Mental health professionals
 

Seeing as I'm studying to be a mental health nurse, I'd be interested to know what your overall experience of so-called 'mental health professionals' has been, (for those who have encountered them).

hmm... variable I'd say lol



this was my most resent encounter, which was defntly on the bad side of things...
I've spent the last 3 years being bounced from professional to professional and department to department... so never really known any for long enough to form a proper opinion on them...

but they seem to either be very caring but low of knowledge, totally detached and know EVERYTHING, or almost judgemental...

Yeah, well I'm new to this site so apologies if this thread would've been best placed somewhere else :notsure:

Sorry to hear about your bad experiences. I read through the thread that you linked to and it doesn't sound as if the people involved were very sympathetic or understanding. If anything they seemed quite judgemental, which is something that you identified as well. All in all, it doesn't sound as if you've had much consistency (or humanity) with the treatment that you've received so far.

There's been the good, the bad and the ugly!

My first experiences weren't all that great, but then again they were with the crisis team which is a service I do not work well with. I found them agressive, difficult to access (I'm terrified of phones so a number to call isn't the best thing). They refused to believe their diagnosis of BPD was incorrect (despite the fact my psych is a professor in is field and has seen me many more times than they have). They told me I used the phoneline inappropriately once when I called saying I was having an urge to do something bad, I then ended up doing it and spent 3 days on a medical ward. Also when some passers-by rescued me from a bridge I went in to A+E to try and get some help, they dismissed me with "well you've done that one before" (because obviously every single suicidal urge should have some innovative,creative and never been tried before aspects to it!)

Then again my current psych is amazing, he's taken me seriously, been willing to admit when a treatment hasn't been working for me and has treated me like I'm a person with my own individual group of symptoms rather than sticking me into a box with a label.

My mental health advisor is wonderful, she's a bit of a cheerleader, always pointing out what I am managing, whereas I'm much better on focusing what I'm not. She'll liase with everyone involved in my care and she's the person I'm most comfortable with.

My psychologist is good too, she completely misjudged me the first time we met (she thought I "allowed" myself to be deprepressed, truth is I've fought against it tooth and nail), however when I managed to discuss it with her she admitted that she had got me wrong and I have a lot of respect for her because of that. Her work is definately challenging and I often leave sessions exhausted and upset, but it's working. She too treats me as an individual and we have been working on some of my phobias/delusions without her dismissing me as psychotic and without making me feel stupid about them.

Hmm, mine has been varied too!

The first psychologist I spoke to pretty much blamed me for my abuse, blamed me if he went on to abuse others, minimised my feelings surrounding certain experiences, completely ignored symptoms, etc. Then she said I was too "emotionally disturbed" or something along those lines and left me high and dry.

My current psychologist is really good, he's been great helping me to open up and handling my dissociative episodes. My psychiatrist is also really nice too, but I don't see her often, and I haven't yet met my crisis team but they seem very competent and on the ball :]

Yeah mine have varied too.

I've seen a lot because I've been using MH services since I was a child and I was IP in an adolescent unit for 6 months last year. All the psychiatrists I've seen - excluding 3 and basically all the duty psychs I've seen at A&E - have been brilliant. Especially my old consultants from The Darwin and The Cedars, they were easy to talk to and understood me probably better than I did myself. My new psychiatrist in adult services is pretty good, although he seems a bit quick to prescribe new/up the doses of medication; I've only seen him a couple of times.

When I was IP it varied greatly, some staff were absolutely brilliant, understanding, innovative and lovely; others were very unprofessional, unapproachable and difficult to talk to. I always found the students lovely though =P

I've only seen someone from the Crisis Team once (in A&E) and she was rubbish.

I didn't get on with most of my old therapists, I'd flit between them, although they weren't unprofessional or anything, they were nice people, but I just didn't click with them. Eventually I found a guy I stuck with and he was okay, really understanding, but we didn't seem to achieve much, just talked about music and stuff.

My current CPN is lovely. Really understanding and helpful. Although I've found that overall I much prefer the professionals I encountered when I was under CAMHS.

