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Years ago right after I left my husband we decided to see a therapist. My ex attended the 1st session and of course it was a complete waste of time. He never went back but I went back 2 more times. On my second solo visit the therapist suggested that we meet for lunch. I just gave some non-commital answer and I left his office swearing to never return. Three days later he called my house and left messages for me to call him back. I was too freaked out and did not return his calls. He called at least 2 or 3 times after that. He was definitely out of line and I know I should have reported him for it. At times I can't help wondering how many other patients he did this to.
After that, I found a female therapist and had much better results.
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Edited by MLR2 at 03/03/2008 5:10 PM
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(13 of 13)
Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Sto
May 6, 2008 11:20 PM
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After reading everyone's stories, all I can say is WOW.  I'm sorry that anyone has had to deal with a jerk/jerkette of a therapist!
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Angela
HBO Forums Host
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
May 6, 2008 2:24 PM
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Hi, all:
If I interrupted a discussion, I apologize, but I understand this is the only way I can make others on the IT forum aware of the new Quo Vadis thread on member created threads. The objective of this thread is to allow visitors to discuss problems of patients and methods for treating these problems for Paul to treat and use, respectively, on the second series of IT which hopefully will be shown.
For example:
Should Paul's new patients include a celebrity and a reformer, e.g., an attorney who defends the little guys on the bottom rung of society?
Should the forum offer criticism of IT, Paul and GB as well as praise?
What treatment regime would Paul use for a suicidal patient who is the head of a prostitution ring and resembles The D,C. Madam?
Which treatment regime should Paul use for Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD)?
See you on the thread.
Thanks.
Sciwriter
P.S. Sciwriter stands for science writer.
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 5, 2008 6:44 PM
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> > I feel too that Paul crosses that line too
> often. I
> > don't quite get his confrontational sessions
> with his
> > patients, especially with Alex. Or his attacks
> on his
> > own therapist, Gina.
>
>
> I have never found any of Alex's comments to his
> patients to be overly confrontational or crossing the
> line. Therapists do need to "confront" their
> patient's denial about things to snap them out of
> their delusions, but i would not call that
> confrontational
>
> Gina is a different story. "patients" get angry at
> their therapists all the time -- evidence that
> emotions are being dredged up. That's when the real
> work can begin
I think Paul's defensive/confrontational reaction to Alex's agression was inappropriate in the previous episodes because he took Alex's arrogance too personally instead of maintaining an emotional distance and patience.
Most people who seek therapy are feeling some kind of pain. This pain is often expressed in indirect way in maladjusted behaviours. So was the case with Alex. For Paul to be angry and defensive with Alex is not different from the obstetrician being angry and defensive with
the screaming (and often verbally abusive) woman giving birth.
But then Week 6 episode shows a breakthrough in Alex's demeanor and a much more understanding Paul. So, go figure. Maybe it helped. But for one Alex who came back, there would be nine who wouldn't.
Yet, he never gets angry with Laura or Sophie or Amy and Jake, despite their obnoxious behaviors. Why Alex did not get the same understanding in the beginning as his other patients, even before his little rendezvous with Laura?
Paul is difficult to listen to in his own therapy with Gina. He speaks with contempt for her and keeps criticizing her therapy, but yet keeps coming back to her as if she is the only therapist left on earth. Gina, on the other hand, though appearing sometimes distressed by Paul's attack, maintains her cool, as she should as a good therapist. I'd fire Paul for Gina.
I think, of all the people in this show, Paul is the one with MOST SERIOUS problems.
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Edited by JazzyTunes at 03/05/2008 3:52 PM
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Edited by JazzyTunes at 03/05/2008 3:59 PM
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 5, 2008 5:09 PM
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I think sometimes that I have overwhelmed my shrink with my wanting them to hurry the process. I can sometimes sense the exasperation. The portrayal of Alex getting under Paul's skin is so real to life in my case. Sometimes I would really like to know what makes the Shrink tick. I mean what kind of patient blows their hair back. What gives them a rush. I have been a Paramedic for 22 yrs. and while I don't wish tragedy on anyone. It's the most extreme runs that get you geeked. That being said. I think Paul's character is most in control with Sophie. I think Alex makes Paul work. If the Paul character is like me, he loves the work. The unexpected. The challenge.
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 5, 2008 3:34 PM
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My first psychiatrist offered to prescribe appetite suppressants for my sister... who was in the early stages of a severe eating disorder.
Needless to say, we never went back to that dude!
He also talked one time about a breakfast item he loved, "English Muffs" He was foreign and perhaps he didn't know what he was really saying... it was very hard not to LOL!
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 4, 2008 2:31 PM
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> I feel too that Paul crosses that line too often. I
> don't quite get his confrontational sessions with his
> patients, especially with Alex. Or his attacks on his
> own therapist, Gina.
