Trauma-informed Complaint Pathways

I'm glad for you. I found putting in a compliant about mishandling my privacy was helpful given I was understood and believed. However, for other serious harm I was discredited by complaints bodies because the monster at the heart of the complaint has good lawyers and ways to wriggle out of any responsibility. It floored me, I'm not going to lie. Despite that I don't regret giving it a go. There was a psychiatrist I complained about which went nowhere but at least there is a record out there so that if anyone else comes forward, there may be more attention on individuals.

I'm glad you were validated and the clinician was made to recognise his behaviour was inappropriate @EternalFlower .

Nice to know the system can work.

Thanks @EternalFlower I think it does add credibility, even if at the first instance they are found not to have acted improperly

@Sequester im sorry you had that invalidating experience re the psychiatrist. i've had that too which is why i'm sitting here feeling very validated (and a bit retraumatised).

Having put in a complaint once before there wasn't much evidence, and it felt really hard to see everything feel pointless. A lot of therapy stuff happens behind closed doors. So no one there to verify.

Complaints processes are often a bit difficult because with mental illness there have been times when people have just assumed that I wasn't being faithful in my account. I was very careful in the complaint, I documented my experience carefully, and this was shown. They said "some of the allegations are substantiated," as I had evidence and docuemtnation. I know not everyone has that. I'm so grateful they believed me.

hi @Dimity thank you, it was on wednesday I found out and it has had a bit of an impact on me.

The letter written said that my claims were (somewhat) substantiated. I had to tell myself I'm not a lawyer, i know he has big lawyers and power but I can only speak my truth. Initially, I only spoke what I could document. I have about 40 texts which are not approrpiate for a clinician to send a client. So I shared those texts. Had i been required to just describe i think i would've struggled a lot more.

About 40! I'm so sorry. that must have been awful for you at the time @EternalFlower 

@EternalFlower you totally get it. I commend you for getting taken seriously. Because the processes were useless and the internal complaint never got completed, I am treated by them as a constant complainer. They substantiate everything with more lies. It is all starting to look ridiculous. But there are times where they cannot get away with things, even if you have a mental health diagnosis. I wonder if we could advocate about that issue? Taking people seriously. I know, having talked to lawyers, that mental health departments have protections because of mental illness which means they get away with a lot more than others. That seems rather unfair and unjust.

I would be curious to know what feedback you would have to others also going through these processes. What worked? What are the pitfalls? Who would you call on to help.

For now, may you bask in the glory of your hard earned efforts. It is a testament to others to keep on speaking up, even though it feels like it is an uphill battle with no chance of success. Respect.

@Dimity this dr would yell at me at times, and also said me dysregulated texts. There was also an email in the early hours of the morning - all this ended up leading to him having conditions on his registration.

My issue was that this is what i can prove - so thats why i put it in - i have texts, i have emails, but no one can prove, nor do i even have the memory or the emotional strength to explain, what he was like one to one, how empty the therapy sessions were, how quick he went from 1-100 in anger/criticism of me, how his little flare ups led me to feel so unsafe and uncared for. I can't prove that, so I didn't include it. Because therapy is behind closed doors. So i feel strong but also weak. I thought they would ask me stuff or interview me, but they just read the texts, and used that to make the decision.

hi @Sequester i fully get it - and hear you. thanks for sharing...

this is what i learnt, which is interesting as it was relevant to my concern - this applies to medical practise - but is worth noting - "4.2 Doctor–patient partnership

A good doctor–patient partnership requires high standards of professional conduct. It involves:

• 4.2.1 Being courteous, respectful, compassionate and honest.
• 4.2.2 Treating each patient as an individual.
• 4.2.3 Protecting patients’ privacy and right to confidentiality, unless release of information is required or permitted by law.
• 4.2.4 Encouraging and supporting patients and, when relevant, their carer or family, to care for themselves and manage their health.
• 4.2.5 Encouraging and supporting patients to be well informed about their health and to use this information wisely when they are making decisions.
• 4.2.6 Recognising that there is a power imbalance in the doctor–patient relationship, and not exploiting patients in any way, including physically, emotionally, sexually or financially.

" - https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Code-of-conduct.aspx

I find these rules surprisingly trauma-informed, particular 1, 2 and 6. These are strong and ethical. I guess I do want people to know that there aer grounds for feeling that if a relationship doesn't have these things, please either leave or report it - because this is what a medical /psychiatrist relationship should have!

So my advice is - keep it brief, be confident sharing evidence that you have, and always know that respect is the cornerstone of a medical/psychiatrist relationship and if you're not getting it, thats not ok. This is my personal experience.

I would also advise to discuss the therapeutic relationship/psychiatrist with another medical practitioner as this is how i knew i could report it. I was assessed by the CATT team, showed them the text messages and they advised me they were inappropriate. I proceeded very cautiously, and only was confident to speak up once I felt strong in myself, had other people to support me, and had opened up to someone I trust.

That is really a piece of information that should be published where you go in to see someone. I took a complaint to HCCC but I did not know how to emphasise what the person failed to do. At the end of the day that person lives with their decisions and I hope they one day realise the harm they do.

It is interesting that trauma informed care is not considered. I will take what you shared with me into any future sessions both with private and public doctors. Thank you for sharing.