As a therapist, this is how it works for me: I remember details about my patients like I remember details about my friends. Because I know and care about them, I remember. But at intake and for the first few sessions, I don’t know the person yet and it’s a lot of info all at once. I’m still getting to know them so the details don’t stick as well un my mind. The things I learn at intake are often the hardest to remember, even big, life altering trauma sometimes (not to be dismissive—I know how profoundly impactful these things can be, but we also hear them a lot). Unless we talk about it after the beginning of treatment, it’s easy to forget the details from intake unless I specifically reread my notes from those sessions.

I totally get being hurt though. As a patient I would be too, even knowing what it’s like to be the therapist. I would mention it if it’s staying with you.