I have never found any of Alex's comments to his patients to be overly confrontational or crossing the line. Therapists do need to "confront" their patient's denial about things to snap them out of their delusions, but i would not call that confrontational
Gina is a different story. "patients" get angry at their therapists all the time -- evidence that emotions are being dredged up. That's when the real work can begin
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 4, 2008 1:57 PM
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To an extent I do undestand confrontation in therapy. Been there done that. But, those were instances where I'd been dancing around the truth for quite a while and the therapist knew it and I knew it. Sometimes you simply have to say what you're most reluctant to put into words. You have to say it or it doesn't count. Getting someone to do that can't be easy. Gods I was a PITA back then. She was relentless at one point, my first therapist, and rightly so. I remember that session to this day and that was some 17 years ago. But that session made a huge difference.
> I feel too that Paul crosses that line too often. I
> don't quite get his confrontational sessions with his
> patients, especially with Alex. Or his attacks on his
> own therapist, Gina.
> I would not want this kind of confrontational
> "therapy" for myself. But, perhaps, without all
> these anger and extra drama, the show would be too
> boring.
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Sto
Mar 4, 2008 2:12 AM
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Wow, JazzyTunes. That's quite a story. It is scary. Yuck.
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Sto
Mar 4, 2008 1:10 AM
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> Yes, but not in a sexual way. I had ended a
> long-term relationsionship with an emotionally
> abusive man and was seeing this therapist for about 2
> months . The once-a-week therapy sessions were not
> nearly adequate to deal with my pain, anxiety and
> tremendous anger. In attempt to get to the source of
> my feeling, I bought a book specifically dealing with
> a subject of verbal and emotional abuse.
>
> When I mentioned that to my therapist, she got
> visibly angry and said, "How dare you buy this
> book without asking for my permission?"
>
> Considering the fact that all along she kept
> insisting, against my protest, that I was a doormat
> in putting up with this man for so long, this was a
> straw that broke the camel's back. It felt to me that
> she was threatened by the book, as if the book would
> prove her obsolete. Her tone of voice was beyond the
> subtle emotional abuse of my ex, it was downright
> crude attempt at manipulation and control.
>
> I was shocked. I said, "Now YOU've crossed the
> line!", and
> walked out. This was the last I saw of her.
>
> I feel too that Paul crosses that line too often. I
> don't quite get his confrontational sessions with his
> patients, especially with Alex. Or his attacks on his
> own therapist, Gina.
> I would not want this kind of confrontational
> "therapy" for myself. But, perhaps, without all
> these anger and extra drama, the show would be too
> boring.
Good on you for walking out on that woman!! Her reaction too the book is actually a bit scary. 
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 3, 2008 11:36 PM
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Yes, but not in a sexual way. I had ended a long-term relationsionship with an emotionally abusive man and was seeing this therapist for about 2 months . The once-a-week therapy sessions were not nearly adequate to deal with my pain, anxiety and tremendous anger. In attempt to get to the source of my feeling, I bought a book specifically dealing with a subject of verbal and emotional abuse.
When I mentioned that to my therapist, she got visibly angry and said, "How dare you buy this book without asking for my permission?"
Considering the fact that all along she kept insisting, against my protest, that I was a doormat in putting up with this man for so long, this was a straw that broke the camel's back. It felt to me that she was threatened by the book, as if the book would prove her obsolete. Her tone of voice was beyond the subtle emotional abuse of my ex, it was downright crude attempt at manipulation and control.
I was shocked. I said, "Now YOU've crossed the line!", and
walked out. This was the last I saw of her.
I feel too that Paul crosses that line too often. I don't quite get his confrontational sessions with his patients, especially with Alex. Or his attacks on his own therapist, Gina.
I would not want this kind of confrontational "therapy" for myself. But, perhaps, without all these anger and extra drama, the show would be too boring.
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29
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Sto
Mar 3, 2008 10:03 PM
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In response to both these stories..OMG! That's completely insane! I think half the therapists out there need therapy themselves.
I didn't have a therapist come on to me--but another 'authority figure' - my guitar teacher. I was 15 or 16. Id hand him my check and he'd have this really creepy 'sexual' look on his face. Then he'd hand me my sheet music and let it slowly slide out of his hand while giving me the same expression. I wanted to puke.
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Re: Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 3, 2008 8:43 PM
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Yeah, I had a therapist who, at a critical moment, when I was talking about early-childhood memories (alcoholic / absent dad), stopped me and asked me what my sexual feelings were for her.
I didnt think it was "inappropriate" so much as monumentally incompetent. Why interrupt a key moment by "introducing" and "verbalizing" erotic transference?
1) I wasnt remotely attracted to her
2) Isn't it the patient who is supposed to bring that up if it does in fact occur?
What a dunce
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Ever Have A Therapist Cross The Line With You??? I Have..Share Your Story
Mar 3, 2008 8:09 PM
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Years ago right after I left my husband we decided to see a therapist. My ex attended the 1st session and of course it was a complete waste of time. He never went back but I went back 2 more times. On my second solo visit the therapist suggested that we meet for lunch. I just gave some non-commital answer and I left his office swearing to never return. Three days later he called my house and left messages for me to call him back. I was too freaked out and did not return his calls. He called at least 2 or 3 times after that. He was definitely out of line and I know I should have reported him for it. At times I can't help wondering how many other patients he did this to.
After that, I found a female therapist and had much better results.
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Edited by MLR2 at 03/03/2008 5:10 PM
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