Physical & Emotional Abuse Support Group
Abuse is a general term for the treatment of someone that causes some kind of harm (to the abused person, to the abusers themselves, or to someone else) that is unlawful or wrongful. No one deserves abuse, period. Abuse can be emotional, physical, or sexual.
I am wondering how to go about this properly so as not to cause any problems for myself or my friend who works at the center where my therapist is that I was going to.
I actually had started to let down my walls a bit for the cognative therapist I was seeing and perhaps could have gotten to the core of my issues had 1. My friend stayed out of things 2. The place had more privacy, you could hear through the walls and after over 32 years of burying secrets, well its hard enough to talk without sharing with everyone 3. the insurance (not sure what is actually being covered?
So my questions are these:
1. I have my email and have thought of emailing her and telling her about my situation. Perhaps asking her if she could see me at a different facility and telling her my concerns or seeing if she may do private sessions?
2. Would I be possibly endangering my friends job by letting on that I feel compromised by her and also that she has been diagnosing me and making me feel uncomfortable?
3. Is it bad etiquette to ask if she has a private pay available as our workplace just switched over to the Obamacare and I am not sure what will be covered?
I am so lost, depressed and in need of help and she is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who did seem to genuinely want to help.
Advice, suggestions?
I actually had started to let down my walls a bit for the cognative therapist I was seeing and perhaps could have gotten to the core of my issues had 1. My friend stayed out of things 2. The place had more privacy, you could hear through the walls and after over 32 years of burying secrets, well its hard enough to talk without sharing with everyone 3. the insurance (not sure what is actually being covered?
So my questions are these:
1. I have my email and have thought of emailing her and telling her about my situation. Perhaps asking her if she could see me at a different facility and telling her my concerns or seeing if she may do private sessions?
2. Would I be possibly endangering my friends job by letting on that I feel compromised by her and also that she has been diagnosing me and making me feel uncomfortable?
3. Is it bad etiquette to ask if she has a private pay available as our workplace just switched over to the Obamacare and I am not sure what will be covered?
I am so lost, depressed and in need of help and she is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who did seem to genuinely want to help.
Advice, suggestions?
I personally wouldnt mention friend just state privacy issues
Re your question about emailing her...I think its a great idea. However, I would make sure she is the only one who can access her email, as I personally wouldn't want anyone else in the office to read my emails to her. Is it possible to talk w/her over the phone? or text her? Or discuss in your next session? Even if the walls have ears, all you would be discussing is asking about seeing you at a different facility. You could even say it would be more convenient, which is true since you are concerned about your privacy. You could also say that you just aren't comfortable worrying about anyone, especially a friend, in the office hearing you in session.
A good therapist would totally understand your privacy concerns, especially when someone in her office knows you personally. If she practices at another location, I wouldn't hesitate to ask to meet there so you feel more comfortable.
At this point, if it were me, I would wait to say anything else (other than the privacy concerns since your friend works there) about my friend. If your therapist doesn't respond positively to your request, then it might be time to find another one.
However, I will add this thought. You are the client here and your comfort and privacy is paramount, even above friendship. If the worse happened and your friend lost her job, it wouldn't be because of you! It would be because of your friend's choice of actions. Chances are 'if it's happening w/you, it's happening w/others as well.' This type of behavior is rarely limited to one person. AND, it is totally inappropriate for your friend to be dx'ing you or doing some of the other things you have mentioned in previous posts.
It's crucial that you take care of you and let your friend take care of herself and be responsible and accountable for her own actions! That said, it may suffice to say something like, 'I am concerned about my privacy because I have a friend who works here and I don't want to risk her overhearing anything, so I would feel better if we could meet at another location.'
If, later on, your friend says something to you that makes you think she's read your file, then you report her because that's against the law and, if provable, puts the whole facility at risk for a very winnable lawsuit. And, like I said before, she's probably not just doing this w/you.
I also wouldn't hesitate to tell your therapist about the change in your insurance and ask her to look into whether she accepts your coverage. It's not bad etiquette. Most therapists are happy to do that (or to have one of their staff do it). Many therapists accept private pay and are open to working out their fees accordingly. It just depends on the therapist. If you are concerned about asking about your coverage w/your work's HR dept, just ask for a copy of coverage and bring it w/you to your therapist.
Best of luck in this & please keep us posted!
Big big hugs!!!
There are 2 other offices, but there will still be a privacy issue and a driving distance, although at least the friend will be out of the picture. As the facility (I feel anyway) is govt/state run, I feel she most likely does not practice on her own, but she might.
It is actually more of a substance abuse type center or for issues such as schizophrenia.
At this point, I am not sure that I would do better off to try to keep her or just try to find someone who does counseling in the home even if it leans towards a religious affiliation.
I appreciate everyone's support and replies.
As someone who has trusted a therapist and been let down, I feel it is nobody else's business who you see or switch to, or why.
You absolutely MUST be comfortable with them, and you have every right to let them know what arrangements would suit you best. Voicing your enquiry, even if they cannot cater to it, is your prerogative.
And yes, your friend is completely responsible for her own behaviour. You are not doing anything wrong by mentioning it. It makes you uncomfortable, remember.
Hugs and hope it helps! xxx
Hugs xx