I haven't seen my counsellor (for my own help) in over a year now,
but i was wondering if i would be able to see the notes that she took during our sessions?
To be fair, she probably thinks that i've been clean since i last saw her,
becuase no-one has spoken to her about me, i've not got to see her, and
well recently, with the help of staff ive been setting up a "Safe Room" in college at lunchtime.
But anyway, to what ever she may think, will probably be wrong, and if i'm honest to you and myself, in some ways I think everything has got much worse. i have these constant thoughts about harming myself, and they don't go away until i do something bad. then they come back about an hour later. sometimes i hurt myself for no reason (that i know of at all! - it's stupid i know).
I know that i should be getting help but i don't think I want it. But sometimes i do...
Anyways, the question was about the notes.
Thanks for reading =]
Sorry it's so long
Take care all xx
You have every right to see the notes about you, but bear in mind you might need to pay for them, I paid £50 for mine from CAHM's & it isn't a good idea to have them really, they can cause lots of bad memories.
Not sure but it's an interesting question I would like to know the answer to.
Why did you stop seeing her if you don't mind my asking?? If you not sure if you want help or not maybe you could trying seeing her for one more appointment and go from there?
my therapist told me when i first started seeing her that i could see what she was writing about me at any time. i've never asked because i've never felt the need to see them but i know its an option.
I'd like to see the notes to see what was actually going on at the time, because, apart from the diary entries that i made after seeing her, i don't really remember anything about it. Which as you say maybe a good thing. I guess I'm just interested to see what i felt like then and compare it to how i am now.
I stopped seeing her because... well i don't know. Actually, it was probably because we decided to have a break to see how i go without help, and then i found it hard to go back. If i start seeing her again, this will be the third attempt, and i feel that she will think I'm wasting her time or that it will be pointless, as i never have really said anything. I find it hard to talk to her when im there, but at times like now, i feel as if i really could talk to her.
When i saw her last (to set up the Safe Room, i went with a friend, because A) i didn't want to go by myself as it had been such a long time since i saw her and B) it would have been useful for her to be there
I think i will ask her if it's still possible for me to see them i.e if shes still got them and becuase ill be with her then, if i feel like i could ask her for an app. i will. to be honest i don't know what's stopping me, but theres something..
Heyya,
You have every right to see the notes she took while seeing you. It's about you, of course. Though personally if I was you I wouldn't want to read them (my notes) because I'd probably end up ripping it and setting fire to them. XX
I can understand wanting to see them. I myself have never been to thearapy for self harm. I do not trust doctors at all and cant see myself telling one abotu my problems and having them try to help. It is a long story. The point is I can understand the wanting and not wanting to get help. At times I REALLY want help and others I just wish the world would leave me alone. Since I dont trust doctors I have found other ways to get help like coming to ryl and having people like me to talk to. I have found opening up to people with first hand experiance to the same types of problems I have has been very helpful. I do agree with everyone else you have the right to see your notes, wouldnt they be considered like part of your medical record? and doctors can stop you from seeing those, lease i never thought they could.
Maybe I should have mentionned this eariler, but the lady I see is our school counsellor so therefore I shouldn't have to pay for them but as you say, if she thinks seeing them will do me more harm than good, at least i'll have tried.
Lost girl - (sorry I don't know you're name) but in someways i'm very similar to you. I don't like going to see doctors or other people like that, and i feel that i only ended up in counselling because it sounded to me that my first few appointments were compulsory (by the school) and because i didnt want my parents to find out i went, and because i had started it felt harder to not go - sorry if that doesn't make sense.
and like you one of the main reasons why i am here on ryl is to speak to other people who are like me.
well im going to send an e-mail now to Liz (counsellor)
and see what she says,
i'll keep you up to date,
thanks all and take care =]
xx
you have a right to see any medical notes, but sometimes you are asked to write a request for them and as someone said above you usually have to pay.
for me, im not sure i wouldnt like to know what people had written cos i think it would upset me cos i am paranoid about what people have assumed about me. generally the gp has my notes up on the screen when i go and i know what she has written is completely factual but with counsellors/therapists whatever it is more open to interpretation. i dont know.
maybe you could ask to see the counsellor again and ask if you and her can go over your old sessions together so you can work out and through stuff that has happened without totally opening up old wounds???
take care xxx
this pic is so i can always remember jen who was my l'il sock monkey friend who has left ryl and i miss her!!!
Well, i saw her today, saw my notes and im going to get them photocopied, so i can keep them (i'll have to sign some form too) - but it's free =]. the notes just seemed to be very samey (not a word i know) and i felt that it didnt reflect all of my thoughts at the time, which is probably why i feel i didn't get the most i could out of our sessions. you get out what you put in.
as for seeing her - neither of us mentionned it. i'd like to start seeing her again, but i need to find the courage (that sounds ridiculous because shes not scary at all), but then i also have reasons i dont want to see her. i need to sort this out in my head before i think of doing anything else.
l'il esky - sorry i don't know your name but that is a really good idea, i'll definiately consider it. thanks =]
hi. maybe you could go and see her and thank her for letting you see the notes, and then tell her why you wanted them (compare how you're feeling now to how u were then), and then maybe she'll ask how they compare, or maybe you could say that you're worried that you're getting back to the point you were at before and have a conversation from there? just a suggestion about how to open up the conversation if you do decide you want to go back and talk to her!
XX
this pic is so i can always remember jen who was my l'il sock monkey friend who has left ryl and i miss her!!! 