Sorry, this has been sooooo long >.< With too much talking about me lol

Pretty much entirely negative. =/

Yes! Why is it that they are crap?!

*shrug* =(
But it really puts me off going, even if I'm in a right state.

Varied, like most people.

First psych I could have took him to court but I didnt.

Adolesence ward staff were genreally really nice.

Adult ward staff were generally uncaring and unhelpful.

EIP workers are mediocre some good days, some bad days with them.

My psychologist from EIP was nice, i miss her.

Eh I dunno. Theres been a few decent people, but likewise, a fair few unhelpful, judgemental people.

Ohh I hate duty psychs in A&E. Every time I've seen one I've had to fight my corner saying I was unsafe because they didnt believe me.

I've had good and bad experiences really. My first was with CAMHS. They totally didnt get me, didnt help. The psych told me I didn't have an illness I was just a bit negative. A couple of months later I tried to kill myself and ended up on a psych ward.

After being transferred to adult services I had a wonderful care co-ordinator who really understood and helped me. Unfortunately the psych was a complete arse. He even made me cry and I put in a formal complaint after he told me I was too proud and sinning.

My latest psych is brilliant, he really listens to me and is very caring. I also have a fantastic CPN who has helped so much with my agoraphobia.

I think the important thing to remember with duty psychs is that they are overworked, don't know you personally and probably only have limited time to read your case. Also when on call they do have to deal with some really difficult pateints (not suggesting you lot are!) and thus often seem to be at the end of their tether and stressed out. Not that it makes bad duty psychs excusable, but understandable!

Experiences have been on and off but I think it is because I am such a closed person. Mine is a lovely person but I think she has issues herself if I am honest... she is always off ill and looked terrible whilst I was in hospital... hmmm.

Pretty understanding and if I don't want to go into it, she won't force me and will wait until I am ready. But I do say 'I'm fine' quite a lot and so often I don't get to say what I really should do... but that is my fault.

She felt guilty because I told her I wanted to die and she pretty much fobbed me off because she was going on leave for a month- ring your GP, my collegue both of whom I didn't trust. In the end I ended up attempting and she felt really terrible because she said she should have prevented it and I am still concerning her... but still. Not really sure, she wants to respect my wishes regarding my parents and wants to get me help but she doesn't want me to hate her. Not sure if that is a bad thing, but it is my experience.

Edit: And same, my counsellor says I don't have any proper illness but I suspect I may have, though that is good because I don't have to put it on any forms. Apparently I am just 'down' due to events and that makes me feel a little pathetic.

^ did your worker say all this to you? I find that a bit weird... do you feel like you have to protect her feelings in any way? sorry to be nosy.

My first experiences of CAMHS weren't too good. I had a CPN but I didn't get on too well with her and basically I felt left alone to get iller and iller over the next three years until I was 17 and my parents basically demanded that they do something to help.

Then I got my psychotherapist who was harsh sometimes, but an amazing woman who I have a great amount of respect for.

I spent a short amount of time in an adolescent inpatient unit at one point, which I found a very negative experience with a psychiatrist and some staff that I disliked immensely, though some were okay.

From the age of about 18, though still under the care of CAMHS until I was nearly 20, I did use some parts of adult services, namely the duty psychiatrists in A&E, crisis team, day unit and ward (all occasionally). They were very negative for me. The only people "on my side" at that time were my therapist and CAMHS psychiatrists.

At 20 I got referred to adult services proper, nice care co-ordinator, not great at recognising when I was unwell though, still didn't get on well with psychiatrist and other parts of the service.

Went to therapeutic community in Birmingham for a year where, for the most part, the staff were great, well-trained, empathic and a well-run unit.

Came back to adult services and for some reason, I have no idea why, they've been wonderful since I got back 15months ago. Really couldn't fault them, generally.

Whirlpools; yes she did say all of this to me. It meant I feel I need to protect her from my horrible feelings.

