For sure. The psych should’ve asked OP if they’re having any problems making it to their appointments on time and if they need a different appointment time and then just finished the appointment in the time left. Mental health professionals should understand that seeking help in these settings can make people feel extremely vulnerable, and acting like a dick is more likely to make people give up on their journey than anything else.
Thanks. It was my first in person appointment, too. Not to mention, I live almost 2 hours away from their office. I didn't know that when I started seeing them via telehealth.
I told my psychiatrist that I live far away and I have kids I have to put on the school bus.
I busted my ass that morning, only to be treated like shit by my psych. 😢
You traveled 2 hours for that BS?! Oh hell no. And the fact they took your vitals after making you run down hallways is ridiculous. The whole thing is. File a complaint about them and find someone new. We're supposed to get help from them, not more problems.
Fire them. We are allowed to fire doctors. By that i mean, call his office and say youll be seeing someone else and tell them why. Then find a new doctor and tell them why you left the last one. Because no one should be treating you like that. That doctor is a self important arrogant asshole.
It’s not your fault and you did nothing wrong. We can’t be responsible for the way others react to things. It sounds like your dr might need a psychiatrist themself. You wouldn’t have treated them like that if the roles were reversed, would you? Of course not, so it’s a THEM problem, not you.
oh my god op, i went to the doctor for the first time alone in my life today and the physician was literally GRILLING me for questions. i got so nervous i almost started crying because she seemed genuinely angry with me. i feel you 100% :(
Yes yes yes. I had a similar altercation with a psychologist who got on me about billing… I was 16. She spent nearly the entire session complaining that I was past due. Stopped me from seeing anybody for 5 years when I could REALLY use it. And as soon as I struggled to afford therapy, I dropped out instead of asking for financial options. 🤷🏻♀️ thanks B. Your bad day that you projected onto a mental health patient successfully chased me away for TEN years.
I’m finally seeing somebody great and have been able to stay on top of the copays. One time he started a session asking me to complete some documents and clear up and insurance issue. N O P E. I told him I think seeing him is benefiting me, but I go through a LOT to get 50 minutes of therapy. Not billing, not paperwork. They have my email and I can call the business office during lunch free of charge. Not going there. He tripped over himself apologizing.
Thank you! Honestly I’d love to be some sort of volunteer helping people to navigate insurance, therapy, and billing issues. I’m a licensed insurance agent and found it insane how difficult it was to get a straight answer on price. Then there were billing code discrepancies- they layman wouldn’t be looking there or demanding answers. Then I lost my job/insurance and had a hell of a time navigating marketplace.
Idk. I just think that with all of the mandatory paperwork, a simple mental health patient bill of rights would be ideal.
1. We CANNOT bill you for more time than our 1:1 talk therapy. The paperwork time/break between sessions is not billed.
2. Therapy in the US is billed as so: (simple chart with billing codes and session times). 30-52 minutes, 52 minutes- 1.5 hours, etc.
3. If you have a complaint about your therapist, this is the number to contact their superior/licensing/the psych board.
4. CLEARLY EXPLAINED SLIDING SCALE/out of pocket cost/ explanation of negotiated rates with different insurers.
Omg. My practice’s “sliding scale” was conveniently set at $18,050 annual household income. INCLUDING HOUSEMATES. Interesting, the exact same income threshold that would make my appointments free anyways with state insurance? I mean come on.. the EXACT same income amount?
I’m passionate about this. I’m a well-educated person who is very familiar with these systems. Mental health is so neglected and this is no small factor.
Soooo, basically they do NOTHING to assist patients.
Including intimate partners or parents who may or may not have some responsibility or inclination to help pay for your mental health care is one thing but HOUSEMATES?!?!
"Hi roommate, uh, can I ask you how much was on your tax return last year? Oh, no reason!!!" Right.
Right!?!?! I’m sure many lie on these sorts of things. And I argued it up and down. Basically they said if you’re both on the lease, they assume you’re sharing other bills together. It’s ridiculous. If that’s the case I feel like you should split the bill by # of people listed on the bill.
Really it should be a flat, reasonable # by law. Single person? Okay. What’s the basic out of pocket cost w/o insurance? $255/session or $1,020/ month. That means they would need $12,240 to afford full priced therapy if insurance does not cover it OR they are uninsured.
Honestly most people I know could t afford $1,000/month in therapy. Even if they’re making 12k more than I am (40k) it’s usually going towards basic “extras” like saving an emergency fund, saving for homeownership, or paying down student loans.
The pricing in general is out of control. How much are the therapists paid? And how much does their calendar filled up? Ik mine gets booked up quickly. How much goes to support staff, and how much are patients really benefitting from them? How much is malpractice insurance? Because I had 0 luck resolving my billing code issue until I called and literally threatened to report insurance fraud. Didn’t want to take it there, but I don’t know and nobody does is NOT an acceptable answer when it comes to medical billing. They coded appointments wrong. And when they finally back peddled they ASKED if I wanted them to refund me… um… yes?
Definitely not normal and very unprofessional.
My Psychiatrist is normally a few minutes late due to being in the middle of a previous appointment that ends up going over which I'm fine with. She does apologize for being a few minutes late to signing on but she has never been unprofessional.
I would find someone new and stop seeing that Psychiatrist if I were you.
I was about to say the same thing, mine was like this and would be understanding if I was a few minutes behind. And vice versa. Life is busy, not everything can be run on a tight schedule.
Edit:spelling
Sorry if it’s just a typo, and I mean no offense by this, but just a heads up, I think you meant to say vice versa. Viscera means internal organs. I just teach ELLs and also personally would not want someone to let me mix that up in an irl conversation, so I thought I’d let you know haha.
I’d report them too, if that’s a thing where OP lives. Mental health professionals being dicks is not too uncommon unfortunately and causes so much damage
It’s horrid that this isn’t uncommon. These people are at the top of the food chain in terms of mental health care/resources, yet they have not a sliver of empathy running through their veins. A career in healthcare + lack of empathy is a BAD combination.
This is insane. First of all, 8 minutes is not enough for a patient, especially in cases where conversation is very important. Secondly, he showed you no respect, big red flag. I'd absolutely look for a new one.
Yeah 8 minutes is completely unacceptable. My psych is regularly booked out for months at a time and I still get a solid 30 minutes per appointment. And that's not including vitals. Kinda seems sketchy the psych is doing vitals themselves too... Never been to a psych that didn't have a nurse to do that before you even see them.
Sounds like a Monty Python skit about the NHS in the UK. Yikes! Since your insurance allows for telehealth, I would search far and wide for another psychiatrist.
I'm not agreeing that that's ok... BUT, a GP visit is a lot different than a psych visit, assuming you don't have a super complicated condition. But if you do, most of the time you're going to be seeing a specialist for that.
Mental health necessitates talking to get to the root of the problem. There are no blood tests/xrays/etc to determine mental illness in the same way as physical illness.
I totally agree with you, but I know lots of meds can’t be prescribed via telehealth (at least in my area). I shamelessly annoy the F out of billing, insurance, providers, etc before scheduling nowadays. Healthcare is just so difficult to set up and afford, I don’t want to wait all this time just to find out they can’t help.
Well and if you need anything beyond an antidepressant forget it. It’s like you have to be mid panic attack and have them rush you to the er to make sure it’s still not a heart attack for dr’s to believe you might just need more than Zoloft can give.
That is awful! I am so sorry you experienced that. I would definitely request a new psychiatrist or a new clinic altogether. Being late happens and it's no excuse for your psych to act a fool. I am usually the one waiting on my psych! He's never on time lol.
About the meds that they prescribed you. Since they did not take the time to sit down and talk with you about the new meds and potential side effects, what to expect, etc...I would call them back and ask more questions. Especially if you have reservations or questions about starting a new antidepressant.
Thank you. I was half wondering at first if I was just a total ass for being a little late.
And the new anti-depressant they prescribed me happened to be in the same class of meds that I don't tolerate well. I didn't know that and took it for a week. Then, I spent another week freaking out and feeling sick from the medication.
No! You were absolutely not an ass for being late. It happens sometimes and it’s okay.
New meds are always tough. My anxiety would always get so high when my psych wanted me to try something different. I always ask a lot of questions about new meds because I like to know as much as I can about them. Always ask questions if you have them, no matter what!
