Why do psychologists double talk so much?

Question

I met a psychologist once and she said this to me:

"Hello, I'm Dr. Christina Clarke, and I help people when they have a problem of some sort, anybody can have a problem, lots of people, you'd be quite surprise actually! Some people can be depressed, some angry, and some both! So anyway is that alright with you! I see your a very private person from your record and I'd like to just tell you that this isn't medical. It's not like a cut on the leg, and the solutions a bandage. We help people by sorting out their messed up thoughts, so we work with them from what you already have, understand?!"

(Nods head extremely confused)

"Any questions?"

"Yeah, why did you just say the same thing and treat it as something different. This may not be medical I understand that, but basically your saying that your trying to help me which is the same as any physical injury. So your starting to scare me a little,"

(Rubs nose, starts to pick lint from chair and pauses)

"Well, I didn't mean that we were

going to do something physical to you, well your right, that is a form of helping, but we're not going to do something physical to you."

This creeps me out a bit! Why do they have to follow ethics all the time?

Ethics, come on!

Informed consent - They usually LIE, that's for sure

Anonymity - I wasn't allowed to work for Microsoft because I had anger management problems in the past!

Right to withdraw - They usually question me every time I WITHDRAW!

You sound like your one of them yourself!

Another form of avoiding the problem? I am accepting the problem and putting it there to see, not shoving it off the table.

I guess so, it is the NHS after all!

Answer 1

That's strange, I go to school and learn from psychologists every day, and none of them are like this......and all of them are amazing people.

Be careful how you all generalize, this is the talk of a single person, it does not mean that they are like this as a whole. Psychologist is a very broad term...

Answer 2

Wow! I agree with you. She said a very confusing mouthful all right!!

But really every psychologist is different. I know, because I'm a retired psychologist and I've met a lot of my colleagues. Most would not give you such a "word salad" as you describe. Most might say something like, "Hi, I'm Dr.____. Good to see you. So tell me, what is it that you would like some help with?"

We would just try to put you at ease, while encouraging you to say what it is that you want. That way your time could be used most efficiently and we hope that you would leave the session feeling encouraged and you would want to return so you could get the help that you need.

In your case, her intro had the opposite effect and obviously wasn't at all helpful. In fact, it sounds like she may have been nervous or lacking in confidence for some reason. It was pretty funny, actually, but not a good way to start! At any rate I'm sure your experience was not typical and most psychologists would treat you in a more professional way.

Answer 3

OK, be nice, guys, it's not an exact science, we all know that, and dwelling on the particular wording is just another form of avoiding the actual issue. Which is probably why you're talking to this person in the first place. They're trying to explain a vague medical practice in concrete, useable terms, which is NOT the same thing as repeating yourself. Also, if they didn't legitimately want to help you, then they wouldn't be there.

Still, pretty funny, though.

Answer 4

Aren't you over analizing? Follow ethics? I wouldn't want a provider who didn't follow ethics!

I think she was telling you that she is willing to work with you and find the cause and not just "band aid" the problem... i.e. cover it up with no resolution to the problem.

Answer 5

PSYCHOlogist... it's all in the name

Answer 6

They have delusions of adequacy.

Answer 7

why do you generalize so much?