I've had a real mix.
When I was with CAMHS, I had a therapist and a psych, both of whom were lovely people, but I was really able to pull the wool over their eyes and just get worse and worse, whilst they were thinking I was coping. I think they would have been good if I had co-operated properly, rather than fought against them.

The adolescent liason psych in A&E (this was about 5 years ago now) was awful, and told me that if I'd really wanted to die I would have done it properly. He made me feel so small and stupid. Each time I went to A&E as an adolescent I it was the same psych, and he was always a bit of a tool, tbh.

After CAMHS, the next person I saw was a liason psychotherapist, which was organised through, bizarrely enough my diabetes clinic, and she was really good, really patient, didn't force me to discuss anything I didn't want to, but made me understand that it was important to work things through, unfortunately I then moved out of the area and could no longer see her.

When I went through a really bad phase last year, I was admitted onto a medical ward, and was seen by a CPN and a liason psychiatrist. Both of whom were awful, I was medically really quite ill and also mentally unstable, both of them told me to get over myself and stop self harming and doing what I was doing that has landed me there, they didn't accept that for a long time I genuinely didn't realise what I was doing was dangerous. I have to say, though, that the medical staff in the admissions ward were amazing, and helped more than the psych staff, they were caring and genuinely helpful for my MH issues.

My psych in adult services following this was awful, truly the worst member of the mental health services I have ever seen. I was going to see her at the least every two weeks and she never seemed to know who I was, why I was there or anything at all. I also felt that she just shoved me onto meds without any explanation, she also left it to my GP to tell me she had given me a BPD diagnosis, which I thought was very unprofessional. Furthermore, she discharged me, even though I had taken a serious OD only a month earlier. She said she could not help me, and instead of referring me on, she just sent me on my way. The psych that I saw for my initial assessment with that service, however was really good, and I wish that I had been able to see her on a longer term basis.

The crisis team have always been good at calling back, and talking me through things, although sometimes I feel they are a bit scripted and don't know what to do if you're circumstances are outside those which they expect. Also, I tend to fight against them, so at the time I will complain that they are awful, but in reality they have probably stopped me from doing things many time.

The emergency psych I saw last summer was really good, she made sure I was safe and arranged for someone to go and see me, a CPN who was also lovely and helpful, however I wasn't in a fit state to deal with what she was telling me.

Finally, my psycotherapist I fought against for the first 7 or 8 sessions, but I now see that she has really helped me, and really sorted me out when I have been at crisis point. Yes, we clash, but I know deep down she really helps me.

Sorry for the essay.

I saw a CPN; He was really lovely. I couldn't have asked for better, he listened, didn't judge and I felt like he actually cared.

I saw a psych at A&E the other day; she was awful, she judged me, she made comments like "Most children are using self harm as a coping mechanism now" even though I'm an adult, she asked me when I told her why I was there "if I was just bored"... and I had been dragged there! She shouted at me for not being able to answer questions... She was just AWFUL.

/rant over.

I'm sure you'll be a nice MH nurse! =D

mine definitely hasnt been varied; they all sucked.
First one (psych) dropped me after an IP admission. left a message on my voicemail; "i cant help you. Good luck".
Next one had me on 22 pills a day; i dont remeber much of that time period.
Next one, first meeting, told i couldnt possibly suffer anxiety, or anything else (even tho i had been DX'ed IP) because i had tattoos and dyed hair ???!!!
Had one refuse to take me on (a GP) because he had done so in the past and then "had the patient dumped on him by their psych" and that he "will not get involved with crazy patients ever again" (his words)
After that, i have now given up.
It hurts too much to try and open up, try to go against myself and talk to then get nothing.
I just...i cant be bothered anymore. I suppose i am doing ok now, well no, im not. But it works, so what the hell right?
The only ppl who have been helpful are at my TC.

Not all that impressed with mine either.

There was a lot of Transference going on with my first therapist and some counter transference on one occasion too from him.

Very few boundaries with him as well.

Next lot were Adult MH team.... felt they dismissed me.

Now in a group and from a selfish point of few would rather have individual therapy.

Syrup, transference is part of the therapeutic process.

