Humiliated by showing exam records to therapist?

My therapist has asked me to get a complete physical exam by a Dr., as well as asked if I'd be comfortable releasing the exam records to her. ..... part of me is so humiliated that I'm nearly aroused by the embarrassment. But another part of me is thinking "no way".

I just can't imagine them talking to each other about me. I don't know what details she should know that are relevant to talking about life stuff.

Also, it would be embarrassing that she would be seeing what the Dr. examined that day into some detail. I wondered, does it help for her to have the knowledge that i had to have a breast exam , plus the rectal and vaginal exam plus the findings on each?

Part of that humiliation made me aroused.. the part that she reads it and converses with my doctor .

Does anyone else have those feelings when they experience their therapist being really involved?

She is overstepping her bounds. I would give her an emphatic "no".

Well if a therapist wanted that much info and by the way I am a guy and I see female therapist . I would have her go with me to the physical exam then she and the dr could talk things over and she could see first hand , It would be an all or nothing for me ,

Well if a therapist wanted that much info and by the way I am a guy and I see female therapist . I would have her go with me to the physical exam then she and the dr could talk things over and she could see first hand , It would be an all or nothing for me ,

WTF???

This definitely needs more and better explanation

Presuming that you are seeing a psychotherapist, I can see NO valid reason for a therapist to need to access your medical records. The only exception to that would be if (s)he suspects that your problems are caused by a physical abnormality. In that case, the therapist could ask to see any remarkable findings that might present as psychological abnormalities. Why would a psychotherapist need to know you have athlete's foot, vaginal yeast, hemorrhoids, or a UTI? A brain tumor, yes, a slipped disk, NO! Now, if you are seeing a physical therapist, maybe; but there again (s)he really only needs findings that might pertain to your physical complaint. My advice would be to find a new therapist!

@Soapy4me said

Presuming that you are seeing a psychotherapist, I can see NO valid reason for a therapist to need to access your medical records. . . . .

Aside from all that, you can;t trust shrinkologists and you never know what they will do with ANY information you give them.

M A Y B E if the skrinkologist was a psychiatrist (a REAL doctor) and meds were being prescribed they might need additional medical information.

Good point, Susie, however, wouldn't a reputable MD simply ask what meds the patient is taking? Mine do! OTOH, it is also possible that the shrinks want to be sure that the meds (s)he prescribes do not have side effects that might acerbate existing conditions. The patient would have no way of knowing that the drug is contraindicated in that case. (Of course, the shrink might not, either.) My late wife took a pharmacy twice daily, and learned to look in the NF to be sure new drugs had no bad interactions. A few times, it saved her life!

I would agree, there is no need for this level of disclosure. However in a facility with electronic medical records, there could be a risk of this taking place. It shouldn't happen but one needs to be aware and find out. For the most part, there really isn't a need for a non-medical professional to read about your exam and the results. Sometimes records are sent without any consideration. This too is not acceptable.

A "behavioral health" social worker tried to persuade me to have a physical, based on her belief that I required psychiatric intervention. This was based on the findings of an E.R. medical intern,(student), who saw me after I collapsed from physical exhaustion. That same intern, gave me a cognitive evaluation exam, which resulted in my being diagnosed with severe depression, poor reasoning skills, and dementia. Neither of them took into account that I had been working for over 26 hours, without a break, due to a tyrant employer. Even after I had provided that essential information, they still insisted that they had made the correct diagnosis. Based on that alone, I would never, never, never, disclose anything to a therapist that wasn't pertinent. The American mental health system is a dismal failure, and the ball has been in their court for decades. 1920, or 2020, it doesn't matter. They still can't fix anyone's problems.

@JJM said

A "behavioral health" social worker tried to persuade me to have a physical, based on her belief that I required psychiatric intervention. This was based on the findings of an E.R. medical intern,(student), who saw me after I collapsed from physical exhaustion. That same intern, gave me a cognitive evaluation exam, which resulted in my being diagnosed with severe depression, poor reasoning skills, and dementia. Neither of them took into account that I had been working for over 26 hours, without a break, due to a tyrant employer. Even after I had provided that essential information, they still insisted that they had made the correct diagnosis. Based on that alone, I would never, never, never, disclose anything to a therapist that wasn't pertinent. The American mental health system is a dismal failure, and the ball has been in their court for decades. 1920, or 2020, it doesn't matter. They still can't fix anyone's problems.

I agree with you 100%.

I'm laughing out loud.

It's a racket, a waste of money and as you stated, they can't fix anything.

As with the police, anything you say, can and will be used against you.

Okay ....... I'm no genius in this type of stuff ....... but clearly, I wouldn't hesitate to find someone else.

Period.

This "therapist" is definitely toxic. You don't want ANY of your private or personal info out there except for the people who absolutely need it.

Now just imagine somebody submitting a very intimate, personal, and highly embarrassing video of you on Youtube. And once it's out there, there's no getting it back.

Just think on that for a moment .......

@jonormal said

Now just imagine somebody submitting a very intimate, personal, and highly embarrassing video of you on Youtube. And once it's out there, there's no getting it back.

Don't even bother going to a "therapist" and I use that term very loosely here. You never know what they will do with any information you unwittingly deliver in your discussions. You could be writing your own warrant.

Stay strong, keep your secrets to the grave.

Stay strong, keep your secrets to the grave.

I'm going to digress slightly here about secrets: no such thing.

True story:

About 40 years ago, I was over at a girlfriend's house (in Crystal Lake, IL) watching TV with her. The phone rang, she went to the kitchen to answer it (this is long before cell phones).

