I have worked my way up to swimming a mile in the pool each visit. It takes me approx. an hour to achieve this small feat. I am really pleased with myself for being able to swim this distance. The majority of the mile has me swimming the crawl, but I mix in a bit of back stroke and kick board (leg) work. I don't feel much stronger in the leg department yet, but I do feel that my upper back muscles are a bit more pronounced-looking than before. My posture--I have been a years' long sloucher--seems to have improved a bit, so that's great.
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I was supposed to have had an intake appointment with a therapist this afternoon at 4p. At twenty minutes to four, I got a call from a phone no. I didn't recognize. I took the call. It was the therapist calling to ask if I'd already 'left the house'. (I hadn't come from home, but never mind.) The therapist's office is in Japantown. I live across town, so no where near Japantown. If I had actually waited until 20 minutes to four to leave the house, then I would have missed our appt. entirely. I did not tell her this, however. I told her that I was 'a bit early' and already outside her building.
She told me that she had great concern that one of her clients was suicidal and that she was very concerned for this person's well-being. Frankly, this information is not my business, but, of course, I understood that she needed to attend to this person. 'Can I reschedule with you?' She told me that the rescheduled session would be gratis. She continued: 'I am really worried about this person. Just thinking about it--I feel my blood pressure rise.' Again, this is neither my business nor my concern. And the freebie offer felt a bit tacky, to be honest. She really seemed to keen to get to me to reschedule with her right then, but all I wanted to do was hang up and go to the pool. So that's what I told her. She said she'd ring tomorrow to book another intake session with me. I don't think I will take her call.
I leave you with a picture of the building in which my appt. would have taken place. -not too shabby, eh?
Not too shabby at all.
ReplyDeleteMy most charitable assessment of your therapist is that her behaviour was unprofessional. I worry about her breach of patient confidentiality too. Is it relatively easy to find another therapist?
Yes, she her behavior was inappropriate. Thank you for validating my thoughts on the matter. It has not been a cake walk trying to find a get match with therapy, to be honest. I will persevere, however!
DeleteGood luck. It is important to have a therapist you can trust. Integral to a successful relationship I believe.
DeleteOh dear! And I imagine to be a therapist you must purport to having a high emotional intelligence ... But well done you on your swift cover of your appointment oversight. I don't think I'd be brave enough to wing it like that for fear I might get unstuck with "Oh, good! come straight in". Most specialists I know only ring to tell you that they're running late and not to hurry!
ReplyDeleteI did think that she was about to tell me she was en route to the office, to be honest.
DeleteI had to do that last week. Dropped my underpants on the wet floor.
ReplyDeleteOh, man, I've done that as well. Super bummer.
DeleteA mile per swim is impressive!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm feeling good about it.
DeleteI don't know about the therapist. I get that she's worried about a patient, and I get that she would ask to reschedule, but I wonder at how much info she should be giving out. I mean, she needs to say something to explain, but she could have been more vague.
ReplyDelete(My mother was a nurse, and I can't count how many times she'd complain HIPAA when she'd see stuff on TV. "They can't say that." Privacy is huge.)
Privacy is very important. And, yes, I agree that the therapist should have been more vague in her communication with me.
DeleteA lovely facility. I'm sure the next one will be, too.
ReplyDeleteI could never swim that far. Good for you.
Thanks, Joanne.
DeleteCongrats on the swimming accomplishment. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right to schedule with someone new for your therapy. Sharing all of the info is not a good practice.
Thanks, man!
DeleteI think the therapist had to make it as dramatic as possible because she was cancelling your appointment. I mean she couldn't really say her cat had a fur ball could she. :D
ReplyDeleteYeah. No kidding, eh?
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