Since you found this reassuring, I'll expand on my thoughts. I have never dealt with chronic pain or had PT, so I am not speaking from experience, (more from analogy with mental health stuff which is not the same) and if you want me to move aside (delete something, go study something, etc) I will. My intention is NOT to override your voice or to set myself up as an expert, so please freely ignore, disagree, correct, add context etc. Caveats duly given, here I go:
Some points to bear in mind, whether or not you think it is safe or strategically effective to bring them up:
A physical therapist is working for you. You are the patron, not just the object, of their craft. Many medical professionals reverse this relationship and try to make their clients submit to their authority, but while a medical professional will have specialized knowledge on a range of conditions and treatments, you are the expert on yourself, your experience, what has and has not worked for you in the past, and where your boundaries lie.
A therapist who does not use your input to design a program that is effective for you is a therapist who is not doing all the good they could be doing; they may or may not be better than your other options, but they are not exemplifying their profession's best. Teamwork and trust are important, but trust has to be earned.
Unconscious bias and systemic ableism are everywhere. Your therapist may have no conscious intention of doing anything condescending, and still feel more comfortable with asserting their power than building up your power or the power to create positive outcomes that you can share. I tend to walk into doctor's offices with extensive written notes and references, because I don't trust them to listen otherwise. I know people who don't need to do that; I know people who've done that and still had terrible outcomes. It varies, but not randomly. Timing, psychological factors, various forms of privilege, and the extent to which the medical professional is overloaded and over-scheduled impact quality of care.
If you felt insulted or diminished by your "homework", other people have probably felt the same way. Consider your own needs, comfort zone, and alternatives before deciding to speak up, but don't doubt that you have a moral right to do so.
Conversely, if you need to go along to get along, do, and don't worry about it; you're salvaging what you can from a less-than-ideal situation.
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branchandroot
expanded thoughts
Date: 2016-08-23 04:56 am (UTC)Since you found this reassuring, I'll expand on my thoughts. I have never dealt with chronic pain or had PT, so I am not speaking from experience, (more from analogy with mental health stuff which is not the same) and if you want me to move aside (delete something, go study something, etc) I will. My intention is NOT to override your voice or to set myself up as an expert, so please freely ignore, disagree, correct, add context etc. Caveats duly given, here I go:
Some points to bear in mind, whether or not you think it is safe or strategically effective to bring them up:
A physical therapist is working for you. You are the patron, not just the object, of their craft. Many medical professionals reverse this relationship and try to make their clients submit to their authority, but while a medical professional will have specialized knowledge on a range of conditions and treatments, you are the expert on yourself, your experience, what has and has not worked for you in the past, and where your boundaries lie.
A therapist who does not use your input to design a program that is effective for you is a therapist who is not doing all the good they could be doing; they may or may not be better than your other options, but they are not exemplifying their profession's best. Teamwork and trust are important, but trust has to be earned.
Unconscious bias and systemic ableism are everywhere. Your therapist may have no conscious intention of doing anything condescending, and still feel more comfortable with asserting their power than building up your power or the power to create positive outcomes that you can share.
I tend to walk into doctor's offices with extensive written notes and references, because I don't trust them to listen otherwise. I know people who don't need to do that; I know people who've done that and still had terrible outcomes. It varies, but not randomly. Timing, psychological factors, various forms of privilege, and the extent to which the medical professional is overloaded and over-scheduled impact quality of care.
If you felt insulted or diminished by your "homework", other people have probably felt the same way. Consider your own needs, comfort zone, and alternatives before deciding to speak up, but don't doubt that you have a moral right to do so.
Conversely, if you need to go along to get along, do, and don't worry about it; you're salvaging what you can from a less-than-ideal situation.