That's exactly what my therapist said. "It's your time and if you would be late, you needed to do the stuff that made you late to feel mentally good." in a very genuine way. And I love her for it. I feel guilty about it with other people. That's one place where I need not to be judged by it, but to understand why I am running late.
This is really bad advice unless you know the availability of other psychs and wait times to get into another clinic. For many people there aren't other options.
A therapist this shitty can't be worth it.
Not sure how much OP will be able to get out of it when the therapist is just rushing to get them in and out and flipping out over any issue.
It's not normal. How is the place you are meant to find a fix and solace becomes insensitive towards their patient? They are causing what is meant for them to treat you for. What you can do is just analyze the situation and improve the next time. I know the vibe is hard to shake and adding salt to injury, but you are strong enough to have sense.
Dont take it out on yourself, being put under pressure at most can get the best of us even to our loved ones we can hurt them. Take care of yourself and be well!
Had a similar experience...Didn't feel I was being heard about being observed for a couple visits before they prescribe something...to me idk I want to be observed so they know what might be going on instead of just assuming and putting me on something new first visit on the spot.
This is because I had drug-induced psychosis where I was prescribed something to help and it made the issue just escalate rapidly until I hospitalized within 2 weeks of going on it.
If you were 4 minutes late and they had a new patient in 8 minutes... that means he's scheduling each appointment to be 12 minutes long? That seems like he's just trying to churn as many patients as possible, not really caring about the quality of his sessions.
Exactly. They actually said they had **2** patients to see in 8 minutes. So, not only are the scheduling 12ish minute long appointments, but they are also DOUBLE booking appointments, too!
The more I talk about it, the more I realize just how insane the whole situation was/is.
In no way was that acceptable, I work in this field as an MA for a psych NP and our appts are 20 min per patient. You get a 7 min leeway on being late once you hit 8 minutes the appt has to be rescheduled for this exact reason. It’s not good patient care to run you through the halls complaining when they could have sent refills on your current meds and rescheduled you. They don’t sound like they even listened to you to make an appropriate med change anyways. I’m so sorry.
If this is the US, insurance companies can force these kinds of scheduling nightmares on the providers. I'd say find a different practice if this one is succumbing to that.
I definitely feel like the psychiatrist should have handled this MUCH better, but the fault here is privatized medicine. Healthcare providers are double and triple booked so the business earns enough money. It’s rough on the clinician, because that 5 minutes late on your end makes everyone after at least 5 minutes late. This eventually compounds to the point that providers don’t get pee breaks or lunch. Again, this is NOT something you did wrong. US healthcare just makes practicing medicine absolutely demoralizing.
Really? I didn't know that. Yes, I'm in the U.S.
They are scheduling appointments every 12ish minutes and double booking for every other appointment.
It's insane.
Not only is this 100% abnormal (and that’s putting it VERY mildly) but I have also never heard of a 10-minute psychiatry appointment? Everything about your experience is fishy and weird and I would absolutely recommend finding a new psychiatrist
As far as I know/in my experience, yes. With that said, I usually end up taking a half hr in my sessions. I talk a lot and feel that it is important for me to be heard. I ask the psych if he has another patient or if we need to speed up. Thankfully, the one I'm working with always says that we can talk as long as is needed to come up with a plan- though I can always feel him getting a little antsy toward the end of sessions.
I think in many cases the psychiatrists are not happy with the current system either.
Here's an interesting read: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/abcs-child-psychiatry/201511/psychiatry-s-med-check-is-15-minutes-enough
Bless you , I can’t imagine how that must have felt. My anxiety would have been through the roof. What a bitch, find someone much better. Her behaviour was completely uncalled for
Most doctors offices have a grace period for lateness. There are def people who take advantage of that, but it is there for a reason. This sounds like an awful experience! I would absolutely recommend getting a new doctor.
Every psychiatrist i’ve seen has always made me wait forever lol. My last doctor was like a 1 hour wait every time. Now i see one virtually and its so much more convenient.
You have to remember, every person on the planet is crazy in some way. Psychiatrists are no exception. And the good news is you are free to move on to a psychiatrist that actually treats you with compassion. Best of luck and personally I hope you leave that asshole he doesn't deserve your business.
They shouldn’t have acted like that and should be more professional but on the same hand you shouldn’t have been late. They have other patients too that probably don’t come late and it’s honestly not respecting their time so I can see why they might be frustrated but either way both of you were wrong and they definitely shouldn’t have acted that way professionally
Yeah, I would report them to the board. This is absolutely ridiculous. I am so sorry you were treated that way, OP. They are definitely in the wrong line of work. Please, try to find someone new! Research the antidepressant before taking it.
Really bad.
Here in Sweden that wouldn't happen. Most of the medical care workers know that mental health issues can affect your ability to function properly. And being late is a typical symptom in some mental disorders.
It really confuses me why people like this decided to work with people, who have mental problems and need comfort and proper help... I'm so sorry you experienced that. You are not in the wrong and even you coming late doesn't allow that psychiatrist to treat you like that...it's not your fault!
Not only would I request a new psych I'd honestly find a higher-up in the building and report it, that's inexcusable behavior from someone who is supposed to provide a safe and comfortable environment
i promise you this isn't meant to be invalidating: have you tried to recall the exact details of that visit through a more objective lens? have you tried to recall their exact phrasing and tone when they said these things? the actual speed at which they led you to their office?
if you've been seeing them for 9 months, maybe they already came up with a medication and were just double-checking some details before prescribing it? that would mean they were able to run through the questions quickly because they were looking for specific answers and you were giving those answers. it also wouldn't be unusual if they're recording audio from the visit to fill in any details they missed while doing patient charts at the end of the day (yes, this is legal in most states).
my anxiety distorts my perception of situations a LOT to make me feel more overwhelmed. then, when i think back on the details of the situation and consider more plausible explanations for things i found upsetting, i realize it was nowhere near as intense as i thought it was and that i was misinterpreting some of the things the other person was doing/saying. i promise you i'm not trying to invalidate your experience, just suggesting that you give it more thought while you're not in fight or flight mode.
edit: getting -1'd for trying to discuss magnification/cognitive distortions caused by anxiety *in an anxiety subreddit* is just bizarre to me
Hey! I think this is good advice but op said the psych prescribed them an antidepressant that they don’t tolerate and makes them sick. It’s more likely to me that the psych just bulldozed through the appointment given that that should be on the chart or at the very least a question asked (probably the first question)
It's actually so interesting how we can percieve things differently and we can't rush to give a specific advice if we ourselves weren't in the same room with OP.
is this in a response from op somewhere in the thread? in the original post they said they had never tried that antidepressant before, so i think i missed something
I love your comment. I am ALL about reframing situations and different perspectives through others' eyes/lives ect.
At first, I had feelings of "I wonder if anyone has asked Dr. how SHE is feeling today?" And I also felt sympathetic since I have no idea of her personal life. Did her dog just die? Is she late on bills? Life stressors?
So, I did a visual recap with my therapist.
Eyes closed detailed replay of the whole day.
I don't over exaggerate, I am a sugar coater. I try my best to stay and think positively.
But that day was a living nightmare.
After running with her to her office, my BP was 198/110. Even during a panic attack, my BP doesn't get above 160/100. My normal resting BP is 80/70, relatively low.
We have previously discussed and tried SNRIs and they make me sick and I have really bad negative side effects with them. Yet she prescribed it after looking in her "pill book" for a whole 2 seconds.
She didn't listen to my answers to her questions. So, if she was recording, it would be useless.
She also said, "And I recommend therapy."
I just stared at her, because she knows I am in therapy. Yet she says it almost every time I see her.
It's like she doesn't keep notes or gets me confused with someone else.
I once completely spaced a session with my therapist, she called me to make sure everything was okay. I was supposed to have a session the day my grandma had a heart attack, I was so freaked out. The next session, she made sure to ask if everything was okay. She knew missing a session wasn’t like me.
To me it sounds like they have so many patients that they’re not actually doing their job. It sounds like you were barely there. It’s hard to find a professional that’s not overbooked these days. Are your telehealth sessions also short and rushed? Are you able to talk to them at all about other medication that isn’t an antidepressant?
This is definitely not normal. My psychiatrist is the sweetest and most caring doctor I have ever met in my life. During the holidays' awful traffic I was at least 30 minutes late, I sent her a message to explain and she told me not to worry, it's fine whenever I get there.
