Skip to main content

The PsychCafe
Share, connect, and learn.
16 replies

NEVER EVER AGAIN! I cannot believe what happened.

ghostgirlghostgirlMember
This evening was my session with T2 and I am a bit baffled, horribly angry and feeling like my boundaries have been violated.

Tonight was the first time I ever I ventured to talk about an issue I have never discussed with anybody ever and I think the only reason I was able to do it with this T is because I have absolutely no attachment to him at all. For the first time EVER in therapy I my voice was starting to shake, my body and my hands were shaking, I was sweating and I started to cry as I was relating my information to T, when all of a sudden Ts office door bursts open and some 20 something kid just bursts into the room (in no obvious distress) and says, "Oh doc I have been looking for you"....

well doc acknowledges him and stays seated and starts talking to him IN MY SESSION, IN MY SPACE. There was no attempt on Ts part to get up and tell the other client to leave. The other client was looking at his cell phone standing right in between where T was sitting and where I was sitting, then turned his back and started telling T that he had to tell him what happened at work last week. WTF!

I am sitting there in obvious distress, relating painful memories and T does NOTHING to usher this non-boundaried client out of his office.

I threw my money on his desk and walked out. I am so upset right now. I really don't know what just happened. I feel like I got blindsided. I am just not going back.

I am sorry, I am in shock. I really am in shock but I had to get some of it OUT.

WTF WAS THAT! Talk about feeling violated! I feel like I might get sick now.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

True NorthTrue NorthCo-moderator
I'm so sorry gg, that must have been so horrifying to experience. I once had my oldT's young son walk into our session. He was at the office and the door was slightly ajar so he walked in. Thank goodness I was not relating anything painful or difficult but it caused quite a disruption between us.

My current T locks his office door. He said he got tired of the Fed Ex/UPS guys sticking their heads in the door and he feels strongly about protecting his patients.

What was the T's reaction when you just walked out?

TN
L longroadMember
Hi GG,

Wow! I'm so sorry. That is completely unacceptable. I can't blame you for being upset. Your T should have immediately apologized to you and shown the other client the door without hesitation. Within the confines of our sessions we should expect, and deserve a safe, quiet, and uninterrupted space. It's one thing if there is a legitimate emergency situation, but this sure didn't sound like one. Of all people, a T needs to know and respect this. I hope if nothing else you let your T know your feelings about this. I hope your able to work your way past this soon. Take care

LongRoad
evaevaMember


Holy crap GG!!! Wow!!!

That is beyond TERRIBLE - it's horrendous!!!

I think you handled it so much better than I would have. I certainly would NOT have paid a cent for the session.

I hope you talk to him and tell him how applying it was and how it left you feeling. Even if you are not going back again, phone him / email him.

My T had someone knock on her door once - she went to it, and dealt with it, closed the door and back.

I would struggle if anyone came into the room during my session, I think it would send me so dissociated and I'd close right down.
ghostgirlghostgirlMember
Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. T did absolutely nothing when I walked out. He has a really long hallway and as far as I know the other client stayed in the room with him when I walked out. T didn't try to stop me or follow up with a phone call or anything. I think it was horribly rude.

If the client was in distress and having an emergency I could see this and almost be accepting of it, but he was chatting away with T and it was like once he walked in the room I no longer existed. I felt like I didn't belong there and because T did nothing to re-direct the other client or even ask me to step out for a moment while he handled the situation I got really pissed off.

I don't even know if I will call or e-mail him. It isn't that important to me to hang on to this T, and if HIS boundaries are so bad that he will allow another client to burst into a session in progress without saying anything to protect the integrity of my session then screw him.
rachel 2rachel 2Member
I'm so sorry gg, that's absolutely terrible!! I'm at a loss for words. I can't even imagine the emotions that I would have gone through if that happened. No one has ever walked into my T's office; in fact, I think the only disruption we've ever had was her phone beeping from her desk because her husband texted her and she forgot to turn it on silent. Don't go back to that T, please!! If he has a supervisor, report him immediately. That is completely uncalled for and a violation of so many things. It's a waste of your money for him to use your session time to talk to another client that so rudely interrupted. Again, I'm so sorry!!
ghostgirlghostgirlMember
I definately am not going back. My T should have protected me and the integrity of our session, not to mention my right to privacy. Too many boundary violations here.

I am glad that I am not attached to this guy. On the upside at least I told him something I never shared before. Having spoken the words once I know I can do it again with T1. Not going back to T2 is no loss for me. I can walk away fine.

I actually am still kind of in shock as I replay the scenario in my head and the lack of reaction or action on the Ts part. He looked totally relaxed and unfazed by the whole thing. It was like the other client walked in and I somehow evaporated into thin air. Very weird experience.
affinityaffinityMember
(((((GG)))))

I'm so sorry that happened to you. For your T to just sit there and allow that to happen was horrific and unconscionable. I know there have been a couple of slight disruptions to sessions with my T (phone ringing, knock on the door), but my T has always made it clear that the client in the room comes first. I'm so glad that you aren't attached to this T and can just walk away. I would be mortified beyond reason if my T allowed something like this to happen.

Hugs.
evaevaMember
quote:
Originally posted by Rebuilding Me:
GG, I'm so sorry that happened and I'm appalled the way your T. handled it. I'm not sure it is a state ruling or not. But, where I live a T. is required to have the door locked.


I could. It cope with having a door locked - that would trigger a lot of people I think - that idea really sends shivers up my spine, not in a good way.

I thought most Ts would have a secretary / receptionist? Mine does - the admin lady greets all people arriving and just wouldn't let anyone wander in past her desk to interrupt a session. If they preceded to walk past she would be first one to stop them.

GG - do you think you will phone him and let rip?
ghostgirlghostgirlMember
Hi ElizaJ,

I am not sure if I am going to phone him. My mind is trying to absorb the actual absurdity of it all. Literally it was like I was not even in the room after the client walked in and T was totally relaxed and like shifted gears, like I wasn't there. I am still like WTF HAPPENED. I don't feel particularly traumatized by it, I just don't understand what happened.

I am angry that he didn't follow up with a phone call last night or today. It was just all so beyond weird. I sit here and think if a patient burst in to do harm T would have just sat there and let either one of us be harmed.

If anything I will probably just contact the main office where he works out of and tell the secretary to relay to him that I will not be back. It was too odd.

Add Reply

Post

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires a premium membership.

Be a Patron Member

Get psychotherapy help to make your therapy easier and better.



Yes, I've learned about all the benefits of being a Patron Member (Click here if you missed seeing them: Community Psychotherapy Help

Yes, I understand that...

1. I can do a 7 day free trial and my credit card will not be charged until that period is up.

2. I can cancel at any time before then and my card will not be charged.

3. That once my credit card is charged, there is no refund offered.

Have a special coupon?

4. If I'm using a coupon my receipt won't show the discounted amount (It'll show $7.95). However, I understand that it will go through as $2.95 when I am billed after the 7 day trial. (According to the current promotion, this discount applies to the first three months of my membership - and as long as I use the coupon in the checkout.)*

*Please note that after the 3 months, billing will revert to the regular monthly fee.
**The fee posted below is our standard billing fee (ie. using no coupon).

7-Day Free Trial, then $7.95 per Month (plus tax if applicable)
×