- #1
ehrenfest
- 2,020
- 1
Here are my experiences. Please share yours.
When I was in kid, my parents used to take me to psychologists or psychiatrists or "shrinks" or whatever their official title is for reasons that are beyond me. In hindsight I think they are a total scam. I only went because my parents literally bribed me to go with gas money or sweets or toys.
When, I was really young (like less than 8), I used to visit one "doctor" with really expensive cushiony chairs, really expensive artwork all around the office, and most importantly for me, lots of toys. I would go there every week and here is basically what happened every time. He (the "doctor") would welcome me and my mother who brought me and then she would leave us in his office and he would tell me to take a seat (with emphasis on the choice of which luxurious chairs that I had) and then we would chat about my week for a little bit. He would ask me questions about my social life and my relationship with my parents and then he would compliment me on my "improvement" and give me advice. I don't remember what these "improvements" or what the "advice" was or really what the issues we talked about were but I do vaguely remember NOT his words not having any effect on me and also really NOT liking him.
That usually took about ten-fifteen minutes. After that, he would ask me what game I wanted to play (with emphasis on the large number of good choices I had). So I would select a board game or a card game or something like that. Then we would go on the floor and play that game for the remaining twenty-twenty five minutes. Finally, he would tell me that our time was up and I would go find my mother in the waiting room. Then, she would walk over to the "doctor" and hand him a check for the service he had done to me. I don't remember how much the check was for, but I have a sense that it was 25-50 dollars.
When I was older, around 12-13, my parents decided that I was again refractory and they took me to a shrink who supposedly specialized in adolescents. I would see him before school usually and I went for exactly two reasons: 1) because I got to miss the first two periods of school on those days, and 2) because my parent would take me out for a nice breakfast that included Starbucks hot chocolate on those days. This "doctor" had an office that was a bit less lush and extravagant than his predecessor's but it was similar in that it contained many many games.
On these visits, the first part consisted of my parent, the "doctor", and me together in his office. Basically, my parent would list their grievances against me and after each one ask me "is that fair?" and of course I would say something like "I guess" or correct my parent on a trivial detail or something to avoid the issue and avoid talking about my emotions. All I cared about was the cup of hot chocolate I would receive when we left.
Then my parent would leave me and the "doctor" alone. I him first trying to just "shoot the breeze" by asking me what I thought about politics, telling me a story about his kids, or asking me what I was learning in history class, or something similar. Then he would attempt to have a more in depth with me about the grievances that he had heard from my mom or dad. Again I don't remember much of these conversations but I think they went something like this. At the first few visits, he would reason with me about why the things I had done were wrong and try to make me agree to a plan to have me change them. I would probably make childish excuses or give him the silent treatment or mutter something incomprehensible in response. I remember how he would sometimes get angry at this and then I would just say OK to get out of the awkward situation.
I remember quite clearly how these conversations had absolutely no effect on my mindset and that the continued occurrence of the two benefits I listed above was my only concern during those visits. After the first few visits, these discussions would be more like him asking "Why didn't you do any of the things in the plan we made up last week?" I remember he would eventually really angry and frustrated and sometimes would yell at me.
Anyway, like the visits to the first guy, those visits would also end with a game of my choice. The difference was that now the "doctor" would try to continue the discussions during those games. Of course then it was easy to just make a move in the board-game and avoid his questions altogether which he didn't seem to mind. Finally I would find my parent who would give the shrink a check that I think was fatter than previously (~50-75 dollars). My parent would then drive me to Starbucks where I would order a grande hot cocoa with whipped cream. I would sip this enormous creamy beverage in pure bliss while my parent sat and watched me with the satisfaction of knowing that I had just learned valuable ways to improve my interpersonal skill and fight my depression.
OK. There is in fact a third shrink that comes next. I will write about him and then provide my analysis after I get some sleep.