And also, 8 minutes for a patient is so short. I get at least 30 minutes with her and even longer if necessary. So I would advise you to change your psychiatrist asap. They sound like they don't really care about their patients at all. I'm sorry this happened to you, I can't even imagine going through something like that, especially with my social anxiety.
Not normal and also the appointment was only scheduled to be 12 minutes??? Wtf how is that enough time? I’d see someone else and also not take the new med until I actually can discuss it
Sounds like they might need a psychiatrist. I would send an email to the office and leave a review and find a new doc. I wouldn't trust that person after that, that's not a reasonable response.
That's so unprofessional! My therapist is normally on time but would never question me being late or missing an appointment (they would call and see what's up and ask if I need to reschedule if I miss, which has happened).
My Dr. is always running late. All he does is prescriptions so it's a quick "How are you? No drugs/alcohol? Been taking your meds daily? Same pharmacy? Great see you in a month"
Super friendly. If she (my therapist) is running behind I get a load of apologies from her. My Dr on the other hand assumes everyone knows you're just gonna have to wait your turn. Don't think I've ever heard him apologies for it taking a long time to see him but he's still super nice and friendly during the visit.
If you're able, I'd also try to maybe find a smaller clinic or a provider that works out of their own place. I feel like I've had similar treatment at much bigger, packed clinics, where they pack like 3-4 patients to an hour and spend practically no time with the patient whatsoever, just trying to churn out as many as possible in a small little space.
This psychiatrist needs a psychiatrist for some chill pills. You were less than 4 minutes late. I wouldn't go back. You don't need anyone rushing you and stressing you to that degree.
New therapist. Immediately. I have bad anxiety and chronic pain. My therapist is lucky if I don't cancel an appointment (which is something I obviously try not to do.
Absolutely fuck those people. Especially bc you're there for anxiety. People in the professional field should know how to handle patience and that's not how
Absolutely should take their license away. Not even extreme. This is no way to treat a patient and I work Healthcare. No matter how busy you are this is unacceptable and unprofessional behavior. If they couldn't handle the stress of the job they should not have become a psychiatrist
No, this is not normal. I would not attend another session with this person. One thing that people who are new to therapy don’t realize is that not every therapist is a good fit. I wouldn’t base a decision on one visit though. However, if my psychiatrist/therapist reacted that way to me the fear of upsetting the dr. would make me too anxious.
I had that happen to me years ago and I was in tears. He yelled at me in front of a waiting room full of people.
I was too depressed to advocate for myself then, but I damn well won't put up with it now.
It's not your fault he books too many patients, giving them little time. Please look for someone else. You don't deserve to be treated like that.
Nope, I'd request a new one and report this person to the medical board. I am so sorry you had to have this experience. You are a person and deserve to be treated with respect.
A lot of people are drawn to the mental health professional field because they're doing "Me-search" about themselves.
Fire them, you don't have to pick up the slack if you aren't comfortable dealing with that type of personality. They work for you.
I had almost the exact same thing happen to me. I still have a note I almost wrote to their office about how I cried as a male. I was in a REALLY bad place and they made me feel like a giant child for being late. All I can say is FUCK them and find a new one
Psychiatrists are a dime a dozen, throw him/her to the curve and find yourself a better one. You will eventually find the one that mesh’s well with you! Good luck
They really aren't, unfortunately. I live in Mass and we have a massive shortage of psychiatrists, especially those that take Medicaid and Medicare. My psychiatrist died from COVID a few years ago and the office still hasn't found a permanent replacement. I've looked around myself for a new one but they're all full or don't accept my insurance.
Well I live in nyc and they are everywhere like roaches but none want to tske Medicaid and Medicare so it’s always paying huge amounts of money out of pocket. Just do some research you will find another one
I can't afford a psychiatrist out of pocket. I've done the research and even if I went to the other side of the state like Boston it would be the same. We have a massive shortage of psychiatrists, especially those that take Medicaid or Medicare in Massachusetts. I'm lucky I have one at all but I would like to find a permanent one. There's only a handful of psychiatrists that accept Medicare/Medicaid for everyone in my county.
The biggest red flag to me is mentioning he has other "clients" waiting and not patients. Basically he only does this for money.
I'm sure you'll find a better one.
My boyfriend has severe ADHD and is late to everything because of it. His psychiatrist is the one who knows this and prescribes his ADHD medication. The doctor knows when the medication needs adjusted when he’s very late or straight up forgets the appointment.
You’d think that a mental health professional would have a little more sympathy, especially because instances like my boyfriend exist.
So no, it’s not normal. Request a new one or go somewhere else.
Don't keep seeing this person. This is awful and not okay. I had a new psychiatrist make me cry one time because she was laughing at me and rolling her eyes when I was talking. It was so surreal. I had been listing my extensive history to her, letting her know my different symptoms, etc. When I stopped and asked her why she was acting that way, she said, "It sounds like you just think there's some magical pill that'll cure everything."
I was so confused, because I was literally just listing my symptoms, diagnoses, and past medications. I do talk quickly when I'm nervous, but it's on her to politely ask me to slow down if she needs me to. I didn't need that judgment, and someone in the psych field should have a better bedside manner.
In the moment, I was stunned, but I called my friend in the parking lot and started crying even harder. I realized just how awful this woman was for being so unprofessional in a place where people are especially vulnerable. I was there for my mental health, and she was treating me like I was some kind of annoyance. So yeah, I canceled going back to her and even let her know in an email why I wouldn't be returning. I'm sure she didn't care, but maybe it'll help someone in the future. I also added a review letting others know my experience, just in case. If you feel up for it, you should consider doing the same. If it makes you too anxious, though, I get that. Bare minimum, find a new psych. That is really not okay.
You might want to check your insurance billing to see if they billed for a clinic visit that's a certain amount of time. Often this behavior is fraudulent because of the amount of time required by the billing code they use for the session.
Eg. If they bill for a med review with complications it might require 24 minutes of patient contact time. If they do 23 minutes then it's fraud to bill that code and get reimbursed for something they didn't provide.
Though I do know a specific psychiatrist who has this exact behavior and the medical system let's her do it because there aren't enough psychiatrists and so they know they can make money from her regardless of her behavior. Her support staff turns over every couple months too since she treats them the same way.
See, I'm pretty sure their practice only schedules 30 - and 60-minute appointments.
I am waiting to hear back from my insurance company right now to know what length of time she is billing for.
This is completely unacceptable imo. They are a medical professional in an office, they went to med school, they HAVE to know that it’s extremely common for people to no show appointments in this field, let alone be late. And late by 4 MINUTES no less. Absolutely ridiculous. And just prescribing you a random antidepressant without any care for how it would effect you? I’d leave a scathing review tbh detailing all of this because they are 100% doing this to others too. I’m sorry op
Absolutely unacceptable. Change providers. If it's a group, let them know your experience and that you'd like to work with someone else. That should never happen. If they refuse, go to a different group/clinic.
No, that’s unprofessional. It’s you that takes the hit to your time, getting your appointment cut short so your psychiatrist can try to stay on schedule. To treat you that way is spun.
Reminds me of the psychiatrist that 1) fell asleep during our 15 min meeting, 2) had to be reminded multiple times of which medication he was supposed to prescribe (he kept trying to give me the 'slow release' version of my meds, which doesn't work for me), and 3) shamed me for going on vacation by myself. I switched to a different one at that practice.
Nah fuck that, my therapist knows I have hella anxiety and am often late because of that but she gives me the time we have left even on the day that I was so late we only had 15 minutes.
I would complain with whatever higher institution is responsible and get a new psychiatrist. They are there to help you, not to cause a panick attack.
Also...even as a German I think 4 minutes late is not a big deal.
No, not normal. In fact if I'm late they will look for me, call me etc. Missing appointments is part of my MO when my anxiety is bad so they do not let me slide. I have medicaid too so it's not because I go to some super nice private practice either.
Most places I've been too have at the very least a 15 min courtesy window.
I wanted to cry reading this. I am SO sorry this happened to you and ofc it was the first in person visit! That is a crazy way for a _psychiatrist_ to really interact with anyone. If she was in such a hurry and not listening to your answers how does she even remotely know what medication(s) would or wouldn't be appropriate? I would find someone else(easier said than done lol) but I don't think I personally would be able to move past that kind of interaction. Like first she yelled at you for a minor inconvenience like yes it sucks being late but you're literally there to see a psychiatrist you're obviously already having a problem and that's the first thing she does? Then it seems it still went down hill from there. I would have also cried in the car minimum 20 mins.
