It happens to everyone. Usually, you don’t know you’ve been fired. You simply have a patient that stops coming to see you and avoids your attempts to contact them.
Today, I received a phone call from a patient who fired me. This is a patient that I’ve seen for a while and felt we had a good rapport. Unfortunately, I had to set some limits with this person last week due to a relapse that had occurred.
I sensed when I set these limits with this person that it wasn’t well received, but you have to set clear boundaries when you work with addictions. I attempted to be supportive and accepting of the patient as well as firm and clear.
This patient did call me to say they wouldn’t be returning and I was proud of them about that. I did appreciate knowing what the decision was, even if it wasn’t what I hoped for. It’s worse when you have no closure.
I let the patient know that when they were ready, I would be here waiting.
Today, I received a phone call from a patient who fired me. This is a patient that I’ve seen for a while and felt we had a good rapport. Unfortunately, I had to set some limits with this person last week due to a relapse that had occurred.
I sensed when I set these limits with this person that it wasn’t well received, but you have to set clear boundaries when you work with addictions. I attempted to be supportive and accepting of the patient as well as firm and clear.
This patient did call me to say they wouldn’t be returning and I was proud of them about that. I did appreciate knowing what the decision was, even if it wasn’t what I hoped for. It’s worse when you have no closure.
I let the patient know that when they were ready, I would be here waiting.