Capstone: Day 5

          My mentor was getting ready to meet with a patient today. He explained to me how to prepare the paperwork and the questions, and the whole process of preparing for an appointment. Since I was actually going to be sitting in on one, he also explained to me the importance of confidentiality. Psychologists can actually get in legal and ethical trouble if they let out anything that was confidential. In the meantime, while we were waiting for the patient, we talked a lot about the things that happen behind the scenes. This included typing up reports, sending bills, paying bills, and creating a comfortable environment for the patient. It turns out that the environment plays a huge role for the patient. The lighting, temperature, the scent, and the furniture all matter. They can determine whether or not the patient wants you to be their psychologist or not. The relationship with the patient and the psychologist is very important. The better the relationship, the more the patient will get out of the sessions.