by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

Questions and Answers at www.DOCintheBiz.com

 

Question: I have a psychiatrist that hardly spends any time with me when I go in for an appointment. He prescribes me my medications and then basically “throws” me out the door. I’m still looking for someone I feel comfortable with, but I’m having difficulties doing so. I really don’t want to give up, but I’m about there. I have been to three other psychiatrists before this one and I find it so hard to trust one and know that I am in good care. If I try to call for a problem, he never calls me back. Do you have any suggestions?

 

Answer: This is a question in which I will do my best to answer while treading carefully on a very  delicate subject. I often have had these kinds of “complaints” or “questions” from clients about psychiatrists and I do my best to stay as neutral as possible as to not offend anyone or any profession and to always try to see both sides of the issue.

 

I have dealt with many clients who have had a difficult time receiving adequate time, attention, or phone calls back from their psychiatrists when in serious need. Of course, there is misuse of calling the doctor for smaller issues and this should be avoided until working business hours. I am aware that plenty of clients take advantage and this is not fair to the doctor. This issue comes into play for those who truly need the doctor’s help; however, due to the misuse of phone calls from those who are NOT in great need, the ones in need do not get the help they require.

 

Sometimes the need for help does not constitute the need for the emergency room, but instead, a short conversation with the doctor to help the client through a rough patch, a specific fear, or to answer a question about a side effect of a medication could be almost “life saving”. This is going to happen from time to time regardless of the disorder for which the client is being treated and should be addressed by the doctor. It has been my understanding and experience that doctors who have been taken advantage of over and over again by constantly calling clients, do not want to help clients outside of business hours. Doctors should not penalize all clients for the ones that take advantage, but treat each case individually. Some clients are more needy than others and there not only nothing wrong with that, but also no way around it either.

 

I have dealt with many clients who have called me (as their therapist) when they could not receive a callback from their psychiatrists. These calls were out of my realm of expertise as I was not their prescribing doctor. I needed to refer them to the ER which I did believe was a bit extreme; however, I hadn’t a choice. I could not reach their psychiatrist either. This was a difficult situation to put someone through the ER experience when it wasn’t necessarily the best choice if the doctor had been available. Doctors are NOT available 24/7, but should be more often than not when a client is under their care.

 

I hope to aid in bridging the gap one day between psychiatric and psychological help. I would like to see the availability of psychiatrists to their clients become more main stream. I would also like to see psychiatrists spending more time and “counseling” clients a bit on the disorders with which they are diagnosed AND the medications they are prescribed.

 

It is my belief that clients should always be educated consumers when they visit their doctors.

 

Here are some suggestions (these suggestions can spill over to any doctor a client goes to see):

 

1. Make a list of specific questions to ask the doctor while you have his/her time and attention.

2. Do not be afraid to ask anything that confuses you.

3. Do not feel intimidated as if someone else knows what is best for you. You have your own gut instincts, know how you feel and may often know more than you think you do.

4. If you have done some research on your signs and symptoms, you should be able to ask the right question(s)

 

I am waiting for the day that others in the mental health care field can prescribe medication.

 

All my best,

Dr. KC

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