to worry about someone else judging and by sharing what you write is then put to perception mabby he just thinks your doing ok from how he perceives your entities..therapy is helpful but you cant have expectations and it's more about what you take out of it then what they have to offer I wouldn't cancel especially if you have such a long wait but just be honest tell him how your feeling mabby talk to him about medication if your not on it it makes therapy and recovery alot more steady in progression all the best I hope you start feeling better soon in all areas of your health x

[jcat]

thankyou for your advice 🙂

[jcat]

its more a issue with the medication effecting the heart medication i am on and sending my heart into a spin, it just does not suit me but thankyou for you great reply

[smallwolf]

jcat,

Sorry to read that your efforts in sending information to your psychologist not "rewarding". Sorry, I could not think of a better word. I noticed that you said that you have stopped writing as a result. I wonder however... were you writing for yourself and sending to your psychologist? Or writing for your psychologist only? I also have been seeing a psych for a little over a year. In the last while (about 8 months) I will write down daily things about things to look forward to, positive things throughout the day, pleasures etc. Now I do this for myself. It was first given to me as homework from my psych. For me it was about re-wiring my brain, from negative thinking to positive thinking. With that said, on the odd occasion when I have sent an email, I also received a reply thanking me etc. I assume they have read the contents of it.

It is probably worth your while raising the issue as you see it with your psych. But you might want to double check they received the email. In my work, emails have been lost. I am not saying your psych did or did not receive your latest email, but again, worth querying. (And a thank-you reply to you is always nice.)

On appointments/booking etc... I generally line up about 4-5 appointments in advance. That way, my session is guaranteed, same day, same time.

Tim