Min terapeut
What can a psychologist do for me?
Crises
If you, your partner, your children or someone else close to you is experiencing a serious crisis, you may need to seek skilled help. You may find that you yourself, your family, your work environment or your social circle are affected and perhaps burdened by such stressful situations, with serious consequences if they are not addressed. A skilled therapist will listen to you, talk with you and challenge you in treatment, and help you think differently about what you think and experience. You should expect to be given tasks and "homework" between each session. You will notice that such a therapist is with you all the way.
Talking therapy
By talking therapy is meant treatment in the form of conversations, in which the client is challenged to go through a process of change that leads the client to begin thinking differently about various circumstances and events, and receives support to complete that process. The treatment will usually also include elements of exposure therapy, psychoeducation and role play, provided that the client feels safe in such situations. In addition to psychodynamic and cognitive approaches, there will as a rule be a particular focus on the client's emotional life and affective awareness.
Time perspective
Most people want to know how long they need to be in therapy. There is, however, no standard answer to that question, because it depends on the client's presenting problem, the degree of suffering, and how difficult it is for the client to become aware of their own thoughts and feelings. At Min terapeut, it nevertheless appears that many clients get a long way with ten to twelve appointments.
A weekly appointment is recommended, so that we maintain sufficient intensity in the treatment. Some clients wish for further follow-up after treatment has ended, but then with less frequent appointments. Such "maintenance treatment" can be arranged in due course.
Confidentiality
Healthcare professionals are bound by strict confidentiality, regulated by the Health Personnel Act. It is important that a client feels confident that everything said in treatment is handled in strict confidence, because that can make it possible for the patient to open up about their innermost thoughts and feelings. What we talk about remains between you and me. If, however, the client wishes others — such as a GP, a lawyer or similar — to be informed about the treatment, that is of course done.
Opticians, doctors and psychologists are legally required to notify the County Governor if a driver of a motor vehicle is unable to drive in a traffic-safe manner.
Healthcare professionals are legally required to notify child welfare services if they are seriously concerned about a child.
Patient records
Healthcare professionals who provide health services are obliged to keep records, regulated by the Health Personnel Act. Such a record must be treated in strict confidence, so that no information about the patient or the treatment falls into the hands of unauthorized persons. At Min terapeut, patient records are as a rule kept for ten years after treatment has ended, and then destroyed. This is in line with the law and with the recommendations of the Norwegian Psychological Association.
Normally a copy of the intake note is sent to the GP at the start of treatment, and a copy of the discharge summary to the GP at the end of treatment. But if the patient clearly objects to anyone else knowing about treatment at Min terapeut, no notes or documents are sent from here, not even to the GP.
A patient has a full right of access to their own record, regulated by the Health Personnel Act with the Regulations on patient records, and by the Patient and User Rights Act. That means a client at Min terapeut may at any time ask to read their own record, including long after treatment has ended. The record is kept in a locked safe, and is retained for ten years after treatment has ended. If a client wishes a copy of their own record, the client must first provide written authorization for a copy to be made. The authorization is placed in the record, and the client then receives a copy of the record.