Email from doctor - does this sound a bit creepy or am I reading too much into it?

[HoneymoonGirl]

He’s a psychiatrist working entirely in private practice. He says:

‘Dear HMG,

‘I hope you are having a good summer. I have been thinking about you and wondering how you are? Shall we get your next appointment booked in?

’Best wishes,

<First Name>’

He’s been thinking about me? Really?!

I’m a psychologist and I would say I’ve been thinking of some of my patients (because I have been thinking of them and I do care if they are going through a difficult time - of course I wonder how they are getting on, hoping they are doing well). But if you feel uncomfortable go somewhere else - it’s imperative to have a good relationship with someone for the therapeutic alliance.

How did you leave the last appointment ? Was it that you would have a check in or was it the end of sessions? Who was to make contact if another apt was required? Are you on medications that need to be reviewed? I think you’re making a much bigger issue out of this than it needs to be - transfer to someone else if you prefer and sounds like that might be a good idea for you, but it’s a pretty generic email to be spending lots of time wondering if there’s a secret creepy code behind it (there’s not).

Nothing untoward in that message. But if it makes you uncomfortable change practitioner.

Therapist here 👋. Personally, I think the wording of the message is not something I would say. Clumsy wording. It’s made you feel uncomfortable and that’s something to explore.

Same

This. It’s a way of expressing someone is being held in mind. It doesn’t come across as weird or creepy at all to me.

I personally would never go to a male psychiatrist. But anyway, it sounds like he wants to book you in so he can make some money.

I haven't read any of the replies, just jumped on to say my psychiatrist is a letch. He doesn't actually provide and treatment other than prescribe medication ( I don't have severe mental illness)

Nope, sounds like a completely normal message. I think he is trying to sound causal and personal rather than just sending a template booking email.

Its a completely normal message, plus it would be strange to change GP because your private psychiatrist emailed you.

It’s not creepy. Has he been creeping on you in sessions?

@HoneymoonGirl Not creepy at all and you're reading WAY too much into it. He's a therapist and I'm sure thinks about all of his patients at various times. He's also a businessman who needs to earn money and if you haven't seen him for a while he's checking in with you to ensure he doesn't lose your business. It's this simple.
As someone else has suggested, you may need to think about why your go-to reaction to this message was that it was "creepy" - I'm afraid I think that says more about you than your therapist.

I’m a psychologist and I think this is fine. I often will tell clients I’ve thought of them.

Dear HMG
I've been thinking about you too, and I'm much cheaper than your private psychiatrist...

It’s literally his job to think about you 😂😂

I'm a social worker, I think about the people I work with and how they are doing, anyone in these types of professions would.

Would you prefer:

"Dear HMG,

I'd rather not have to deal with you but the mortgage needs to be paid and I assume you're probably still batshit, so I suppose we'll have to think about your next appointment."

?

Dear HMG

I believe you are suffering from an extreme case of paranoia and I need to increase your medication as soon as possible.

You are seriously over thinking this.
If I was on the books of a private psychiatrist I would most certainly expect my "case" to be given some thought, outside of our contact. That "thinking" leads to better outcomes for you, hopefully.
I'd also expect to be contacted, if I had given the impression that I was going to continue with treatment,firstly for my welfare, and
It's also obviously in the interests of his business to contact you.
Unless there is a drip feed that he has been inappropriate in contacts, I think you are the one having inappropriate thoughts!

It's almost certainly not even the doctor who wrote this but his secretary.

Dear HoneymoonGirl
Bookings have been a bit slow over the summer so I am sending a generic, probably mailmerged, email to everyone on my books, please accept this as a caring gesture and hoping for more lucrative contacts with you in the autumn.
Yours sincerely
Dr Gottaeatyouknow

Yes. Unless he attached a dick pic, OP...?

No OP. He is thinking about you as a patient. The fact that you have gone to creepy says everything about you and the lack of understanding that he just wants to book another appointment. Give yourself a shake.

OP, wait until see a specialist. S/he may write to your GP and describe you as ‘a delightful lady’, which will REALLY creep you out 🤣

I don't think its strange at all.

I work as a mental health nurse with a caseload of patients. I often think about patients, past and present when I am at home..some more than others

I will also send stuff to patients in internal post at work such as handouts, worksheets and workbooks relevant to what we are working on and will include a little note so they know its off me, and saying I'll rebook them in. If I've suddenly remembered or come across something they may benefit from, I will also send that saying something like "was thinkng you might like to try this.... I'll book appointment for 2 weeks to discuss..."

...and then we complain about NHS GPs because they're impersonal and don't remember us from one visit to the next..

Not creepy in the slightest.