My experience is pretty good. Bearing in mind my psychotherapy's always been private, so what I'm describing here are GPs and the psychiatrist I saw.
I would class my GP's treatment of me as akin to a very good CPN. Warm, supportive, encouraging, stabilising, sensitive to my feelings.
Another GP at my practice however ended an appointment where I was breaking down and suicidal with "I've got other people waiting outside."

The psychiatrist I saw [area consultant] treated me with respect and sensitivity, and was attuned to my style of treatment and cooperated with that. He also made an accurate non-official diagnosis.[Also official diagnosis, of course, but the informal one was more descriptive of everything.] My 2nd appointment of the 4 was rather weird, but the others were ok so that's ok.

As to A and E duty psychs, I've never met one. I did have one encounter with a regular doctor at A and E, when I presented with what we discovered had been a very severe panic attack [so dizzy I couldn't walk etc]. He was amazing. Listened to what was going on for me in my psychotherapy process, understood, did all the standard tests to rule out physical causes, and sent me away with some medication to ease the dizziness etc short term. The triage nurse wasn't very sensitive at all though, and was abrupt with me. I'd hate to have seen her if I'd been in a bad crisis mental health wise, and feeling it emotionally [rather than it going into physical stuff], or if I'd self harmed and needed medical treatment. [which has never been the case for me, thankfully.]

Hi Heidi, I've just finished a student placement with a local crisis team and found them to be very supportive and understanding when it came to helping others who were in crisis. Sounds like your own experience was the total opposite, but I'm sure that if you'd been with the crisis team I was with, they wouldn't have treated you as badly as the people that you encountered. For a start, they encourage people to contact them especially if they intend to harm themselves in any way.

I guess, as with any kind of service, you'll get the good ones and the bad ones. What I admired most about the crisis team that I spent time with was that they would do their best to treat/support people in the community wherever possible, rather than opt for a hospital admission, and they would often do it with the person's interests at heart.

Also, I'm glad that you've got a psychiatrist that doesn't label people unecessarily. Unfortunately, labelling does go on quite a lot (as I've noticed throughout the course of my training) but there's also a lot of person centred work that goes on, as you've already eluded to re: your mental health advisor and psychologist. Sounds like things are starting to get better for you in terms of the treatment you're receiving. I really hope it continues to be positive.

I think it helps when you have supportive services. What seems be most unhelpful is when there are mental health professionals who are not only judgemental of the people that they meet, but who also seem to dwell on the negatives or specific aspects of a person, without viewing that person as a whole and complete person in their own right.

No need to apologise. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. I think we all have a story to tell, and it's through reading our own and other peoples narratives that learn more about ourselves and each other imo.

I'm really sorry to hear that :(

Unfortunately, there's often a power relationship that exists between the so-called 'professionals' and the people who are supposedly under their 'care'. I think the good professionals are the ones who consciously try to avoid any abuse of power, and who attempt to convey empathy and understanding to the people they're meant to be supporting.

I think it's natural for people to feel low due to events that are happening in their lives - so I don't believe that your feelings are as out of place as you might think. From what I've observed so far, it tends to be an event or a sequence of events which tends to be the catalyst for bringing down a person's mood, sometimes to the extent that they're unable to function in the way that they'd like. Whether we have the necessary coping/support mechanisms to overcome such events is the deciding factor in relation to our mood lifting, staying low or deepening even further imo.

Whirlpools, I'm glad to hear that your experiences have been mainly good.

Shine, I think you being mindful of this person's feelings is no doubt a sign of your caring nature, but I'd hope that you'd be able to tell somebody about any "horrible feelings" that you might have in the future because, as disturbing as it might be for some people to hear, it's part of their job to hear it and to then take the necessary steps to ensure your safety.

What_the?, sounds like you've had some pretty bad experiences (particularly the adolescent liaison psych in A&E, the CPN and the clueless/unhelpful psychiatrist), but I'm glad that you've had some good ones as well. Hopefully, it won't have put you off from the mental health services as a whole.

Omigod! She sounds like a right b!tch!