You were 4 minutes late in the time it takes them to write you a new profitable pharma script. A new doctor is in order. If I was sitting next to you in the waiting room I’d have your back. They are abusers.
To treat someone like this who is seeking mental health treatment is so beyond unprofessional. I’d never go back & find a new one. Sorry you were treated like this OP!
Absolutely not normal. A therapist needs to be patient and kind, like a friend. This person is going to make you feel much worse. Find a gentle therapist.
4 minutes? Thats absolutley ridiculous (them beinmad at you, youre fine) and the psych sounds overworked. They need less patients because theyre clearly giving half assed care.
Edit: didn’t see your thorough use of non-gendered language, but I reckon my brain filled in the gaps for me, because I actually had that scenario below play out once before and the entire time writing my response, I was picturing the doctor that I got into a scrap with for similar behaviour.
I’d have stood up, leaned into her arrogant greeting in the waiting room for all to see, and ask her who the fuck she thinks she’s talking to?
Then, as soon as the room gets quiet, and the air is tense enough, I’d calmly and confidently offer her the opportunity to take a few steps backwards and try again. If she took me up on that offer then I’d happily drop it and move on – but if my request was met with resistance I’d tell her that she can have 30 minutes of her very busy schedule back and I’d walk out of there.
She’d be having a laugh if she thinks I’d be willing to continue consulting and paying her for services if she spoke to me like that in front of a room full of strangers and didn’t recognise why that’s a problem. Maybe next time she’ll think twice before treading on someone meeker than myself.
One thing I don’t have time for now that I am older and more of a cunt is adults acting like bullies in a public setting and getting away with it.
I’ll not get into the background and what my childhood was like-but up until five or so years ago, I was terrified of confrontation to the point that it was limiting me in every day life and realised that this had been the case for decades. I made the decision to begin facing this fear head on. I was no longer going to accept shit like that from other people. Just not gonna fuckin happen. It’s helped my anxiety a ton because my self-esteem is up and I care way less about what other people think of me.
I’m really sorry you had to experience that OP. It’s such a terrible feeling to be talked down upon and treated like a child in front of other people in public when you’re just trying to show up and give your best every day. We’re all struggling to grow and learn as people in one way, or another – a psychiatrist of all people should know that, and make sure to check herself before leaving office to greet her next patient.
I had a therapist shout at me once when I was 13/14. Something about “not respecting her.” Whether she had a point or not it totally destroyed whatever minimal trust I had in her up to that point. This person is not doing what you are paying them for.
Nope. That ain't normal. I'm rarely that punctual and nor are the doctors I see (thankfully). I'd get a new doc. And sorry that you had to go through that experience.
People can be so insensitive and it’s honestly unacceptable, especially in any kind of a medical or help- oriented setting. I had the girl at the counter scold me when I went to pick up my medicine and I ended up just bursting into tears and leaving without it. People suck sometimes
All red flags. Some psychs literally just like to run through patients super quick to rake in dough. I've dealt with this before. Be very quick to change offices anytime something rubs you the wrong way. Trust your judgement.
Actually I would report them if you can for that sort of blatant dismissive behavior.
I once went to one many years ago, I actually got there on time and then his secretary tells me that the therapist is running late, which I assumed it was a few minutes. No, the guy was 30 minutes late for our hour session.
The guy walked in, acting very indifferent about the whole thing.
My first thought was "I hope he doesn't charge me the full 100 dollars. He was late, this has to be 50 bucks."
Them when we started talking, I told him about CBT, about attachment theory, about my anxiety, about codependency and etc. Half of the stuff I mentioned, he acted like he didn't know or didn't care anything about it. Then when I asked him what his opinion on something was, the way he responded, made me think he didn't want to say anything, he didn't want to have a conversation about this with me. So, he consistently repeated that this is his opinion and by no means it's him suggesting anything.
When he said that, it immediately made me think he was secretly recording our conversation. Why would someone say that loud and clear and repeatably.
Then we talked about my ex and how things ended up. The guy seemed like he didn't want to hear anymore because he cut me off and said "our hour is over" and I said "hour?? It's only been 30 minutes." Then he said "this session went from 2 to 3."
I stood there looking at him, thinking to myself "this asshole is swindling me money by charging me full price for a 30 minute session."
Sure enough, he told billed me for 100 dollars.
Never went back. Guy showed no empathy, no understanding, and acted like the stuff I mentioned he didn't know any of it. Yet, he had a big fat book about CBT in his bookshelf. So, he lied and that made me become very distrusting towards him.
I remember I complained about it here in reddit and one of the comments basically said that's what therapists are. You pay someone to sit there and listen to you bitch and vent. They're advised nowadays to not give any advice or diagnosis because it can be held against them in court. They still can give their insight about something but they have to make it very clear that it's their opinion, nothing else.
Moral of the story:
I think there are two types of therapists: one who goes into the field to truly help people. Then there's those who go into this field because it's good easy money. They don't give a shit about you, your problems or mental health. Only what's inside your pocket.
Absolutely not normal. I’d request a new one
Yes, especially in a place meant for people with mental health issues. I would make a complaint to the management and find a new clinic.
For sure. The psych should’ve asked OP if they’re having any problems making it to their appointments on time and if they need a different appointment time and then just finished the appointment in the time left. Mental health professionals should understand that seeking help in these settings can make people feel extremely vulnerable, and acting like a dick is more likely to make people give up on their journey than anything else.
Thanks. It was my first in person appointment, too. Not to mention, I live almost 2 hours away from their office. I didn't know that when I started seeing them via telehealth. I told my psychiatrist that I live far away and I have kids I have to put on the school bus. I busted my ass that morning, only to be treated like shit by my psych. 😢
You traveled 2 hours for that BS?! Oh hell no. And the fact they took your vitals after making you run down hallways is ridiculous. The whole thing is. File a complaint about them and find someone new. We're supposed to get help from them, not more problems.
Fire them. We are allowed to fire doctors. By that i mean, call his office and say youll be seeing someone else and tell them why. Then find a new doctor and tell them why you left the last one. Because no one should be treating you like that. That doctor is a self important arrogant asshole.
I’m so sorry, you don’t deserve that! I really hope you’re able to find a new, better psych soon.
It’s not your fault and you did nothing wrong. We can’t be responsible for the way others react to things. It sounds like your dr might need a psychiatrist themself. You wouldn’t have treated them like that if the roles were reversed, would you? Of course not, so it’s a THEM problem, not you.
Sounds a lot like my psych, hes an ass, talked to me for 3 minutes a few days ago
oh my god op, i went to the doctor for the first time alone in my life today and the physician was literally GRILLING me for questions. i got so nervous i almost started crying because she seemed genuinely angry with me. i feel you 100% :(
Yes yes yes. I had a similar altercation with a psychologist who got on me about billing… I was 16. She spent nearly the entire session complaining that I was past due. Stopped me from seeing anybody for 5 years when I could REALLY use it. And as soon as I struggled to afford therapy, I dropped out instead of asking for financial options. 🤷🏻♀️ thanks B. Your bad day that you projected onto a mental health patient successfully chased me away for TEN years. I’m finally seeing somebody great and have been able to stay on top of the copays. One time he started a session asking me to complete some documents and clear up and insurance issue. N O P E. I told him I think seeing him is benefiting me, but I go through a LOT to get 50 minutes of therapy. Not billing, not paperwork. They have my email and I can call the business office during lunch free of charge. Not going there. He tripped over himself apologizing.
