Does your therapist talk to you about other patients?

[mecch]

Because sometimes mine does.

I'm going to ask her about this - ask her what the objective is - is she showing me some example to learn from, compare to?  I dunno. 

Recently she told me some pretty specific details about a patient in another town, who seems to face some similar challenges I do, and I got the instructive part of it but since I was visualising this person, who I don't know, I felt it was a out-of-line. Not respectful to that patient.

[zach]

Because sometimes mine does.

I'm going to ask her about this - ask her what the objective is - is she showing me some example to learn from, compare to?  I dunno. 

Recently she told me some pretty specific details about a patient in another town, who seems to face some similar challenges I do, and I got the instructive part of it but since I was visualising this person, who I don't know, I felt it was a out-of-line. Not respectful to that patient.

by name? how do you know she wasn't just spinning a tale, framing it in a way that maybe you could relate to?

[mecch]

No dear, not by name! 

Well when I ask next session I will discover if its a tale but based on our relationship, if its a tale that would surprise me and offend me.   

[Joe K]

Mecch,

In all my years of therapy I have never had a therapist describe another patient to me.  Some have told me about patients with a similar background as mine, but only as an example of having success with me, because of a fair knowledge of my background.

I've been very fortunate to have therapists who are the utmost discrete, confidential and professional.

Joe

[Jeff G]

I know I sure have talked about some of you guys with my therapist LOL . My therapist has commented on his interactions and conclusions about other LTS he has treated but in a general way .

[BT65]

Yes, my (old) therapist did talk about some others, but very few.  But he had been in the business a long time and learned how to keep his mouth shut lol. 

When I was taking master's classes and I would share the content with him, he would tell me about some of his clients that fit certain profiles, but more as an educational "talk." 

I'm glad he doesn't divulge names.  Circumstances, I wouldn't worry about.

Betty

[Amber34]

My therapist talks to me about other patients sometimes, but never provides any identifying information like names, towns they live in, where they work, etc. I think that would be crossing the line.
I personally find it helpful, but if you don't or you would be uncomfortable with them talking to other patients about you then communicate that, I'm sure your concerns will be respected.

Amber

[mecch]

thanks all for the comparative input