I’m for seeing a psychiatrist in order to treat acute symptoms that may hinder progress with psychotherapy. Talking just doesn’t work for some things (i.e. extreme mood swings; psychotic processes). I think if you tackle and are able to stabilize those types of symptoms first, then you can approach the underlying problems and teach behavior management and other coping skills to help the individual better deal with their illness.That is the question.
They both have their pros or cons.
I like Psychologist’s better. I mean, I’ve had pretty bad experiences with Psychiatrist’s because the one’s that I had to deal with once I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder only cared about drugging me up and increasing my dosages. They never wanted to discuss anything other than if I had taken my pills. Psychologist’s try to help you help yourself in many ways while Psychiatrist’s only want to prescribe you drugs, which is their job but it still left me feeling helpless.
Psychologist. No question. I am a big fan of medication being last resort and not the first line of treatment. But there is no reason not to see both if you want too. You can probably get a referral for one from the other, maybe in the same practice.
Posted on Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Psychiatrist or Psychologist?
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