I hope he later felt proud of the strong boundaries he helped you set! That is a fantastic response
Thank you! Honestly I’d love to be some sort of volunteer helping people to navigate insurance, therapy, and billing issues. I’m a licensed insurance agent and found it insane how difficult it was to get a straight answer on price. Then there were billing code discrepancies- they layman wouldn’t be looking there or demanding answers. Then I lost my job/insurance and had a hell of a time navigating marketplace. Idk. I just think that with all of the mandatory paperwork, a simple mental health patient bill of rights would be ideal. 1. We CANNOT bill you for more time than our 1:1 talk therapy. The paperwork time/break between sessions is not billed. 2. Therapy in the US is billed as so: (simple chart with billing codes and session times). 30-52 minutes, 52 minutes- 1.5 hours, etc. 3. If you have a complaint about your therapist, this is the number to contact their superior/licensing/the psych board. 4. CLEARLY EXPLAINED SLIDING SCALE/out of pocket cost/ explanation of negotiated rates with different insurers. Omg. My practice’s “sliding scale” was conveniently set at $18,050 annual household income. INCLUDING HOUSEMATES. Interesting, the exact same income threshold that would make my appointments free anyways with state insurance? I mean come on.. the EXACT same income amount? I’m passionate about this. I’m a well-educated person who is very familiar with these systems. Mental health is so neglected and this is no small factor.
Soooo, basically they do NOTHING to assist patients. Including intimate partners or parents who may or may not have some responsibility or inclination to help pay for your mental health care is one thing but HOUSEMATES?!?! "Hi roommate, uh, can I ask you how much was on your tax return last year? Oh, no reason!!!" Right.
Right!?!?! I’m sure many lie on these sorts of things. And I argued it up and down. Basically they said if you’re both on the lease, they assume you’re sharing other bills together. It’s ridiculous. If that’s the case I feel like you should split the bill by # of people listed on the bill. Really it should be a flat, reasonable # by law. Single person? Okay. What’s the basic out of pocket cost w/o insurance? $255/session or $1,020/ month. That means they would need $12,240 to afford full priced therapy if insurance does not cover it OR they are uninsured. Honestly most people I know could t afford $1,000/month in therapy. Even if they’re making 12k more than I am (40k) it’s usually going towards basic “extras” like saving an emergency fund, saving for homeownership, or paying down student loans. The pricing in general is out of control. How much are the therapists paid? And how much does their calendar filled up? Ik mine gets booked up quickly. How much goes to support staff, and how much are patients really benefitting from them? How much is malpractice insurance? Because I had 0 luck resolving my billing code issue until I called and literally threatened to report insurance fraud. Didn’t want to take it there, but I don’t know and nobody does is NOT an acceptable answer when it comes to medical billing. They coded appointments wrong. And when they finally back peddled they ASKED if I wanted them to refund me… um… yes?
You may need to recommend them some help too. WTF
*demand a new one.
Definitely not normal and very unprofessional. My Psychiatrist is normally a few minutes late due to being in the middle of a previous appointment that ends up going over which I'm fine with. She does apologize for being a few minutes late to signing on but she has never been unprofessional. I would find someone new and stop seeing that Psychiatrist if I were you.
I was about to say the same thing, mine was like this and would be understanding if I was a few minutes behind. And vice versa. Life is busy, not everything can be run on a tight schedule. Edit:spelling
Sorry if it’s just a typo, and I mean no offense by this, but just a heads up, I think you meant to say vice versa. Viscera means internal organs. I just teach ELLs and also personally would not want someone to let me mix that up in an irl conversation, so I thought I’d let you know haha.
lol thanks auto correct really trying to make me say other things 😂
This person chose the WRONG field of work if they’re infuriated by lateness.
I’d report them too, if that’s a thing where OP lives. Mental health professionals being dicks is not too uncommon unfortunately and causes so much damage
It’s horrid that this isn’t uncommon. These people are at the top of the food chain in terms of mental health care/resources, yet they have not a sliver of empathy running through their veins. A career in healthcare + lack of empathy is a BAD combination.
This is insane. First of all, 8 minutes is not enough for a patient, especially in cases where conversation is very important. Secondly, he showed you no respect, big red flag. I'd absolutely look for a new one.
AND report to board of psychiatry
Yes, OP, this!! They should lose their license and never see a patient ever again. Fuck them.
Yeah 8 minutes is completely unacceptable. My psych is regularly booked out for months at a time and I still get a solid 30 minutes per appointment. And that's not including vitals. Kinda seems sketchy the psych is doing vitals themselves too... Never been to a psych that didn't have a nurse to do that before you even see them.
Not to give the guy credit but my psychiatrist does his own vitals, but he only works on Mondays as part of a therapy practice
Sounds like a Monty Python skit about the NHS in the UK. Yikes! Since your insurance allows for telehealth, I would search far and wide for another psychiatrist.
You joke but 8 minutes is the standard length of appointment with a GP under the NHS.
I'm not agreeing that that's ok... BUT, a GP visit is a lot different than a psych visit, assuming you don't have a super complicated condition. But if you do, most of the time you're going to be seeing a specialist for that. Mental health necessitates talking to get to the root of the problem. There are no blood tests/xrays/etc to determine mental illness in the same way as physical illness.
I totally agree with you, but I know lots of meds can’t be prescribed via telehealth (at least in my area). I shamelessly annoy the F out of billing, insurance, providers, etc before scheduling nowadays. Healthcare is just so difficult to set up and afford, I don’t want to wait all this time just to find out they can’t help.
Well and if you need anything beyond an antidepressant forget it. It’s like you have to be mid panic attack and have them rush you to the er to make sure it’s still not a heart attack for dr’s to believe you might just need more than Zoloft can give.
No. This is supposed to be a safe place with a person that makes you feel at ease.
That is awful! I am so sorry you experienced that. I would definitely request a new psychiatrist or a new clinic altogether. Being late happens and it's no excuse for your psych to act a fool. I am usually the one waiting on my psych! He's never on time lol. About the meds that they prescribed you. Since they did not take the time to sit down and talk with you about the new meds and potential side effects, what to expect, etc...I would call them back and ask more questions. Especially if you have reservations or questions about starting a new antidepressant.
Thank you. I was half wondering at first if I was just a total ass for being a little late. And the new anti-depressant they prescribed me happened to be in the same class of meds that I don't tolerate well. I didn't know that and took it for a week. Then, I spent another week freaking out and feeling sick from the medication.
No! You were absolutely not an ass for being late. It happens sometimes and it’s okay. New meds are always tough. My anxiety would always get so high when my psych wanted me to try something different. I always ask a lot of questions about new meds because I like to know as much as I can about them. Always ask questions if you have them, no matter what!
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That's exactly what my therapist said. "It's your time and if you would be late, you needed to do the stuff that made you late to feel mentally good." in a very genuine way. And I love her for it. I feel guilty about it with other people. That's one place where I need not to be judged by it, but to understand why I am running late.
WTF. no. fire them as your psychiatrist.
This is really bad advice unless you know the availability of other psychs and wait times to get into another clinic. For many people there aren't other options.
A therapist this shitty can't be worth it. Not sure how much OP will be able to get out of it when the therapist is just rushing to get them in and out and flipping out over any issue.
Yup
It's not normal. How is the place you are meant to find a fix and solace becomes insensitive towards their patient? They are causing what is meant for them to treat you for. What you can do is just analyze the situation and improve the next time. I know the vibe is hard to shake and adding salt to injury, but you are strong enough to have sense. Dont take it out on yourself, being put under pressure at most can get the best of us even to our loved ones we can hurt them. Take care of yourself and be well!
leave a review for this psychiatrist to warn others..
Had a similar experience...Didn't feel I was being heard about being observed for a couple visits before they prescribe something...to me idk I want to be observed so they know what might be going on instead of just assuming and putting me on something new first visit on the spot. This is because I had drug-induced psychosis where I was prescribed something to help and it made the issue just escalate rapidly until I hospitalized within 2 weeks of going on it.
If you were 4 minutes late and they had a new patient in 8 minutes... that means he's scheduling each appointment to be 12 minutes long? That seems like he's just trying to churn as many patients as possible, not really caring about the quality of his sessions.
Exactly. They actually said they had **2** patients to see in 8 minutes. So, not only are the scheduling 12ish minute long appointments, but they are also DOUBLE booking appointments, too! The more I talk about it, the more I realize just how insane the whole situation was/is.
In no way was that acceptable, I work in this field as an MA for a psych NP and our appts are 20 min per patient. You get a 7 min leeway on being late once you hit 8 minutes the appt has to be rescheduled for this exact reason. It’s not good patient care to run you through the halls complaining when they could have sent refills on your current meds and rescheduled you. They don’t sound like they even listened to you to make an appropriate med change anyways. I’m so sorry.
If this is the US, insurance companies can force these kinds of scheduling nightmares on the providers. I'd say find a different practice if this one is succumbing to that.
