Posted by mair on August 18, 2004, at 22:04:20
In reply to more therapy drama, posted by lonelygal on August 18, 2004, at 19:52:17
As others have said, I'm sure the letter was just something your therapist felt legally bound to send and not a reflection of how she felt about your relationship. On the other hand, I've had a similar experience and I know how much it sucks.
A few years ago, my pdoc, who had also been my therapist at an earlier time, retired. He sent an introductory letter to my new pdoc which just felt like a slap in the face. It's almost like we weren't part of the same process. I was working with another therapist then (who is still my therapist) and we spent a few sessions processing this letter and how I should correct some of the things he said because I didn't like the impression he was giving my new pdoc. And then more recently, i ran into him at a film screening and it brought to the surface again all of the things I felt about this stupid letter he had written.
I think my therapist reads this letter and doesn't see the same subtle slights I see. So maybe I'm hypersensitive. But I really think part of the problem is that we're not used to seeing ourselves described in clinical terms - it does seem so cold and puts a different cast to a relationship we view more personally.
I would discuss this with the new therapist, perhaps as a backdrop to telling her that you'd maybe prefer her not communicating with your old therapist until the 2 of you have reached a greater comfort level.
Also, just because you've given the new therapist permission to talk to your old therapist, doesn't mean that your old therapist can talk to the new one. You will need to have given your old therapist a written release for her to be able to release info to therapist #2.
Mair
poster:mair
thread:379259
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040812/msgs/379296.html