15 minutes theraphy

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Today i met a therapist the session lasted for 15 minutes
she walked in 15 minutes late and continued talking on the phone
again while we were in session she had a call and was talking on it.
she spoke to me for 15 minutes and asked me to purchase her book
which will help me
she said i need to come back next week and testing wont be needed.
just some one to one interaction is enough
i felt she gave very less time....so much time is usually given by psychiatrist
i had taken a leave from office, travelled half way around the town, waited for 45 minutes
and finally she spoke to me for 15 minutes...
is that all the time a psychotherapist spends with their patient.

Well, she doesn't sound like a decent therapist. I've been in therapy sessions where the phone was ringing and my therapists ignored it and continued with the session. And it sounds as if she's more concerned about you purchasing her book. . . By the way my sessions usually last for about 20 - 30 minutes. But I think it depends on the therapist, so if you feel you're not getting enough time spent one to one I suggest you get a better therapist.

I would not be going back.

I recently left the psychiatrist I have been seeing because she won't listen

Sounds like you got a Dr Phil on your hands. They talk to you in sound bytes and then push books or DVD's or classes on you. That's not a real therapist. That's a media therapist. I'm sorry that the first one you found wasn't good. They aren't all like that. Keep calling around. Make your first appointment for a meeting with the therapist rather than a session. That way it's cheaper and you don't have to stay for the whole fifty minutes. Bring a list of you that has your problems and what you want to accomplish. Show that to her and ask if she believes she can help you accomplish them. Tell her that you recently had a bad experience and want to know up front if you will be expected to buy a book, classes, DVD's etc. If she says she can help you and without those things, ask her how she plans on helping you. What is her treatment plan for you. Tell her that you would like to go over your progress with her periodically as well as any revisions in the treatment plan.

If you go in like that, and talk to her like you are hiring someone to help you fix something, (which you are!) then she will give you more attention and respect because she knows that you have specific goals and want to work on them and want to follow the progress of it, rather than just come in and complain that it's not working for most of the hour, or talk randomly about things.

Good luck!

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Any therapist that takes a call while in session with a patient should be fired (IOW, you should fire her by never going to her again.) Personally, I would even refuse to pay the bill, instead answering a bill with a letter explaining her lack of professionalism. NO therapist I have EVER seen has EVER taken a call while in session with me. In point of fact, those whose phones have rung while I was there, have silenced them or called the receptionist to say, "I'm in session, don't call me." The only exception ever was an emergency call, and that appointment was never charged to me.

To top it off, she tried to sell you her book?! That's just plain outrageous.

If it were me, I would find somebody else and refuse to pay the bill. Paying for service you never received is ridiculous.

Selling a book while giving therapy is probably a conflict of interest.