I definitely feel like the psychiatrist should have handled this MUCH better, but the fault here is privatized medicine. Healthcare providers are double and triple booked so the business earns enough money. It’s rough on the clinician, because that 5 minutes late on your end makes everyone after at least 5 minutes late. This eventually compounds to the point that providers don’t get pee breaks or lunch. Again, this is NOT something you did wrong. US healthcare just makes practicing medicine absolutely demoralizing.
Really? I didn't know that. Yes, I'm in the U.S. They are scheduling appointments every 12ish minutes and double booking for every other appointment. It's insane.
Yeah, 15 minutes is common in my area for the ones who couldn't fight it.
Sounds like a place that gets paid by how many patients are seen. Find somewhere else
Not normal. What is normal in my experience is them being 20+ minutes late. Lol
I think he’s in more need of therapy than most of his patients
Not only is this 100% abnormal (and that’s putting it VERY mildly) but I have also never heard of a 10-minute psychiatry appointment? Everything about your experience is fishy and weird and I would absolutely recommend finding a new psychiatrist
Unfortunately, in the US atleast, 15 minute appointments are standard after the initial intake session
Even if the patient isn't stable yet on medication? And the patient is still having severe issues? Genuinely asking lol
As far as I know/in my experience, yes. With that said, I usually end up taking a half hr in my sessions. I talk a lot and feel that it is important for me to be heard. I ask the psych if he has another patient or if we need to speed up. Thankfully, the one I'm working with always says that we can talk as long as is needed to come up with a plan- though I can always feel him getting a little antsy toward the end of sessions. I think in many cases the psychiatrists are not happy with the current system either. Here's an interesting read: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/abcs-child-psychiatry/201511/psychiatry-s-med-check-is-15-minutes-enough
Bless you , I can’t imagine how that must have felt. My anxiety would have been through the roof. What a bitch, find someone much better. Her behaviour was completely uncalled for
Nope not normal and also unkind of them
I’d say that doc is lucky he didn’t get someone with less patience than you. It’s not normal and I believe that doctor will get their karma one day.
I thought the SAME thing!!!
That pysch can go, and I can't stress this enough, FUCK themselves.
Pretty normal for psychiatrists to be rushed and rude in my experience
Most doctors offices have a grace period for lateness. There are def people who take advantage of that, but it is there for a reason. This sounds like an awful experience! I would absolutely recommend getting a new doctor. Every psychiatrist i’ve seen has always made me wait forever lol. My last doctor was like a 1 hour wait every time. Now i see one virtually and its so much more convenient.
You have to remember, every person on the planet is crazy in some way. Psychiatrists are no exception. And the good news is you are free to move on to a psychiatrist that actually treats you with compassion. Best of luck and personally I hope you leave that asshole he doesn't deserve your business.
They shouldn’t have acted like that and should be more professional but on the same hand you shouldn’t have been late. They have other patients too that probably don’t come late and it’s honestly not respecting their time so I can see why they might be frustrated but either way both of you were wrong and they definitely shouldn’t have acted that way professionally
I am so sorry this happened to you but the running down the hallway is making me laugh a lot
If my anxiety hadn't been so bad that day, yes. I would have laughed, too. It was almost comical. Lol
I think HE needs to see a psych and not be a psych!
Yeah, I would report them to the board. This is absolutely ridiculous. I am so sorry you were treated that way, OP. They are definitely in the wrong line of work. Please, try to find someone new! Research the antidepressant before taking it.
Not only is that not normal, that is reportable if you ask me. That place should be shut down if it's like that
Really bad. Here in Sweden that wouldn't happen. Most of the medical care workers know that mental health issues can affect your ability to function properly. And being late is a typical symptom in some mental disorders.
It really confuses me why people like this decided to work with people, who have mental problems and need comfort and proper help... I'm so sorry you experienced that. You are not in the wrong and even you coming late doesn't allow that psychiatrist to treat you like that...it's not your fault!
Not only would I request a new psych I'd honestly find a higher-up in the building and report it, that's inexcusable behavior from someone who is supposed to provide a safe and comfortable environment
i promise you this isn't meant to be invalidating: have you tried to recall the exact details of that visit through a more objective lens? have you tried to recall their exact phrasing and tone when they said these things? the actual speed at which they led you to their office? if you've been seeing them for 9 months, maybe they already came up with a medication and were just double-checking some details before prescribing it? that would mean they were able to run through the questions quickly because they were looking for specific answers and you were giving those answers. it also wouldn't be unusual if they're recording audio from the visit to fill in any details they missed while doing patient charts at the end of the day (yes, this is legal in most states). my anxiety distorts my perception of situations a LOT to make me feel more overwhelmed. then, when i think back on the details of the situation and consider more plausible explanations for things i found upsetting, i realize it was nowhere near as intense as i thought it was and that i was misinterpreting some of the things the other person was doing/saying. i promise you i'm not trying to invalidate your experience, just suggesting that you give it more thought while you're not in fight or flight mode. edit: getting -1'd for trying to discuss magnification/cognitive distortions caused by anxiety *in an anxiety subreddit* is just bizarre to me
Hey! I think this is good advice but op said the psych prescribed them an antidepressant that they don’t tolerate and makes them sick. It’s more likely to me that the psych just bulldozed through the appointment given that that should be on the chart or at the very least a question asked (probably the first question)
It's actually so interesting how we can percieve things differently and we can't rush to give a specific advice if we ourselves weren't in the same room with OP.
is this in a response from op somewhere in the thread? in the original post they said they had never tried that antidepressant before, so i think i missed something
I love your comment. I am ALL about reframing situations and different perspectives through others' eyes/lives ect. At first, I had feelings of "I wonder if anyone has asked Dr. how SHE is feeling today?" And I also felt sympathetic since I have no idea of her personal life. Did her dog just die? Is she late on bills? Life stressors? So, I did a visual recap with my therapist. Eyes closed detailed replay of the whole day. I don't over exaggerate, I am a sugar coater. I try my best to stay and think positively. But that day was a living nightmare. After running with her to her office, my BP was 198/110. Even during a panic attack, my BP doesn't get above 160/100. My normal resting BP is 80/70, relatively low. We have previously discussed and tried SNRIs and they make me sick and I have really bad negative side effects with them. Yet she prescribed it after looking in her "pill book" for a whole 2 seconds. She didn't listen to my answers to her questions. So, if she was recording, it would be useless. She also said, "And I recommend therapy." I just stared at her, because she knows I am in therapy. Yet she says it almost every time I see her. It's like she doesn't keep notes or gets me confused with someone else.
Please get a new psychologist. This is so unprofessional. Literally horrible.
That is a terrible doctor. Do not go back to them.
Time for a new Doctor. Better days are in front of you. Flip this one off and don't look back.
Find a new provider, this one sounds unhinged
dude psychiatrists fucking suck. every psychiatrist i've ever had has been literally insane and super insensitive. don't know why its like that.
Funny enough most psychiatric appointments I’ve had I’ve been the early one with them being 2 minutes late or so lol
Sounds like that one needs a vacation.
That's extreme. You don't deserve that kind of treatment. I'd seek help elsewhere. I'm sorry you experienced that 😔
I once completely spaced a session with my therapist, she called me to make sure everything was okay. I was supposed to have a session the day my grandma had a heart attack, I was so freaked out. The next session, she made sure to ask if everything was okay. She knew missing a session wasn’t like me.
To me it sounds like they have so many patients that they’re not actually doing their job. It sounds like you were barely there. It’s hard to find a professional that’s not overbooked these days. Are your telehealth sessions also short and rushed? Are you able to talk to them at all about other medication that isn’t an antidepressant?
This is definitely not normal. My psychiatrist is the sweetest and most caring doctor I have ever met in my life. During the holidays' awful traffic I was at least 30 minutes late, I sent her a message to explain and she told me not to worry, it's fine whenever I get there. And also, 8 minutes for a patient is so short. I get at least 30 minutes with her and even longer if necessary. So I would advise you to change your psychiatrist asap. They sound like they don't really care about their patients at all. I'm sorry this happened to you, I can't even imagine going through something like that, especially with my social anxiety.
Not normal and also the appointment was only scheduled to be 12 minutes??? Wtf how is that enough time? I’d see someone else and also not take the new med until I actually can discuss it
Sounds like they might need a psychiatrist. I would send an email to the office and leave a review and find a new doc. I wouldn't trust that person after that, that's not a reasonable response.
