I don't want my physical therapist anymore, I want her boss
March 18, 2019 2:02 PM Subscribe
I think my physical therapist is too inexperienced and she is definitely not helping me. How can I ask to see her boss instead?
I started seeing a young, seems very new at her job physical therapist at a small practice (near my house, they take my insurance). She is very nice and likable and sweet and doesn't seem to be helping me at all.
I've seen her for four sessions without noticeable results (yes, I'm doing my homework) and the last time I saw her she started with "what would you like to work on today?" which surprised and dismayed me.....my knee doesn't feel better, I'd like to work on that, but since she went to school for this stuff and I didn't I was hoping she was the one with a plan. (what I said was, "um I don't know, I was hoping you would have some thoughts").
At our third session she had asked her boss, much older, seems very experienced, to come in to our session. To be fair, nothing he suggested seemed different from what she was suggesting, but it just seems like I might be in better hands with him.
Got a great script for saying "I don't want this therapist, I would like to try this other one" at a very small office where I would probably see her if I go to see him? Do I say anything to her? Apologize? Just find a different practice?
I started seeing a young, seems very new at her job physical therapist at a small practice (near my house, they take my insurance). She is very nice and likable and sweet and doesn't seem to be helping me at all.
I've seen her for four sessions without noticeable results (yes, I'm doing my homework) and the last time I saw her she started with "what would you like to work on today?" which surprised and dismayed me.....my knee doesn't feel better, I'd like to work on that, but since she went to school for this stuff and I didn't I was hoping she was the one with a plan. (what I said was, "um I don't know, I was hoping you would have some thoughts").
At our third session she had asked her boss, much older, seems very experienced, to come in to our session. To be fair, nothing he suggested seemed different from what she was suggesting, but it just seems like I might be in better hands with him.
Got a great script for saying "I don't want this therapist, I would like to try this other one" at a very small office where I would probably see her if I go to see him? Do I say anything to her? Apologize? Just find a different practice?
Did your therapist set expectations for how quickly you would improve when you started? I think that conversation would be worth having since you said that her boss didn't suggest different exercises / treatment. Maybe with your particular injury it just takes this long. If you should be seeing improvement by now, that's a natural segue into "I would like to try a different therapist."
The "what would you like to work on" is probably an attempt to give you agency and engage you in treatment, I wouldn't hold it against her.
posted by momus_window at 2:27 PM on March 18, 2019 [4 favorites]
The "what would you like to work on" is probably an attempt to give you agency and engage you in treatment, I wouldn't hold it against her.
posted by momus_window at 2:27 PM on March 18, 2019 [4 favorites]
You don't need to talk yourself into being ok with this therapist or needing an excuse. When you make your next appointment, just say "I've been seeing therapist A, but I'd like to make an appointment with Therapist B this time". This will not be a big deal.
posted by brainmouse at 2:52 PM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by brainmouse at 2:52 PM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
When I got the wrong one, I simply asked the receptionist when "A" was available for my next appointment. No problem. Just make an appointment with the one you want.
posted by Enid Lareg at 2:53 PM on March 18, 2019
posted by Enid Lareg at 2:53 PM on March 18, 2019
I'd switch practices! At least where I am, all the PTs take insurance. It doesn't sound like this practice is working for you or is well-managed. I had to switch around a number of times and it took a while to realize I needed to specifically request the most experienced practitioner, because it does make a huge difference. The last PT I had was actually on the local licensing board, which is a really great sign of experience!
posted by schwinggg! at 2:56 PM on March 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by schwinggg! at 2:56 PM on March 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
I agree that you just call and ask for the person you want for your next appointment.
Also, I did this with occupational therapy, though it was the boss I didn’t want. I got to see the therapist I wanted, who was great, but the original one got weirdly passive aggressive, interrupting our sessions with comments. I just ignored her, as did my new therapist, and it was fine. I’m just adding that to say that there probably won’t be weirdness, but you can survive it if there is.
posted by FencingGal at 4:52 PM on March 18, 2019
Also, I did this with occupational therapy, though it was the boss I didn’t want. I got to see the therapist I wanted, who was great, but the original one got weirdly passive aggressive, interrupting our sessions with comments. I just ignored her, as did my new therapist, and it was fine. I’m just adding that to say that there probably won’t be weirdness, but you can survive it if there is.
posted by FencingGal at 4:52 PM on March 18, 2019
Yeah, I'd just ask at the scheduler. (As a separate point though, I've also had the same "what do you want to do?" conversation with PTs, and I'm in the same boat as you say you are...I want *them* to tell *me* !! But it does seem to be a thing).
