Problem With Psychologist

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I've done the self-diagnosis, and am pretty convinced that I lie on the spectrum somewhere. After realizing this, I had a friend recommend a psychologist to me, and I told this psychologist (via email) that I suspect I have Asperger's and would like an evaluation. So I come in, and she talks to me a bit, and by the second session we're doing stress management techniques. She hasn't asked me for any school records, or interviews with other people who know me. Bwa? Sure, stress management is potentially useful, given the level of social anxiety I can get, but not really what I wanted out of her.

I'm kind of annoyed, because she seems to have completely side-stepped the issue I came to see her for, and it's costing my mother a lot of money. Should I just tell it to her straight that I'm not happy with what she's doing? Or wait 'til my next session?

yeh definitely tell her what you want. if you want an assessment then tell her that's what you want. say "thankyou very much for these stress relief techniques, they're very helpful, but i am really here for an assessment for AS" and tell her politely that you think you have AS and why (try not to sound like you're demanding or angling for that diagnosis though, it can make them dismiss the possibility altogether, i have no idea why this is).

i think maybe you should say something like that.

Hmm... maybe it's not such a good idea to outright say that you think you have AS. Tell the psychologist that you want to be assessed and diagnosed, if applicable. You can also say that you suspect yourself to be on the spectrum, but don't be too specific because there are many conditions that are similar to AS.
But that's just my opinion.

Tell her straight that you're not happy with what she's doing. I don't know why it is that therapists like to pull all this side stuff, but when you're paying somebody that much money for something, they can't just keep side-stepping it. This is one of the few professions where somebody can refuse to do what you came to them to for, and expect you not only to pay for that, but to continue coming back and paying them to skirt the issue! Then they want you to come in and talk about why you don't want to keep seeing them... and pay them for that too! ... despite the fact that that session where you come in to explain why you don't want to see them is for THEIR benefit, not yours. You (or rather your mother) is paying this person a lot of money--you don't owe the therapist anything. She's not a friend that you went to about the issue, helping you out of kindness, she's a professional whose job it is to be addressing what you came to her about. She works for you--she's your employee, an employee that you're probably paying over a hundred dollars an hour. If she's not doing her job, you fire her.

This is not a priest-penitent relationship. You are the leader when it comes to your care, whether the discussion is with a physician, a psychologist or a counsellor.

So, I would say, definitely lay it out, "My concern is that I lie on the spectrum, and that is why I need your expertise. If there is a differential diagnosis, I want us (emphasis on the first person plural) to identify or exclude that rather than dealing what I perceive to be symptoms."

Couldn't say it any better myself. IMO it's like going to your doctor and complaining of a headache and they say take off your shoes lets look at your foot without ever questioning where your head hurts. Therapist etc. say ok you have a headache *insert problem* lets look at your foot *insert other topic not related to your issue* I HATE THIS!! !! !

I think doctors don't like patients that are three steps ahead of them. Petty, but true.

wow it's a no wonder you do not like doctors when you have such a skewed view of how the process should go. you entire post screams "i have a grudge my opinion is tainted" to me.

you were specific in what you asked her for. you asked for an evaluation, not therapy, and she seems to have skipped the evaluation and gone straight to therapy. sooo, ask her when she's going to evaluate you because you need the evaluation to determine what kind of therapy is going to be the most helpful

You need to find a local Psychologist who specifically works with Asperger's Syndrome and does assessments.

This one you are seeing - say if the government were paying for the sessions well it might be alright. But that's not the case and you need to go elsewhere.

I agre with emc2... if you don't feel a great connection, this is not the therapist for you. There are psychologists who are on the spectrum themselves, I would aim for one of them.

A good bet would be to find a psychologist that specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral therapy.