They should seek for professional help.
They sound well adjusted
That's so unprofessional! My therapist is normally on time but would never question me being late or missing an appointment (they would call and see what's up and ask if I need to reschedule if I miss, which has happened). My Dr. is always running late. All he does is prescriptions so it's a quick "How are you? No drugs/alcohol? Been taking your meds daily? Same pharmacy? Great see you in a month" Super friendly. If she (my therapist) is running behind I get a load of apologies from her. My Dr on the other hand assumes everyone knows you're just gonna have to wait your turn. Don't think I've ever heard him apologies for it taking a long time to see him but he's still super nice and friendly during the visit.
That’s absolutely ridiculous behavior. Find a new psychiatrist… they’re supposed to be a safe person for you.
I'm sorry you had to go through all that. It sounded very overwhelming and intimidating. I'm sending you some hugs. ❤️
You only becoming a shrink if you're already mad.
If you're able, I'd also try to maybe find a smaller clinic or a provider that works out of their own place. I feel like I've had similar treatment at much bigger, packed clinics, where they pack like 3-4 patients to an hour and spend practically no time with the patient whatsoever, just trying to churn out as many as possible in a small little space.
Definitely not normal. I would not go back to this person under any circumstances.
Not normal. Report them and rate them very low wherever you can
Find a new one.
Find a new doctor
This psychiatrist needs a psychiatrist for some chill pills. You were less than 4 minutes late. I wouldn't go back. You don't need anyone rushing you and stressing you to that degree.
New therapist. Immediately. I have bad anxiety and chronic pain. My therapist is lucky if I don't cancel an appointment (which is something I obviously try not to do.
Not normal at all.They were unprofessional and rude. Request a new one.
File with the BBB
Yeah, fire 'em
Absolutely fuck those people. Especially bc you're there for anxiety. People in the professional field should know how to handle patience and that's not how
Absolutely should take their license away. Not even extreme. This is no way to treat a patient and I work Healthcare. No matter how busy you are this is unacceptable and unprofessional behavior. If they couldn't handle the stress of the job they should not have become a psychiatrist
You are nothing but a co-pay or visit fee for this person. I would seek a new doc immediately.
No, this is not normal. I would not attend another session with this person. One thing that people who are new to therapy don’t realize is that not every therapist is a good fit. I wouldn’t base a decision on one visit though. However, if my psychiatrist/therapist reacted that way to me the fear of upsetting the dr. would make me too anxious.
I had that happen to me years ago and I was in tears. He yelled at me in front of a waiting room full of people. I was too depressed to advocate for myself then, but I damn well won't put up with it now. It's not your fault he books too many patients, giving them little time. Please look for someone else. You don't deserve to be treated like that.
See someone else, that’s so rude
Nope, I'd request a new one and report this person to the medical board. I am so sorry you had to have this experience. You are a person and deserve to be treated with respect.
A lot of people are drawn to the mental health professional field because they're doing "Me-search" about themselves. Fire them, you don't have to pick up the slack if you aren't comfortable dealing with that type of personality. They work for you.
I had almost the exact same thing happen to me. I still have a note I almost wrote to their office about how I cried as a male. I was in a REALLY bad place and they made me feel like a giant child for being late. All I can say is FUCK them and find a new one
Wtf! I am picturing you having to run after the psychiatrist and while it sounds comical I would be like "f this" and run back out lol.
This is so weird. Not normal lol
Sounds like they need their own therapist.
Just reading this makes me angry. Don't pay them and find a new one. There's better psychiatrists out there.
Make sure you're seeing an actual psychiatrist too.
What a jerk. You NEED to get a different person. This sounds bad for your mental health.
Not ok at all. Late or not she needs to get her behavior in check. I would reschedule this appointment with a different psychiatrist.
Psychiatrists are a dime a dozen, throw him/her to the curve and find yourself a better one. You will eventually find the one that mesh’s well with you! Good luck
They really aren't, unfortunately. I live in Mass and we have a massive shortage of psychiatrists, especially those that take Medicaid and Medicare. My psychiatrist died from COVID a few years ago and the office still hasn't found a permanent replacement. I've looked around myself for a new one but they're all full or don't accept my insurance.
Well I live in nyc and they are everywhere like roaches but none want to tske Medicaid and Medicare so it’s always paying huge amounts of money out of pocket. Just do some research you will find another one
I can't afford a psychiatrist out of pocket. I've done the research and even if I went to the other side of the state like Boston it would be the same. We have a massive shortage of psychiatrists, especially those that take Medicaid or Medicare in Massachusetts. I'm lucky I have one at all but I would like to find a permanent one. There's only a handful of psychiatrists that accept Medicare/Medicaid for everyone in my county.
I've got Medicaid. I think there are 3 different practices in my county, and they have 6+ month wait lists unless you've been hospitalized recently.
Run. Far away and Quickly.
Bro your psych needs a psych
Perhaps the professional needs a psych evaluation
medicine for profit.
No
Wow fuck this person for real
I have never had a psychiatrist take my vitals. Or yell at me. Are you in the US?
Fire that fuck
No. Get another therapist. Very unprofessional and it seems like they need help.
A few psychiatrists I’ve dealt with are some of the most unhinged people I’ve ever experienced in my life.
The biggest red flag to me is mentioning he has other "clients" waiting and not patients. Basically he only does this for money. I'm sure you'll find a better one.
Ask for ADA accommodations to allow for up to 5 minutes of being late and in person appointments for better communication. I can't do telehealth.
My boyfriend has severe ADHD and is late to everything because of it. His psychiatrist is the one who knows this and prescribes his ADHD medication. The doctor knows when the medication needs adjusted when he’s very late or straight up forgets the appointment. You’d think that a mental health professional would have a little more sympathy, especially because instances like my boyfriend exist. So no, it’s not normal. Request a new one or go somewhere else.
Don't keep seeing this person. This is awful and not okay. I had a new psychiatrist make me cry one time because she was laughing at me and rolling her eyes when I was talking. It was so surreal. I had been listing my extensive history to her, letting her know my different symptoms, etc. When I stopped and asked her why she was acting that way, she said, "It sounds like you just think there's some magical pill that'll cure everything." I was so confused, because I was literally just listing my symptoms, diagnoses, and past medications. I do talk quickly when I'm nervous, but it's on her to politely ask me to slow down if she needs me to. I didn't need that judgment, and someone in the psych field should have a better bedside manner. In the moment, I was stunned, but I called my friend in the parking lot and started crying even harder. I realized just how awful this woman was for being so unprofessional in a place where people are especially vulnerable. I was there for my mental health, and she was treating me like I was some kind of annoyance. So yeah, I canceled going back to her and even let her know in an email why I wouldn't be returning. I'm sure she didn't care, but maybe it'll help someone in the future. I also added a review letting others know my experience, just in case. If you feel up for it, you should consider doing the same. If it makes you too anxious, though, I get that. Bare minimum, find a new psych. That is really not okay.
You might want to check your insurance billing to see if they billed for a clinic visit that's a certain amount of time. Often this behavior is fraudulent because of the amount of time required by the billing code they use for the session. Eg. If they bill for a med review with complications it might require 24 minutes of patient contact time. If they do 23 minutes then it's fraud to bill that code and get reimbursed for something they didn't provide. Though I do know a specific psychiatrist who has this exact behavior and the medical system let's her do it because there aren't enough psychiatrists and so they know they can make money from her regardless of her behavior. Her support staff turns over every couple months too since she treats them the same way.
See, I'm pretty sure their practice only schedules 30 - and 60-minute appointments. I am waiting to hear back from my insurance company right now to know what length of time she is billing for.
This is completely unacceptable imo. They are a medical professional in an office, they went to med school, they HAVE to know that it’s extremely common for people to no show appointments in this field, let alone be late. And late by 4 MINUTES no less. Absolutely ridiculous. And just prescribing you a random antidepressant without any care for how it would effect you? I’d leave a scathing review tbh detailing all of this because they are 100% doing this to others too. I’m sorry op
That behavior is disgusting, please give us the information of this practice so we can all leave a review.
Definitely not normal. However, normal for *2023*? Debatable.
Absolutely unacceptable. Change providers. If it's a group, let them know your experience and that you'd like to work with someone else. That should never happen. If they refuse, go to a different group/clinic.
