Dr. D Therapeutic Performance Evaluation

Dr D. Evaluation

For treatment of Faith-Magdalene Austin

Evaluations such as this have been given to the last 6 therapists because I want them to know my observations concerning the professional relationship. This evaluation will discuss your strong points, helpful techniques you’ve given and assess participation in my sessions. I will then end with commentary on various topics. As with past therapist evaluations this document will appear on my blog without your name or any identifiable information. The evaluation given to the therapist before you can be found here.

CHARACTER STRENGTHS and PERSONAL ASSISTANCE

• You’re approachable and non-threatening
• You have a mild manner which works well for me.
• You’re flexible, not rigid.
• You have good focus on the subject at hand.
• I appreciate that you are willing to call me on behaviors. This lets me process out the situation and see why I did what I did. I can trace my steps, review perceptions and feelings as well as look at which borderline behavior I fell back on. I’ve been able to use this personal insight in non-therapeutic settings.
• You have assisted me with questioning old tapes such as being a jinx and a horrible person. In doing so I’m able to draw a thicker line between the past and present.
• I better understand the importance of talking instead of depending primarily on expressing myself in written form.
• You let me cry and I don’t feel ashamed when I do.
• You’ve gone out of your way to make sure I feel safe in your office. This fact has not gone unnoticed.
• As frightening as it is to admit, I feel as if you believe me.

PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP

• I appreciate that you were able to endure how threatened I was by you when I doubted that you are who you say you are. It might be hard for some to not take my words personally.
• I think you have good professional boundaries. I have yet to feel as if your personal issues or life circumstances have become a part of our sessions.
• Confidentiality: Thank you for not announcing my name when you call me into your office from the waiting room. This observance of confidentiality helps to strengthen my trust in your overall ability to keep my confidence.
• You do not compare me to your other clients or tell me details about your other clients. I’ve had therapists do this before which made me wonder what they said about me to others. How many times was my story used to drive a point home? You don’t do this which furthers my ability to trust that you will keep my confidence.
• You absolutely hold yourself as a professional.

PARTICIPATION IN SESSIONS

You have good participation. You don’t take over the session nor do you say only two words. I think you realize how much art plays a part in my life so it is very much appreciated when you look at my sketches and artwork. It feels like I’m able to show you parts of me that there really are no words for.

Sometimes I switch rapidly and have no clue what I was talking about. For a long time I worried you were exasperated by talking to so many people back to back. I thought maybe you would conclude that we couldn’t work together because I’m sometimes unable to stay one person and process issues. It took a bit but I’m finally to the point where I realize you aren’t going to kick me out of your office because I switch. Despite the fact that you reassured me with words it was your actions that helped me relax a bit more and realize you were not upset with me for dissociating.

You ask thought provoking and leading questions which are helpful.

I feel respected in the sessions and feel I am treated as an adult not a child. I’ve had therapist treat me like a teenager or a child but you seem to treat me like an adult. You don’t talk down to me or make stereotypical assumptions. For the most part our sessions go very smoothly.

You have been most helpful when answering questions clearly and without ambiguity or generalities. This helps me relax and listen to what you’re saying. As a child I had to sift through my mother’s words and figure out what she meant and what she wanted from me. When I didn’t know what she wanted or didn’t understand I became anxious because I knew I was going to fail and pay for that failure. When it comes to generalities, cluttered speech and lack of a committed answer I see a person with no backbone as well as no real concern as to if the question gets answered. The vast majority of the time I get my questions answered in sessions.

SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTARY

Your cell phone: I have issue with it ringing. You said that you sometimes forget to turn it off but I wonder if when you open it up to turn it off if you’re in actuality getting a text message. If you are it means you’re taking a call on my time. It also makes me wonder if I have your full attention or if you’re waiting for a call. Turn your phone off please.

I am uncertain if you are aware only in the very distant past did I fire a therapist without warning and without attempting to rebuild our professional relationship. Before I fired the last therapist, I made repeated attempts to manage our difficulties and mend our working relationship. Only after it became painfully clear that he wasn’t going to cease offending me did I move to fire him. Even so, I went in his office and discussed it with him. I stayed for the entire session and explained to him that I wouldn’t return. I say all this to you because when we’ve had a few minor miscommunications you reminded me that we could still work together. I thought you were concerned I’d turn borderline impulsive and quit over one single incident. I’m happy to say I’ve grown from that particular behavior. You’ve really got to screw up for me to drop you.

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Overall I believe our sessions have been and will continue to be beneficial.

fma