Did this psychologist act inappropriately?

Consider the following exchanges between myself and a psychologist and tell me if it sounds like the psychologist acted appropriately or inappropriately:

Exchange 1.
Psychologist: You are depressed. You need medications
Me: I don't want medications.
Psychologist: You need medications
Me: I don't want medications.
Psychologist: Medications will make you more intelligent.
Me: That's not true.
Psychologist: Medications will make you more intelligent.

Exchange 2.
Me: Now that you are done evaluating, can I have therapy?
Psychologist: No, because when a person is so depressed there is nothing you can tell them that will make them feel better because they won't listen. You need to see a psychiatrist who will give you medications.

Exchange 3.
Psychologist: Do you drink or smoke?
Me: No
Psychologist: <doesn't say anything>
Me: <I stare at the psychologist, uncomfortably>
Psychologist: <stares at the me>
Me: <don't say anything>
Psychologist: Ok...

If that is indeed the exact exchange between you and he/she, then it certainly sounds like he/she acted inappropriately. I also sense from those words that he/she assumed that he/she knew you without actually trying to learn more about you. There's obviously much more to those exchanges, and it'd be helpful to see it all, but im aware that you probably cannot remember the entire dialogue. im also guessing that you think it was inapropriate. What is the situation now anyway?

Chucky wrote:If that is indeed the exact exchange between you and he/she,

I don't blame you for being reluctant to give me the benefit of the doubt. When you declare yourself mentally ill and put yourself at the mercy of a psychologist, you can't really complain if people feel inclined to believe the doctor and not the patient.

then it certainly sounds like he/she acted inappropriately.

Not only do I think that she acted inappropriately, but I know for a fact that the way I was treated caused me severe anxiety back then and even now. That's easy for me to prove, because the meeting took place over 5 years ago and I just went through the trouble of registering to this site just to talk about it.

I also sense from those words that he/she assumed that he/she knew you without actually trying to learn more about you.

That's the impression I got, too.

There's obviously much more to those exchanges, and it'd be helpful to see it all, but im aware that you probably cannot remember the entire dialogue. im also guessing that you think it was inapropriate. What is the situation now anyway?

The situation now is much worse. I feel daily physical pain (from my anxiety) and replay in my head negative memories such as the one I described on this thread.

It's a shame that I was treated so badly by that psychologist and that I am too much of a coward to risk working with a psychologist ever again.

Don't listen when they say you need medication. The truth is the patient is always right.

They're not all bad, Sigm, and to follow up on what Ecco has just said: The customer is always right too. When you go to a doctor, you are the customer and you should therefore dictate what/what not should be done. Please don't be reluctant about seeing someone else. What you've learned from this situation is that incompetence gets into every walk of life. You'll find that even at the highest position in a country (i.e. the president or prime minister), incompetence is rife too. However, there are good people too...

Kevin

I'm sure there are excellent psychologists out there... but it's hard to find them.

I wonder how many psychologists I'll have to waste my time with until I find one that I can work with.

I think she should of let you go into therapy though.

It's really hard to find someone you trust, who gets what you are saying and can read how you feel. I have been through about half a dozen different psychologists or counsellors before I found one that worked. We just clicked, he understood what I was saying and where I was coming from, if he didn't he would ask for clarification. He was also really good at reading my body language and knowing when to ask questions and what to ask.

The thing I found the hardest when I was looking for help was that every time I went to a new Psych I had to go through the who "tell me about yourself crap" and I would feel terrible for days - like I had been torn open. One time when I went to a mental health clinic, they told me that because I wasn't addicted to alcohol or drugs that I wasn't sick enough for their help - this is after an hour of being asked intensly personal questions while severly depressed... I felt so bad and didn't go back to my doctor for months and was a real mess when I did.

Drugs aren't the end of the world - if things don't get better the drugs can help to get you to a place where you are able to change the way you think, but it is your choice

Sigm wrote:Consider the following exchanges between myself and a psychologist and tell me if it sounds like the psychologist acted appropriately or inappropriately:

Exchange 1.
Psychologist: You are depressed. You need medications
Me: I don't want medications.
Psychologist: You need medications
Me: I don't want medications.
Psychologist: Medications will make you more intelligent.
Me: That's not true.
Psychologist: Medications will make you more intelligent.

Exchange 2.
Me: Now that you are done evaluating, can I have therapy?
Psychologist: No, because when a person is so depressed there is nothing you can tell them that will make them feel better because they won't listen. You need to see a psychiatrist who will give you medications.

Exchange 3.
Psychologist: Do you drink or smoke?
Me: No
Psychologist: <doesn't say anything>
Me: <I stare at the psychologist, uncomfortably>
Psychologist: <stares at the me>
Me: <don't say anything>
Psychologist: Ok...

This fascinates me. I love tearing apart people's psych's when they leave them so vacantly open.

That said, let me explain what this Psychologist is thinking/feeling.

Psychologist: You are depressed. You need medications
Me: I don't want medications.
Psychologist: You need medications
Me: I don't want medications.
Psychologist: Medications will make you more intelligent.
Me: That's not true.
Psychologist: Medications will make you more intelligent.

Line 1: Psychologist: You are suffering a disorder. The only way I can see help for you is medications. (Note: this is further explained and sensible based on the other things he shows to think.)
Line 3: Psychologist: No, I am right. You are suffering a disorder. I am right and you do need medications to fix yourself.
Line 5: Psychologist: I am right, you are too naive to understand my intelligence. Therefore, I am not going to try to deceive you using 'sly' methods.
Line 7: Psychologist: (This is an interesting line. I've noticed that all your exchanges end with the Psychologist having the last word...) I insist, for I am not incorrect what-so-ever. Thus, you need to do what I say.

Exchange 2.
Me: Now that you are done evaluating, can I have therapy?
Psychologist: No, because when a person is so depressed there is nothing you can tell them that will make them feel better because they won't listen. You need to see a psychiatrist who will give you medications.

This is after exchange 1, I am assuming. If not, what I am about to say could be and likely is dead wrong.

Line 2: Psychologist: I am incompetent in treating my patients' mental needs. I view them as physical objects just as a medical doctor should. (This is his way of deceiving himself into thinking he is not incompetent.) You are not going to be treated by me because you will not comply to the standards which satisfy my competency validation. You will cause me to be incompetent because you are not doing what I want. ( The underlined part is a rationalization of his failings as a psychologist.)

Exchange 3.
Psychologist: Do you drink or smoke?
Me: No
Psychologist: <doesn't say anything>
Me: <I stare at the psychologist, uncomfortably>
Psychologist: <stares at the me>
Me: <don't say anything>
Psychologist: Ok...

I'm not getting much from this.

It seems like he was assuming you did one of those two things and when you proved him wrong, he was uncomfortable. He inflicted his uncomfortableness onto you by not speaking. However, he established his comfortableness by putting you in a position where you thought you were the one that was uncomfortable and weird.

Chucky wrote:They're not all bad, Sigm. Please don't be reluctant about seeing someone else. What you've learned from this situation is that incompetence gets into every walk of life. You'll find that even at the highest position in a country (i.e. the president or prime minister), incompetence is rife too. However, there are good people too...

I truly agree! Although finding a good psychologist is not that easy but you'll find it very rewarding once you will. Why not ask any acquaintances if they know anyone who's good or find them through the internet. I'm sure there are lots of psychologists who's had good reviews from their previous patients. I hope you'll feel great soon, you can do it!