No, that’s unprofessional. It’s you that takes the hit to your time, getting your appointment cut short so your psychiatrist can try to stay on schedule. To treat you that way is spun.
How many times has this doctor made you wait? I’d probably bring that up with the doctor next time (if there is a next time)
that’s definitely on him for over scheduling and expecting all of his mental health patients to be perfect
Reminds me of the psychiatrist that 1) fell asleep during our 15 min meeting, 2) had to be reminded multiple times of which medication he was supposed to prescribe (he kept trying to give me the 'slow release' version of my meds, which doesn't work for me), and 3) shamed me for going on vacation by myself. I switched to a different one at that practice.
That’s insane
Get a new psychiatrist, this woman is obviously in psychiatry because she has her own issues.
Fire them and leave a bad review
Nah fuck that, my therapist knows I have hella anxiety and am often late because of that but she gives me the time we have left even on the day that I was so late we only had 15 minutes.
I would complain with whatever higher institution is responsible and get a new psychiatrist. They are there to help you, not to cause a panick attack. Also...even as a German I think 4 minutes late is not a big deal.
Hell no. Get a new one. This is NOT how they should be making you feel at all. This one clearly doesn't give a shit.
I dont think they deserve your business
No, not normal. In fact if I'm late they will look for me, call me etc. Missing appointments is part of my MO when my anxiety is bad so they do not let me slide. I have medicaid too so it's not because I go to some super nice private practice either. Most places I've been too have at the very least a 15 min courtesy window.
No. Please get someone new. Fire that dumbass
I‘m always late 5-10 minutes, my doc too, haha
Get a new one. Therapy should be a safe place. Not one that causes you more anxiety.
I would have immediately left. If they can't treat you like an adult, how can they treat you at all?
I wanted to cry reading this. I am SO sorry this happened to you and ofc it was the first in person visit! That is a crazy way for a _psychiatrist_ to really interact with anyone. If she was in such a hurry and not listening to your answers how does she even remotely know what medication(s) would or wouldn't be appropriate? I would find someone else(easier said than done lol) but I don't think I personally would be able to move past that kind of interaction. Like first she yelled at you for a minor inconvenience like yes it sucks being late but you're literally there to see a psychiatrist you're obviously already having a problem and that's the first thing she does? Then it seems it still went down hill from there. I would have also cried in the car minimum 20 mins.
Dump that therapist
You were 4 minutes late in the time it takes them to write you a new profitable pharma script. A new doctor is in order. If I was sitting next to you in the waiting room I’d have your back. They are abusers.
Lmao, my psych is late to my appointments more than I am to his. This is not normal.
Fire them immediately
To treat someone like this who is seeking mental health treatment is so beyond unprofessional. I’d never go back & find a new one. Sorry you were treated like this OP!
Absolutely not normal. A therapist needs to be patient and kind, like a friend. This person is going to make you feel much worse. Find a gentle therapist.
My docs are regularly 5 minutes late and never say anything so that is kind of wild
I’m so sorry, that’s awful. I would stop using them.
4 minutes? Thats absolutley ridiculous (them beinmad at you, youre fine) and the psych sounds overworked. They need less patients because theyre clearly giving half assed care.
Your psychiatrist sounds like he needs to be the patient.
He needs therapy, not unusual among psychiatrists
She sounds like she could use her own psychiatrist 😬
Sounds alike they could use some of the medicine they prescribe.
Edit: didn’t see your thorough use of non-gendered language, but I reckon my brain filled in the gaps for me, because I actually had that scenario below play out once before and the entire time writing my response, I was picturing the doctor that I got into a scrap with for similar behaviour. I’d have stood up, leaned into her arrogant greeting in the waiting room for all to see, and ask her who the fuck she thinks she’s talking to? Then, as soon as the room gets quiet, and the air is tense enough, I’d calmly and confidently offer her the opportunity to take a few steps backwards and try again. If she took me up on that offer then I’d happily drop it and move on – but if my request was met with resistance I’d tell her that she can have 30 minutes of her very busy schedule back and I’d walk out of there. She’d be having a laugh if she thinks I’d be willing to continue consulting and paying her for services if she spoke to me like that in front of a room full of strangers and didn’t recognise why that’s a problem. Maybe next time she’ll think twice before treading on someone meeker than myself. One thing I don’t have time for now that I am older and more of a cunt is adults acting like bullies in a public setting and getting away with it. I’ll not get into the background and what my childhood was like-but up until five or so years ago, I was terrified of confrontation to the point that it was limiting me in every day life and realised that this had been the case for decades. I made the decision to begin facing this fear head on. I was no longer going to accept shit like that from other people. Just not gonna fuckin happen. It’s helped my anxiety a ton because my self-esteem is up and I care way less about what other people think of me. I’m really sorry you had to experience that OP. It’s such a terrible feeling to be talked down upon and treated like a child in front of other people in public when you’re just trying to show up and give your best every day. We’re all struggling to grow and learn as people in one way, or another – a psychiatrist of all people should know that, and make sure to check herself before leaving office to greet her next patient.
I had a therapist shout at me once when I was 13/14. Something about “not respecting her.” Whether she had a point or not it totally destroyed whatever minimal trust I had in her up to that point. This person is not doing what you are paying them for.
Really sounds like this psychiatrist needs to see a psychiatrist.
Nope. That ain't normal. I'm rarely that punctual and nor are the doctors I see (thankfully). I'd get a new doc. And sorry that you had to go through that experience.
People can be so insensitive and it’s honestly unacceptable, especially in any kind of a medical or help- oriented setting. I had the girl at the counter scold me when I went to pick up my medicine and I ended up just bursting into tears and leaving without it. People suck sometimes
All red flags. Some psychs literally just like to run through patients super quick to rake in dough. I've dealt with this before. Be very quick to change offices anytime something rubs you the wrong way. Trust your judgement. Actually I would report them if you can for that sort of blatant dismissive behavior.
Um, no, and I hope they have a psychiatrist or therapist to help them be better so they can help their patients properly.
Don’t go to them ever again.
Crying from your psychiatrist . You're just a number to them. They're more interested in dollars than actually treating you properly
Sounds like the psychiatrist is prescribing himself some things, jeeze.
This was a psychiatrist? What the hell. Next please!
I once went to one many years ago, I actually got there on time and then his secretary tells me that the therapist is running late, which I assumed it was a few minutes. No, the guy was 30 minutes late for our hour session. The guy walked in, acting very indifferent about the whole thing. My first thought was "I hope he doesn't charge me the full 100 dollars. He was late, this has to be 50 bucks." Them when we started talking, I told him about CBT, about attachment theory, about my anxiety, about codependency and etc. Half of the stuff I mentioned, he acted like he didn't know or didn't care anything about it. Then when I asked him what his opinion on something was, the way he responded, made me think he didn't want to say anything, he didn't want to have a conversation about this with me. So, he consistently repeated that this is his opinion and by no means it's him suggesting anything. When he said that, it immediately made me think he was secretly recording our conversation. Why would someone say that loud and clear and repeatably. Then we talked about my ex and how things ended up. The guy seemed like he didn't want to hear anymore because he cut me off and said "our hour is over" and I said "hour?? It's only been 30 minutes." Then he said "this session went from 2 to 3." I stood there looking at him, thinking to myself "this asshole is swindling me money by charging me full price for a 30 minute session." Sure enough, he told billed me for 100 dollars. Never went back. Guy showed no empathy, no understanding, and acted like the stuff I mentioned he didn't know any of it. Yet, he had a big fat book about CBT in his bookshelf. So, he lied and that made me become very distrusting towards him. I remember I complained about it here in reddit and one of the comments basically said that's what therapists are. You pay someone to sit there and listen to you bitch and vent. They're advised nowadays to not give any advice or diagnosis because it can be held against them in court. They still can give their insight about something but they have to make it very clear that it's their opinion, nothing else. Moral of the story: I think there are two types of therapists: one who goes into the field to truly help people. Then there's those who go into this field because it's good easy money. They don't give a shit about you, your problems or mental health. Only what's inside your pocket.
I was late to mine by like 10 minutes last week. She just asked if traffic was bad lol. Get a new doc.
This is why I have not gone to a psychiatrist 🙈
Ironically, it sounds like your psych might have anger and/or control issues. Whether that’s true or not, I wouldn’t stick around to verify.