Kaiser, Don't Deny

I see my clinician once every 4-6 weeks

I have been receiving care at the Vacaville Kaiser facility for the past four years. Within time span, I see my clinician once every 4-6 weeks. Some of the time, I am able to make it work, given that I have developed a lot of coping strategies and I can get help between appointments with group therapy or talking with someone on my campus. However, earlier this year I hit a devastating point in my treatment and became suicidal. I shared what was going on with my clinician and because I am only able to be seen once every 4 weeks, I would call her to let her know when I was in crisis. She would then do her best to reach me in between other patients or in the evening. Even though she didn’t say it, I knew I was causing her to work past her scheduled shift as she attempted to assess my situation to determine the level of danger I was in with myself. Thankfully, because of her professionalism and commitment to work with me through phone calls and emails, I was able to get through that season. I can honestly say that if I didn’t have the coping skills that I do, nor the level of resilience within me, I would have taken my life in February 2019. It wouldn’t have been the fault of my clinician; it would have been placed on the shoulders of the institution she works under.

Michelle
Vacaville