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.]
Last edited by Stellata : 14-10-2009 at 11:03 AM.
Reason: Clarifying re diagnosis point.
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!)
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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 :]
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
Sorry, this has been sooooo long >.< With too much talking about me lol
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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.
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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.
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
Whirlpools, I'm glad to hear that your experiences have been mainly good.
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Originally Posted by shine
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.
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Originally Posted by shine
yes she did say all of this to me. It meant I feel I need to protect her from my horrible feelings.
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wonderful
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.
Omigod! She sounds like a right b!tch!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wonderful
I'm sure you'll be a nice MH nurse! =D
Thank you :) I'm sure I won't be as bad as that person you encountered in A&E, that's for sure!
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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 :(
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.
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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.
Doesn't sound like it was a very helpful for you Syrup.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stellata
Syrup, transference is part of the therapeutic process.
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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 :(
Silent, that sounds like a really scary experience, especially if you're already feeling confused or anxious at the time :(
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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.
It was horrible. I was really panicking, and couldn't find any words to say. But I managed in the end :)
Sounds like a nasty experience but, as you said, you overcame it in the end - so all credit to you.
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I reckon you'll be even nicer than all of them put together though!
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.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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.
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.
Last edited by Solace_01 : 14-10-2009 at 01:00 PM.
Reason: Changed a word.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
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?
Which is why I firmly believe in the value of personal psychotherapy or counselling for participants on any mental health based training.
I think that would be a good idea.
Quote:
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. 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'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.
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I'd be interested in hearing how you're trained to 'guard .against' transferring your issues onto clients
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).
Last edited by Solace_01 : 14-10-2009 at 01:22 PM.
books don't mean a lot unless you open them, hearts are the same...