Long story short: The wife of the dentist my girlfriend was using had to unload on her best friend that she was being somewhat coerced by her husband (the dentist) into swinging/swapping. She realized she had enough, called her best friend and let it all out.

Her best friend, sworn to secrecy, hung up the phone and immediately called Trish. Trish, also sworn to secrecy, hung up and called Ronnie (my girlfriend).

Ronnie, again sworn to secrecy, hung up and called Theresa (just across the border in Wisconsin). I'm guessing Theresa then called somebody back in Crystal Lake and spread the info again.

There may have been one or two more, and it finally got back to the dentist's wife (same night!). Well, the wife called her best friend and gave her oral reaming. Then her BF called Trish, Trish called Ronnie, and so on. Each one reaming the next for breaking sworn secrecy. Somewhat hypocritical ...... no?

So ....... in a matter of just 3 or 4 hours, this "secret" made the rounds through Crystal Lake, up to Wisconsin, and back to Crystal Lake.

All were sworn to secrecy ...... if that means anything. Surely, if it had gone this far, this quick ...... the whole town had to eventually learn about it.

I learned something that night ...... and it was to never, ever tell anybody anything you don't want to get out. Even your best friend.

Think all of those things you swore people to confidentiality ........ remaining confidential?

Sure ......

Amen

Another note to add to the therapist discussion. I don't know or care what someone's politics are when it comes to the 2nd amendment, but having been in law enforcement, I know that in many states, if someone has a concealed carry permit for a firearm, then that information is coupled with their motor vehicle profile, so in other words, if a police officer pulls you over, that information pops up automatically. That's actually not a bad thing. Here's where it can become problematic. Let's say that you're a normal, decent, hard-working, and law-abiding citizen, who has never had any criminal charges in your past. So, one day, you have a temporary bout with depression, or anxiety, which prompts you to seek treatment . Unknown to you, the therapist, social worker, etc., places you in an inaccurate mental health category, which triggers a red flag law. Based on their statement,(not dictated by reality), you will now be subject to having your firearms confiscated, until further notice. (Permanently in other words, unless, you can afford to pay thousands of dollars to a competent and honest attorney, who may possibly sway the judge in your favor). Even if you're anti gun, can you see how this small example can have far-reaching consequences into other areas of your life ? Bottom line....tread cautiously when communicating with anyone in the mental health field. While they're not out to hurt you...they are not your ally on many levels. They are serving their best interests, in covering their ass, in the event that a patient commits suicide or homicide. Also, due to the fact that the mental health "profession," is not based on scientific fact, but rather theories, and personal opinions, they likely will provide you with a "one size fits all," course of treatment.

^^I have a friend in CA who has (legal) guns. He has issues from his past/childhood and would like to see a shrink, but this is stopping him -the fear he will get an anti gun one and get his firearms confiscated, even tho he is not a danger to himself or others.

The same goes for occupational health in GB corporations where management use medicals as a means of bullying emplyees to oust them, unfortunately there is not a refusal option

What kind of therapist?

If it’s a psychologist all they need to know maybe is the meds you on ! If it’s a physical therapist they may need notes about what parts to do therapy on! Some doctors after surgery they write post op hip or shoulder surgery PT 6 weeks 3x a week! My shoulder was killing me! I went to a ortho doctor thinking I may have a torn rotator cuff but I didn’t! I forgot what was wrong with my shoulder it was pulling on patients and he wrote PT on right shoulder 3-4 weeks 3x a week! They ask me what was going on with my shoulder and I told them I was a nurse and I guess it was just trying to freeze up! They put heat on my shoulder and they had me to gradually go up a wall with my arm! Little exercises! They didn’t anything else! Don’t dare say you have a gun they will blow it out of proportion! Unless you have suicide thoughts! Don’t say you feel like hurting yourself they will send you to a psych floor! Thode psychiatric nurses and doctors try to get you to say you feel like harming yourself or someone else! I’ve got pulled enough to psych floors that some say they feel like hurting themselves even cut there arm to get admitted! There charts only had mental notes and if they were diabetics high bp heart they need to know that so they can give them the home meds! Mental is a different tune! Unless you have been diagnosed with a mental problem watch what you say! If you get admitted on a psych floor they even take the shoe strings out of your shoes! They take belts razors anything that a patient could harm themselves! I don’t know your problem and I went around the world but no they don’t need your records from a gyn doctor! I’ve read a lot of psych charts and it’s mostly psy notes and if something else comes up they will consult another doctor to handle the problem!

JJM I’m from Mississippi and you see a lot of people with a holster and pistol! They are going to have the devil if they try to get our guns! I have one in my vehicle and so does my husband and we have many hunting guns passed down from grandpa’s to our daddy’s! They locked up in a safe! My bunch hunts! It’s so bad here murders I wouldn’t leave the house without my pistol!

Check out the podcast The Shrink Next Door to see how bad it can get

Please stay on topic. I am going to leave the references to guns but please remember that they are not a topic we allow here.

I would not allow my records to be shared with ANY therapist.

Oooops, Sorry, Moppy. Can I plead brain fart?

Oooops, Sorry, Moppy. Can I plead brain fart?

I might have something for that!

@Moppys_jalopy

I might have something for that!

I'd imagine it just might have something to do with a lap & a bag😄

@Moppys_jalopy

I might have something for that!

I can butt imagine😄

I don't think this is the forum to be discussing mental health issues let along be giving advice to others on the topic. A lot of “skrinkologist” are very well educated and capable of helping someone work through some pretty messy and complicated issues. Like all other professionals (doctors and nurses included) not all of them graduated at the top of their class and sometimes it's best to get a second opinion if you're in doubt.

I used to work in a hospital and most medical records are very clinical no random comments. there could be information on past history of however so keep that in mind.