BTW I wrote all of this in response to the "neural psychologist?" thread after reading the question "Has anyone been to such a psychologist?" and not seeing that word "such". LOL
When I was in kid, my parents used to take me to psychologists or psychiatrists or "shrinks" or whatever their official title is for reasons that are beyond me. In hindsight I think they are a total scam. I only went because my parents literally bribed me to go with gas money or sweets or toys.
When, I was really young (like less than 8), I used to visit one "doctor" with really expensive cushiony chairs, really expensive artwork all around the office, and most importantly for me, lots of toys. I would go there every week and here is basically what happened every time. He (the "doctor") would welcome me and my mother who brought me and then she would leave us in his office and he would tell me to take a seat (with emphasis on the choice of which luxurious chairs that I had) and then we would chat about my week for a little bit. He would ask me questions about my social life and my relationship with my parents and then he would compliment me on my "improvement" and give me advice. I don't remember what these "improvements" or what the "advice" was or really what the issues we talked about were but I do vaguely remember NOT his words not having any effect on me and also really NOT liking him.
That usually took about ten-fifteen minutes. After that, he would ask me what game I wanted to play (with emphasis on the large number of good choices I had). So I would select a board game or a card game or something like that. Then we would go on the floor and play that game for the remaining twenty-twenty five minutes. Finally, he would tell me that our time was up and I would go find my mother in the waiting room. Then, she would walk over to the "doctor" and hand him a check for the service he had done to me. I don't remember how much the check was for, but I have a sense that it was 25-50 dollars.
When I was older, around 12-13, my parents decided that I was again refractory and they took me to a shrink who supposedly specialized in adolescents. I would see him before school usually and I went for exactly two reasons: 1) because I got to miss the first two periods of school on those days, and 2) because my parent would take me out for a nice breakfast that included Starbucks hot chocolate on those days. This "doctor" had an office that was a bit less lush and extravagant than his predecessor's but it was similar in that it contained many many games.
On these visits, the first part consisted of my parent, the "doctor", and me together in his office. Basically, my parent would list their grievances against me and after each one ask me "is that fair?" and of course I would say something like "I guess" or correct my parent on a trivial detail or something to avoid the issue and avoid talking about my emotions. All I cared about was the cup of hot chocolate I would receive when we left.
Then my parent would leave me and the "doctor" alone. I him first trying to just "shoot the breeze" by asking me what I thought about politics, telling me a story about his kids, or asking me what I was learning in history class, or something similar. Then he would attempt to have a more in depth with me about the grievances that he had heard from my mom or dad. Again I don't remember much of these conversations but I think they went something like this. At the first few visits, he would reason with me about why the things I had done were wrong and try to make me agree to a plan to have me change them. I would probably make childish excuses or give him the silent treatment or mutter something incomprehensible in response. I remember how he would sometimes get angry at this and then I would just say OK to get out of the awkward situation.
I remember quite clearly how these conversations had absolutely no effect on my mindset and that the continued occurrence of the two benefits I listed above was my only concern during those visits. After the first few visits, these discussions would be more like him asking "Why didn't you do any of the things in the plan we made up last week?" I remember he would eventually really angry and frustrated and sometimes would yell at me.
Anyway, like the visits to the first guy, those visits would also end with a game of my choice. The difference was that now the "doctor" would try to continue the discussions during those games. Of course then it was easy to just make a move in the board-game and avoid his questions altogether which he didn't seem to mind. Finally I would find my parent who would give the shrink a check that I think was fatter than previously (~50-75 dollars). My parent would then drive me to Starbucks where I would order a grande hot cocoa with whipped cream. I would sip this enormous creamy beverage in pure bliss while my parent sat and watched me with the satisfaction of knowing that I had just learned valuable ways to improve my interpersonal skill and fight my depression.
OK. There is in fact a third shrink that comes next. I will write about him and then provide my analysis after I get some sleep.
BTW I wrote all of this in response to the "neural psychologist?" thread after reading the question "Has anyone been to such a psychologist?" and not seeing that word "such". LOL
)
! (although seeing Michael Jackson and this guys from New Kids on the Block on the list spoils it a bit