Thank you :) I'm sure I won't be as bad as that person you encountered in A&E, that's for sure!

I've had fairly good experiences. Most of them were really friendly and understanding. However, The 1st one i saw when the Police sectioned me, was really nasty. She kept shouting at me because i was too scared to say anything :(

Romperfry, I can see how any trust you might have had previously for some mental health professionals, has probably gone out the window by now. I'm really sorry that you've had such negative experiences. I'm glad you've been able to get some support at least. Hope your situation improves in the long run.

Doesn't sound like it was a very helpful for you Syrup.

I think it can also be a negative thing, especially if it involves the practitioner (unwittingly) transferring negative thoughts and feelings onto the person that they're supposed to be treating/supporting.

Silent, that sounds like a really scary experience, especially if you're already feeling confused or anxious at the time :(

It was horrible. I was really panicking, and couldn't find any words to say. But I managed in the end :)

I reckon you'll be even nicer than all of them put together though!

I've done some postgraduate psychotherapy training, and am in analytic based psychotherapy long term myself, so I understand in depth re transference and counter-transference. Good supervision is essential.

Sounds like a nasty experience but, as you said, you overcame it in the end - so all credit to you.

Thanks! I've seen some really good practitioners during the course of my training, so I'll be happy if I'm anywhere near as good as them once I qualify.

Thank you :)

You'll be brilliant!

Yes, I think when it comes to something like pyschotherapy it is essential that there's good supervision. I was referring to transference in a broader sense, where some mental health practitioners might unwittingly transfer their own issues onto the people that they're working with. As mental health students, we're taught to guard against transferring our own feelings and prejudices onto the people that we work with.

Which is why I firmly believe in the value of personal psychotherapy or counselling for participants on any mental health based training. Maybe not as in depth as on psychotherapy training unless the student wants to or needs to, but being 'on the other side' and also watching others practice, and having a good reflective ability is vital really. Experiential learning is the only way to really make meaningful change, in my opinion. On psychotherapy training there are also intense personal development/training therapy groups, which can be very confrontational, and fast-track to facing and working with deeply rooted issues.

I'd be interested in hearing how you're trained to 'guard against' transferring your issues onto clients. And, do you think that's the main cause of people's bad experiences that they relate here, the professionals personal issues intruding? What do the people with the experiences think? What role does the client play in a good working recovery based relationship?

I think that would be a good idea.

I'm studying a 3 year degree in mental health nursing, and am currently nearing the end of my 2nd year. So far, we've covered different reflective models of practice and are encouraged to reflect whilst on placement. And as far as I know, the psychotherapy training tends to be longer in duration (minimum 5 years?), so the kind of training that you're advocating probably wouldn't be as intense if it were to be adopted within mental health nursing.

As with the models of reflection, the subject of transference is only really dealt with on a theoretical basis. We only really skim the surface in class, and it's down to the individual student to self-monitor whilst out in practice, (usually through continually reflecting on their practice).

I've only ever had good experiences with MH professionals I am glad to say! No one's ever put me down for my problems. I'm under 18, so maybe that makes a difference? I don't know. Bu I am glad that I've never encountered the nasty people that some RYL'ers have.

Good luck with becoming a MH nurse - that is such a caring and thoughtful occupation to be involved in! xx

I havent read through this whole thread.I have had mostly really good experiences .The nurses in the hospital were lovely and understanding.My psych is a nice person and even came to my house when I was physically too sick to visit her .I have however had a terrible experience with one nurse :
http://www.recoveryourlife.com/forum...bused+by+nurse
and over the summer there was a psych just covering leave and she was a nightmare.
She actually refused to give me a precription !! I had no meds ,I didnt know what to do ,it was awful.She was a right bitch .She told me Id be on meds for the rest of my life which is not what I had ben led to believe at all and she upset me so much .I mean to tell someone that out of the blue ,with no feeling .It was so bad that the nurse told me not to see her anymore and I had to wait for my normal doctor to come back .I was waiting months to see someone.

Hated most if not all of the ones I've been seeing since I was 7.