"Left feeling worse"

After discussing my concerns with a health professional over the telephone who was easy to talk to and sympathetic I got referred to a therapist, who proceeded to spend the first five minutes of the appointment telling me how they had the right to refuse to see me if I arrived to any future appointments where they perceived me to be under the influence of drugs, they also said they would not tolerate any aggressive behaviour or bad language. As a mature, professional, intelligent, middle class lady who has never taken drugs I found the lecture quite patronising and unnecessary which immediately made me feel ill at ease with them.

I felt the therapist was inexperienced and was trying to analyse me. At the time I was desperate to talk to someone about an issue with a family member but this therapist was of no help whatsoever…in fact I felt worse for seeing them. I also said I didn’t want my GP to be informed. However when I declined to attend a further appointment what did they do? Wrote to my GP informing him. It is supposed to remain anonymous if one chooses…a fact they completely ignored. Utterly unprofessional.