Day Program!!

Hi @oceangirl,

it does sound unusual in this day and age that you would not be made aware of a student sitting in on a class- due to privacy issues.

The only thing I can think of is that you might have signed something when you signed up for the day program that had a 'student clause' in it in very fine print, along with a whole lot of other stuff.

If the day program is run through a public hospital, then I can understand them having students there... there is really no-where else for students to go! Public hospitals really have an obligation to take them.

Did you enjoy the reach program?

Hi @Sahara

No its a private hospital. And I think the same professional standards should apply to all settings not just private hospitals.I have been to private clinic in Sydney and they always ask prior if a medical student can sit in and we have the right to refuse. Most times I have refused. I know in this particular hospital (Sydney) they had staff members sit in group therapy sessions, and that was only when they where training staff to be a group therapist. I had someone sit in for that and I had no problem because I knew him and he was also a counsellor at the hospital so there was already a rapport build but because it was my first time to any program at this hospital I don't know the facilitator or the student.

I think I am going to raise it next week with the facilitator and if I am not happy with her response I will talk to the clinical director. I think its just common courtesy to introduce yourself and what your role is and why you are sitting in.

The program was designed from the black dog institute, and the facilitator was able to explain the interaction of the various symtoms, and that was quite interesting. I have never had it explained like that before and it really showed she knows her stuff, and has quite a bit of insight.

Hi @oceangirl

I have had that happen to me while I was in hospital. They had a student come in to the groups but the psychologist running tyhe programs asked us patients first if it was okay.

I think you may need to say something next time you go. It's just courtesy to ask patients first. I would be like you thinking - what the hell is this person in here for; and then i would get paranoid. It is rude for her not to introduce herself and even more the person/psychologtist running the group should have said something.

I have mainly been in the public health system, but have always been asked .. looking back over 40 years. I never had a problem with it, and usually agreed, but that might have been due to the fact that I felt respected when asked and therefore well treated.

There should be no people in a therapy group as hitchhikers, who do not have a transparent purpose and make that known up front.

I think the same way as you @BlueBay

I may have thought different if they asked prior to me attending and made me aware that a student would be present- I may have been okay with it @Appleblossom

I just have a bit of tramua around students/hospital setting I know a student disclosed quite confidential information about my mum to other family members because this student knew the other family members because they went to school together. That is quite a serious breech of confidentiality and privacy.

I have been in heaps of groups ... students mostly say it up front after introduced by presenter ... I have not seen them rejected as they usually ask to be part of group really nicely, yes I understand your reservations.

I have never had a student in a group setting before but I think I was quite anxious before attending so that has made me feel a bit more uncertain about things. I just find it a bit unprofessional and rude. I just have to put it behind me.