to be very angry with my sons psychologist

[lilybetsy]

my son 16, has severe anxiety and depression. he is under CAMHS and has been started on medication, with some improvement.

There is a VERY long waiting lost for NHS individual therapy and so about 12 months go I started looking for a private psychologist to support him, we tried two who he didn't click with and this one was the third. He started seeing her in April. he likes her and trusts her.
She is very expensive, although since I accepted her fees I'm not moaning about that.

in August she was on leave, but she contacted me to remind me about a bill and to wish my son good luck for his GCSE results. I would not have interrupted her leave.

To cut a long story short after our first appointment with the psychiatrist there was contact between the psychiatrist and the psychologist.

Last weekend she sent me a bill for £920.
I was expecting £345 for sessions my son and I had attended.

She charged me time and a half (because it was her holiday ) for every minute of work she did in contact with the psychiatrist. Phone calls, emails and reading a letter...
So, she never once told me (either in writing or verbally) that she charged 1.5 x normal rates in her holiday period ; I did not ask her to do this work; I was not told she was doing this, not offered the option to defer it to 'normal working time' ie a week later and I was given no warning of the costs incurred. When I challenged her she basically said 'this is the bill, pay it' ; and because I didn't want the relationship with my son disrupted I paid it.

BUT the more i think about it the angrier I am ...and I have lost all trust in her. I think the therapeutic relationship is finished anyway as I no longer want to meet her and I think she is unprofessional .

In a comparable situation, with my divorce lawyer, who charged her time in 5 minute slots, I was fully aware that each call would be charged and at what rate. I was asked for my agreement before letters were written and I was provided with an estimate of costs at regular intervals. In short I had a choice about how much I spent

so AIBU ? and if I am not BU, how far would you take it ? e.g. complain to the BACP (her professional body) ?

I don't think it's unfair for her to charge for work done, whenever it's done, BUT at a different rate, and without prior notice, is not good practice in any field of work.

One would hope that psychologists had a good measure of ethics, professional and social.

Was there no "contract" where she outlined her fees and legal responsibilities etc when you started?

I would complain to every professional body she's a member of. I know the BACP investigates. The British Psychological Society is pretty organised too, I'd be surprised if they didn't, if she's a member.

Absolutely appalling. I am gutted for you as she has you over a barrel. My husband has his own professional service business and a client asked him to work during his family holiday for several hours each day and there was never any question at all of my husband thinking he could charge more. BUT he also always agrees fees like that in advance. You would not just charge it. I would be inclined to complain to a professional body. I hope your son is getting better and you can dispense with her services soon.

I know it's slightly different but I'm a dentist and I would never ever throw a surprise charge to a patient. It's just not fair, they haven't consented to it, at the end of the day their welfare is most important. I would always make patients aware of costs, plus potential additional costs in advance, because otherwise you risk getting halfway through someone's treatment and suddenly they can't afford to pay anymore and then they are left in the lurch with half finished treatment, or in this case a broken down relationship and teenager with mental health problems left in the middle.

Any surprise additional costs should be made clear before that work is carried out.

I would absolutely Complain and tentatively find your Son someone else OP ..sorry this has happened to him too

Do you think that complaining about this will affect her therapeutic relationship with your ds? It shouldn't, but if it does then that's another strike against her.

OPs will be registered with a governing disciplinary body. I’m from overseas sot sure of U.K. body. Make a complaint to that body. I known that the Law Society will look at the fees a solicitor charges if the Clint feel they are unreasonable and as the billing consultation fees affects the way in high the profession is viewed I’m pretty sure this will apply psychologists. First check who she is registering and ring them and asks you can make aomplaint about unprofessional behaviour and take it from there
Good luck

OP. If she’s registered ( and can’t call herself a psychologist unless she is)
It’s the Heath and Care Professions Council
Free phone 0800 38 44218
Call and ask for advice

Unless she's actually a Counsellor....

BACP? So she's not a psychologist?

I think you need to complain to her in the first instance that you were not informed of the fees for her holiday work then if you are unhappy with the response her regulatory body. You are unlikely to get money back from her liaising as that's industry standard.

Did the psychologist ask your permission to share your son's medical information with the psychiatrist? If not could they've breached patient confidentiality?

If you didn't ask for the work to be done, weren't told it was going to happen and haven't signed anything giving them permission to do so in the eventuality it may be needed, I don't see how they could charge you.

I would take it further tbh as they may do this to other clients too.

Thank you everyone.

The bill arrived last Saturday and I have spent the last 5 days thinking about it and pondering my response. I tried to question the bill but got a compete slap down. I cant see any value in meeting her because the basic problem is that I dont trust her any longer.

I have written her an email after discussion with my son. I had hoped to preserve the relationship but I just cant. I have been honest with him about my misgivings and he said, spontaneously that he feels she is pressuring him into going 2 x a week (which she suggested and I said several times I cannot afford) so we agreed to call it a day.

My email terminating is blunt and draws attention to the fact that she was in breach of the BACP ethical guidance which clearly says that clients should be kept fully informed of costs

I feel better having stopped the sessions.

I will take a few days to consider if I report her to the BACP

Well done OP. Good for you. I hope you find a suitable replacement for you DS soon and you're both ok.

DEF report her - she is appallingly unprofessional!!

I am so glad that your son doesnt seem too sad that you have to terminate your relationship with her. Him feeling pressured by her rings terrible alarm bells. She is taking advantage of vulnerable people which is wicked.

Did you get anything in writing about her terms and conditions before starting?

I think she has taken advantage of knowing that you would do anything to help your son
she thinks she can write her own cheque
I would report her , she works with people who are very fragile
I wouldn't trust her