Can I ask you a question if you gave had CBT

[Veganforlife]

I'm 10 weeks in to a14 week stint of counselling CBT....every week she remembers really well what I've said...then last time she left her laptop open..I could see she had made notes after every session,a lot of notes writing down everything I've said ...now I'm thinking ,firstly she absolutely didn't tell she was going to do this.and secondly what is she going to do with it...I was told the sessions were confidential,how can they be with every session written up on her laptop...has anyone else had the same?

I found the same with therapy OP - I wasn't fussed about notes being taken but it 100% didn't work for me. I hate that it is suggested as a miracle solution to any problem ever

Thankyou ,for all the kind comments,she is a genuine lovely person,.but I dreaded going before I saw the notes.i honestly thought this CBT was going to sort me out .i feel like a failure because I still feel the same,I feel like I've wasted nhs money .

You haven't. You might have picked up some tools you can use in the future and you won't know about them until later.

Even if they weren't helpful, knowing they weren't helpful is good as you know in future, it's not for you.

I'd be curious why the notetaking upset me, if I was you. Have a think about that in a curious way, try not to judge yourself. Take the things that are useful, park the rest.

It's a trust thing ...I didn't know she was doing it.she had 10 weeks in which to tell me.i need things clear .i take things literally ..it would not of occurred to me think she might take notes ,as I didn't see her doing it.she must of done it after I'd gone..she's writing about me.so she should of said from the start.

Notes are normal and necessary and I honestly wouldn't expect to be told that they would take notes. It goes without saying that they can't remember all these details about every patient. They don't share them and you can request that your doctor is not informed of anything regarding your therapy.

It's a medical note thing tho, no-one can remember individual cases as that would lead to mistakes and they have a professional duty to record things accurately.

You can look at the notes, I assume it would come under data protection law.

She wouldn't have mentioned it as it would be unprofessional not to take notes and so it's sort of assumed knowledge. That said, she could have approached you differently. I think getting an asd assessment would be of benefit, then you'll know for sure.

Unfortunately, mental health issues are seen as a different area of psychology/psychiatry to ASD/ADHD type issues. This means that it's very possible for someone who specialises in CBT not to really be aware of ASD type issues. She shouldn't be dismissing your concerns completely but she should perhaps explain that she's not qualified to deal with them and they're outside the scope of your sessions.

It may be that you need to be referred to a different service for diagnosis.

As others have said, CBT is a very specific sort of therapy, and there is an agenda. It can work wonders for people, but only for those willing/able to fully engage in the process. If it's really, really not working for you, it may be worth going back to your GP and asking to explore the ASD diagnosis instead.

What are you hoping to gain from the therapy?

Please don't feel like a failure. Around 50% of clients show improvement 6 months after CBT*, which means that 50% don't. You are not alone. I would suggest pursuing an autism assessment as that may help explain things and open up other avenues of support.

*in terms of mental health treatments, this makes CBT one of the most consistently effective treatments out there, which is why the NHS focuses on it. Recovering from a mental health problem is often a bit of a journey, as it can take a while to find the right therapy for the patient.

Any private therapist will have to be insured before they are allowed to practise.

Most professional associations of the therapy in question require members to comply with their extensive code of practise for example,

www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/

Commitments to clients
"e. keeping accurate and appropriate records"

and under working to Professional standards
15. We will keep accurate records that:

• are adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the type of service being provided comply with the applicable data protection requirements – see Information Commissioner's Office website (www.ico.org.uk).