New Psychologist...Feeling Unsure

Post Reply New Topic

So today, I went to this new therapist. You know how it is the first time you have to meet a new doctor? I hate that unfamiliar feeling. I still don't know what to think about him, but I've decided I'm going to continue going and try to get familiar with him, because he says he wants to help me out.

His initial assessment (from only a few minutes of talking) was that I don't have Asperger's. This could certainly be the case, but...how could he possibly know that? I feel like more sessions are needed before he'll see why I've even come to him in the first place. He needs more information about my situation, so I'm going to give him a chance.


Sorry, this came out sounding more like a blog than a forum post. But I suppose if there's discussion to come from this event, it would be this: Do you get the 'first-time jitters' from new therapists? Do you ever feel like giving up after the first session?

I know the feeling. I wish I could offer encouragement, but at the moment I can't think of anything nice to say about any shrink I've known. Sorry.

Keep in mind that many psychologists know very little about AS. Why don't you find and go to an AS specialist?

I did. I went out of my way to find this guy. My insurance found him for me. He's the only specialist in the area who tests for AS. He said to me, "I can administer the test to you, if you'd like, but it's probably just going to be a waste of time." Of course, that was only after asking me about 5 questions about my life/background and such. If figured if he was only basing his personal impression on my initial behavior, he'd probably be getting an unclear picture. After all, I'm an adult, and I've been in the working world for quite some time. This has given me some practice with making eye contact, participating in a conversation, handling my own affairs, obtaining a job interview, and so on. So I probably don't 'seem like' an Aspie at first glance.

This is why I want to meet with him for several sessions...to tell him about my past, my obsession with writing stories (I have file cabinets full of them), the bullying in school, the hearing hypersensitivity, and so on. Maybe THEN, he'll be more open to actually administering the test. I think he's giving me a face full of smirk because he thinks I'm trying to get on disability. But I'm not. I'm just trying to get help for my social isolation problems, which cause me huge amounts of depression.

Same here. It's so depressing.
They claim to be specialists, but all you can do is take their word for it.
A lot of people around here found good psychiatrists.
I haven't. Here's my sob story.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt91016.html

Have the tests done. its usually better to have it done by a developemental or nueropsychologist.

Don't give up. I was assessed at the TEACCH center in NC and they said I didn't have it and I cried. Then, I was assessed by a psychiatrist (board certified) that also specialized in AS and he said I did have it. So, I thought, this is a 50-50 opinion. So, I went to a third person, a psychologist, and got an AS diagnosis there.

Then, I was accepted as a patient in a Neuropsychiatry clinic, saw a nurse practitioner there for two years, and the neuropsychiatrist and the NP both said I have moderate AS. Not mild, mind you.

So, don't give up. Even specialists can have big egos and think they know everything. Look for another specialist. They're out there.

BTW, later, I wanted services at TEACCH. I told them about all this. I asked them to admit they made a mistake. They refused, saying, "That was our professional opinion. Others have different opinions, but that is ours and you can't come to our support groups or take advantage of services."

Sucked. I was pissed!