reference

[psypipe]

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[deliciousgoose]

That seems really bizarre. What would the psychotherapist even legally be allowed to say to the hotline? Wouldn't you be a more appropriate personal reference? Is there really no one else she can ask? I would call the hotline office and ask what they mean by personal reference. A personal reference really could be anyone, and I think it would be much better to use a boss, professor, teacher, or coach who can speak to your friend's individual characteristics rather than her psychotherapist.

 

[futureapppsy2]

A friend is begging me to ask you guys so I thought I would do her a favor. She is applying for volunteer hotline counseling and they require a Personal Reference. The personal reference can't be a relative. My friend asks if it is adequate to provide her psychotherapist as reference. She has already contacted the therapist and the therapist has agreed. She finished her therapy with success. I told her it was a big NO NO to provide her psychotherapist as reference for graduate admissions but I am not sure for circumstances involving hotline counseling.

What do you guys think?

Yeah, I still wouldn't do it, under pretty much any circumstance. (FWIW, I wouldn't write a client an LOR, either, unless it was for something like a mandated court requirement--and I wouldn't really consider that an LOR. I think it would have the potential to introduce serious boundary and multiple relationship issues).

 

[tryp]

I have been a hotline counsellor for three years now and also have been in charge of training new volunteers and I have to say I would find it odd if someone provided their psychotherapists as a "personal reference" - not necessarily what I'm looking for from a reference.

 

[psypipe]

I have been a hotline counsellor for three years now and also have been in charge of training new volunteers and I have to say I would find it odd if someone provided their psychotherapists as a "personal reference" - not necessarily what I'm looking for from a reference.

This is what I wanted to know, Thank you guys. I told her it was a bad idea but I wanted to check before giving her advice that will impact her in a negative way.

 

[Psychadelic2012]

1) A therapist is not a personal reference.
2) Even if it were, and the hotline would consider it appropriate, what would that mean for the therapeutic relationship and confidentiality?

 

[aequitasveritas]

The therapist is a pathetic example of what not to be like. Anyone with a backbone would just try to understand the patient's reason for presenting this reference request. Instead, we see a classic example of a therapist afraid to hurt the client; afraid to do anything but please.

Internal conflicts over the use of aggression is one of the most problematic characteristics of our ilk.

 

[Neuropsych2be]

There are few things I can imagine that would sink an admissions more quickly than this.

 

[G Costanza]

The therapist is a pathetic example of what not to be like. Anyone with a backbone would just try to understand the patient's reason for presenting this reference request. Instead, we see a classic example of a therapist afraid to hurt the client; afraid to do anything but please.

Internal conflicts over the use of aggression is one of the most problematic characteristics of our ilk.

The situation may be more complicated than that.

 

[aequitasveritas]

The situation may be more complicated than that.

Of course it could be a letter stating the patient's mental stability. Yet the OP used the word "recommendation"