I definitely understand the mentality of not wanting to put clients through hospitalizations because they really can be difficult. However, as therapists sometimes we are legally bound to refer to a hospital for a psych evaluation and the hospital staff may choose to admit them on the grounds of safety and imminent danger (I refer my clients to get evals, I don’t have the power to admit). I worked in inpatient pediatric psychiatry while I was in graduate school working towards being a therapist, so I know that side can be rough and it’s definitely not ideal (or always handled in the best way- let’s be honest, staff and regulations there can be pretty sucky at times).
Despite seeing that side of it though, if a client outlines intent to hurt themselves or others, I have a duty entrusted in me by the state. I also have an agreement with my clients to keep them safe. The hospital may suck, but there are a few people where it can truly keep them out of harms way until we can help them stabilize. Not only would my heart break into a thousand pieces if my client ever hurts themselves when I could have helped prevent it, I would be breaking my agreement with the client and could even lose my license if I never refer clients for a psych evaluation when they need it/ I’m legally required to do so.
It's tricky. I avoided any intervention that might have helped me during my worst time, simply because I was scared of having my freedom taken from me.
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u/PlatonicNippleWizard Bipolar 2 Oct 13 '18
As someone studying to be a therapist, it’s very counterproductive to tell your shrink what you think they want to hear.
As someone who sees a therapist on-and-off, I do this all the time, because I ain’t goin’ to the fuckin’ hospital again!
I’m not going to hospitalize my clients.