posted by annabear at 4:56 PM on March 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by annabear at 4:56 PM on March 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
Agree with what others have said re: switching. As a librarian who helps educate physical therapists, they ask what you want to work on to get ideas for how to best help you. They know of 1000s of exercises, but don’t know which ones to give you to focus on what you want. “My knee hurts when I bend it past here, and it feels weak when I stand with all my weight. I want to improve these things so I can return to making dinner for my family each night” is more helpful. It allows the therapist to help pick what exercises to do, because you have prioritized functions you specifically want to gain back first. They can then also help you figure out adaptations around what you can do now to get closer to your goal.
posted by holyrood at 5:18 PM on March 18, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by holyrood at 5:18 PM on March 18, 2019 [4 favorites]
If you don't want your current therapist to overhear you making an appointment in the office, when you are checking out you can always say that you don't have your schedule with you and that you'll have to call the office later to schedule your next appointment. Then on the call you can say "I'd like to try a session with other therapist."
posted by vignettist at 6:55 PM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by vignettist at 6:55 PM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
I have just been through a variation on this. I flagged that things weren't really getting better, and while I didn't think First Therapist (aprox 5 years experience) was wrong in her approach, I really wanted to get an extra opinion from Second Therapist (aprox 30 years experience, specialist in Relevant Area). Not a 'second opinion', but to see if someone else looking at the issue through a slightly different lens might have another perspective on what was causing the ongoing issue.
First Therapist was fine with this. Second Therapist did in fact have something useful to add, things are moving along nicely now after 18 months of being stalled midway between frustrated immobility and total recovery. Also First Therapist talked to Second Therapist, now everyone is on the same page. They work in the same practice.
I made the appointment over the phone with reception and used terms 'additional perspective', mentioned how great First Therapist had been (in my case, true) and finished up with saying 'Hey, if Second Therapist doesn't have anything to say about it, I can stop worrying, and just strike it off my list of things to think about''. In my case I really really like First Therapist, who has been fantastic and kept me moving through some really challenging times, so I wanted to be extra nice/thoughtful about it. But never be afraid to advocate for your health and the best outcome for you.
posted by t0astie at 2:05 AM on March 19, 2019
First Therapist was fine with this. Second Therapist did in fact have something useful to add, things are moving along nicely now after 18 months of being stalled midway between frustrated immobility and total recovery. Also First Therapist talked to Second Therapist, now everyone is on the same page. They work in the same practice.
I made the appointment over the phone with reception and used terms 'additional perspective', mentioned how great First Therapist had been (in my case, true) and finished up with saying 'Hey, if Second Therapist doesn't have anything to say about it, I can stop worrying, and just strike it off my list of things to think about''. In my case I really really like First Therapist, who has been fantastic and kept me moving through some really challenging times, so I wanted to be extra nice/thoughtful about it. But never be afraid to advocate for your health and the best outcome for you.
posted by t0astie at 2:05 AM on March 19, 2019
Hey, this is easy. All you have to do is tell the person at the front desk that you want to try an appointment with X. It's 100% fine. There is no need to feel ashamed or guilty about it. When my clients move to seeing someone else, I'm happy that they have found the right fit for them if I know about it, but I see SO MANY people that it often doesn't register- and as a massage therapist, I treat 2-4x less people than the average physio. In the nicest way possible, you're a blip. See whoever you want. Nobody minds. Plus, I and everyone I know will frequently refer clients out anyways, if a different therapist seems more suitable to that client's needs. We just want you to get better.
(However, I will mention that asking what you want to work on is really standard and good and important and required for a variety of reasons and your practitioner should be confirming this when they see you. "I'm not not noticing an improvement in my pain" is exactly the kind of information that bodyworkers are trying to get with this type of question).
I recommend that you ask your physio to briefly outline their treatment plan and expectations with you so you have a rough timeline of what to expect and when to start trying different approaches. "How many sessions do you think I'll need to feel relief from the pain and what more can I try if this isn't working?" Is a great question to ask after your first session.
posted by windykites at 8:25 AM on March 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
(However, I will mention that asking what you want to work on is really standard and good and important and required for a variety of reasons and your practitioner should be confirming this when they see you. "I'm not not noticing an improvement in my pain" is exactly the kind of information that bodyworkers are trying to get with this type of question).
I recommend that you ask your physio to briefly outline their treatment plan and expectations with you so you have a rough timeline of what to expect and when to start trying different approaches. "How many sessions do you think I'll need to feel relief from the pain and what more can I try if this isn't working?" Is a great question to ask after your first session.
posted by windykites at 8:25 AM on March 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
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Or to scheduling: "I would like to try a session with Therapist B."
You don't have to say much. If you go in with the attitude that it's not *pointed* at therapist A, you can keep everyone's good will.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 2:10 PM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]