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Care Opinion

An assessment interview

Posted By ettafeldman

"An assessment interview"

About: Sevenacres (Inpatient Wards)

(as a service user),

I was taken into a room by a counsellor and was shocked to find another counsellor waiting for us. I was expecting only one on one, and this immediately threw me.The assessment was done by both of them together, which was really difficult, because I couldn't focus on both of them. Felt they were ganging up on me. One of them asked some questions which can be summed up by:

Do you feel special for having visions and seeing things, because everyone's a little kooky, aren't they?

You realise that all of this is inside your own head, and just your perception of the world?

You present too well, and you are very articulate, therefore you must be ok really. 

I felt unheard and unseen and very judged. I felt that one counsellor in particular was not on my side. I felt to them I was just a statistic, and unless I had an actual gun to my head, I was beneath their notice.

There was a complete lack of empathy and understanding.

At the end they gave me a list of 'fun things to do' (!) and a referral to CBT counselling. I had already explained that I had had CBT several times and it did nothing for me. At the end I just closed up and said yes to everything because I felt very uncomfortable and that the session had been a complete waste of time. I felt embarrassed that I had opened up to them. I left feeling worse than before I had gone in, and wished I hadn't gone.

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Responses

Response from Vanessa Flower, Head of Patient Experience, Isle of Wight NHS Trust 5 years ago
Vanessa Flower
Head of Patient Experience,
Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Submitted on 06/11/2018 at 18:02
Published on Care Opinion on 07/11/2018 at 11:34

picture of Vanessa Flower

Dear ettafeldman

Thank you for sharing your feedback on your care at the Trust; I was disappointed to read that you found the staff lacking empathy and understanding. Your comments have been shared with the Mental Health Senior Team who would also like to say how very sorry they are to hear that your experience of the Mental Health service was poor.

The service aim when providing any therapy or intervention would be to provide a positive experience as possible, albeit sometimes in difficult circumstances. It is clear from your comments that this was not the case and for this we apologise. If you can provide us with some further information we can investigate this further to ensure that any issues are addressed.

Should you wish to discuss your experience in more detail, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 534850 who will be able to put you in contact with one of the Mental Health Senior Team.

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Update posted by ettafeldman (a service user)

Thank you for your response. I do not wish to get the two counsellors involved into trouble, so I don't want to take this any further. They were probably doing their best, and maybe one was in training or something. I just hope you can apply my comments to the unit in general without focussing on any particular individuals there.

It would also be really helpful if you could perhaps signpost me to more suitable counselling. I feel i need to go much deeper than CBT can provide for.

Many thanks

Response from Vanessa Flower, Head of Patient Experience, Isle of Wight NHS Trust 5 years ago
Vanessa Flower
Head of Patient Experience,
Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Submitted on 07/11/2018 at 16:48
Published on Care Opinion on 08/11/2018 at 16:48

picture of Vanessa Flower


Dear ettafeldman


Thank you for your response; I have been advised by my Mental Health Colleagues to advise you to contact your GP and discuss what you think may help you if CBT is not suitable for you. If you are not currently open to the secondary services then your GP could refer you into the Single Point of Access Services for a further assessment.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best, and hope you get the support you require, please do contact the PALS team should you decide you would like to speak to one of the Mental Health Senior Team.

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