What to do with regards to moving forward.

Fire Fly · 12-04-2017, 01:10 PM

Sorry for another thread. I am really confused as to what to do.

I have been waiting for psychotherapy as well as art therapy for a while. With psychotherapy around a year and art therapy since around October time.

I received a call last Friday about psychotherapy starting in May which was a scary thought but has finally come through and today I had a call to say that art therapy will start in May as well.

The problem is I just started a new job in January. If this was my old job it would of been fine. However I am scared my new job will be pissed off and I won't pass probation.

Art therapy have said that they could provide a supporting document to say that will help me in my job as I would also be learning about people intergrating in society but also becoming more aware of PDs and how to work with an understanding more of PD.

I think it's an exciting therapy as I'm quite creative and is quite close to where I currently work so would have to ask for two hours for the therapy and probably 20 mins travelling time each way (that's a guess with travelling could be less).

So what exactly do I do? I haven't gone through occy health yet in my new job as I didn't want to but if it would help then I will. (Just had a bad experience in my last job ).

If it helps I work in a mental health crisis house for Rethink.

Sooty · 13-04-2017, 02:22 PM

I think with the industry that you work in they more than any other industry should be sympathetic to your time needed for therapy. I think also they would rather you took this time for therapy than later down the line needing to take extended periods of time off for mental health crises. I'm not sure about the occupational health thing as I've never been through that process myself but I think being open and honest with your line manager and HR with regards to the therapy is the best way forward.

Sophie.x

Ballerina123 · 14-04-2017, 04:59 PM

It might be worth talking to you manager. Asking where you would stand and if it would be seen as appropriate / understood.

There are people is most work places that need more time off due to child care and things and because it's a health related issues I'm sure you and/or occy health could see it as a reasonable adjustment.

However I would consider weather leaving to go to a therapy session, opening up raw emotions and then going back to work is realistic? I once had a therapy session in the morning and went to work an hour later and I found it really hard to stay focused because therapy had brought up a lot that I found hardtop distance myself from at work later that day.
However everyone is different it's just worth considering.

But definitely talk to your manager. See what he suggests and how he responds. You don't really know how accommodating they will or will not be till you test the water.

Fire Fly · 18-04-2017, 03:18 PM

Thank you both for the replies.

My line manager has been fantastic and is fighting my corner. Not really sure what the registered manager will say. She's just started and is very strict.

With regard to occy health I did mention it and she thinks it maybe a good idea but that's only if she can't fight for me. I've had a bad experi nice with occy health in the past and she understands it therefore is willing to try without at first.

Yeah I get what you mean being difficult. She said I can do a half day on Thursday and that I can do a half day another day. So I guess this is positive.

I'm quite scared of doing both. I'm terrified trying art therapy and then I see one of the service users I work with there. Not sure if I will be able to cope as it will be hard to boundaried.

I don't know what to expect with psychotherapy and I'm quite anxious.

bitomato · 18-04-2017, 05:23 PM

Hi,
I think it is great that services are starting for you, and you have a buffer of a couple weeks to put things in place.
Maybe talk to your supervisor about what to do in the unlikely event that you see a client at your art therapy session. Maybe the service will have different time tables- but communication is definitely important.

See persons as your allies, and try not to worry unless a problem comes up.
I respect that it has been an issue in the past- and for me it makes me hypersensitive and seeing conspiracies at every turn.
Sometimes people just don't know what you need unless you tell them.

bitomato · 01-06-2017, 02:59 AM

How did things turn out?

Fire Fly · 01-06-2017, 04:07 PM

I don't know what to say really. Psychotherapy was a total nightmare. I couldn't cope. The psychotherapist was really bad. Not that I can't cope with it it was more about what she was saying. E.g. She said I wasting time because I was shy and then when I spoke about finding mum like not alive she goes well she was already dead then. It was loads of comments and I felt so attacked and very upset. I cried to my partner and he was totally shocked as to what she had said to me. My cc said I should make a formal complaint and that she would see what to do as I can't go back to her.

art therapy has been so beneficial. It's a psychoeducational group and it's been so good. Shame it's only for 8 weeks.

Nymphadora Tonks · 01-06-2017, 06:20 PM

I'm sorry you've had such a horrible invalidating response from the psychotherapist, what they said was totally way out of line. They should be neutral or empathetic, not adding to your distress with harsh words like that. I don't have much too add but just wanted to respond to that at the least, because that's so potentially damaging to being able to open up in the future. I hope you feel able to and this one individual poor at their job doesnt hamper you talking to others.

I've had a bad experience with occupational health too, it can make navigating things difficult. Hopefully with your line of work being what it is they'd have some more understanding of needs.

Really glad art therapy has been so beneficial.

Entropy · 02-06-2017, 11:57 AM

I'm really sorry that you've had such a bad experience with psychotherapy. I am glad that your cc is being supportive about it and sounds like they will help you to find an alternative.

It's really good that you are finding art therapy so helpful. It's a shame that these things are time limited but hopefully you can take some of the skills you are learning there and apply them in your own time?

I hope that something gets put in place for you soon instead of this psychotherapist.