How to decide, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist?!


Question: How to decide, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist!?
I know I need to start seeing someone about my self harm, but I'm nervous, i'm 28 and have had problems with it off and on since about 15 or so!. I've never gone to anyone about it because I've been scared, I'm not really sure exactly what goes on when you go to see a doctor like that, and can they force you to take medications or be hospitilized or confess your injuries to another or anything like that!? What's a first visit like, can anyone give me a kind of walk through of what it will be like to have a first visit with one of these types of doctors!?
Thanks :)Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
I think there's a lot of misinformation on here already!. First of all, it takes a lot of courage to admit that you need to see someone and I commend you for that!. It is not easy!. There are useless psychiatrists and psychologists and therapists of all kinds out there, there are some good ones (probably most), some truly bad ones, and some absolutely excellent ones that can make a tremendous difference in your life and that are worth finding!. To a certain extent, they are all therapists but they come to it from different perspecitves, with different training and different abilities!. Psychiatrists have been to medical school and are medical doctors and can prescribe medications!. Many of them no longer offer traditional talk-therapy because their primary job has become prescribing and monitoring the use of medications!. Psychologists often practice talk-therapy and their education is more along the lines of learning to understand how people "work" -- what makes us tick emotionally, spiritually, mentally!. A good psychologist has been through extensive therapy themselves and is taught to understand the process from a professional and a personal point of view -- i!.e, they understand it themselves because they are educated and they understand it themselves because they have been through it!. I am talking here about a psychologist with a PhD, who would therefore have doctor in front of their name even though they are not a medical doctor!. Then there are all kinds of other therapists -- with all kinds of different backgrounds and training and education!. Some are social workers, some are psychologists without PhDs, some are marriage/family counselors!. All have different educational backgrounds and come to be therapists for different reasons and it different ways!. Personally, I have spent time in all kinds of therapy and most of my interactions have been positive!. My main suggestion would be that you shop around!. Your first session with anyone would be mostly clarifying what you are looking for -- talking and explaining and giving history!. A psychiatrist would spend the least amount of time actually getting to know you, I think -- just as most medical doctors don't!. Their "primary" job is to evaluate you medically and determine what course of action to recommend -- most often using medication!. You do need to do your own research here in order to be able to avoid spending useless time with people who will not be helpful or who may even be harmful to you!. A psychologist or therapist will spend the first session in conversation with you about the purpose of your intended therapy!. Listen with all your senses!. Do the questions make sense to you!? Is the person listening to you and understanding what you are trying to say!? Do you feel a connection between the two of you!? Are you comfortable talking or does the person make you feel even less comfortable than when you walked in!? Therapy can be difficult -- in fact, if it's easy it is probably somewhat useless!. But it should not be intimidating!. You are there for help and the person should make you feel taken care of and courageous for being able to ask for help!. You will have complete control over how the session(s) go!. It is up to you to set the guidelines for what you want to discuss and a good therapist will pick up on your cues and work with you to develop a trusting relationship!. You are in charge!. A good therapist will challenge you and not let you get away with bullshit but they will also be sensitive to you and work with you in a way that provides you with growth!. The first visit will be scary for you, I think, because you are taking a step to getting help!. The person should know this and will work with you to ease your fear!. It should be that way all along!. Do not bother spending time with someone who doesn't feel right to you!. I have been to many therapists (I'm old!) and many of them have been good!. However, I am now working with a truly excellent therapist and the difference is enormous!. She is wise and sensitive and knowledgeable and caring!. I feel so blessed!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

You're best bet is to start with a therapist!. If you talk to one, he or she will simply ask you some questions about what you're going through, and they'll recommend going further to more specialized doctors (psychologists/psychiatrists) if they see a need for it!. If you've been hurting yourself, then you really should go talk to a therapist!. You can tell them EVERYTHING and they're totally not judgemental about it!. They won't put you in a hospital unless you give them really good reason to do so (that means you actually try to kill yourself / do real harm to yourself)!.

I was suicidal when I first went to a therapist, and as long as you keep going periodically, it really really helps just to talk to somebody!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

no one can force you to do anything!.
psychiatrist is like a psychologist but can prescribe medication!. psychologists can diagnose ur problem but can not prescribe medication!. therapists just talk to u!.
the first visit will probably be talking a little about ur history, about urself, and about why ur there!. the first visit isnt going to dig deep into the problem; its more to get acquainted at first so the therapist/psych can acquire some information that could fit into ur situation later!.
try it out, doesn't hurt to go!. u may even find it helps a lot!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

depends on the cause, they each specialize in their own areas!.

some are better at prescribing medication!.

others work in a more clinical setting

some come with specialization in a wide number of therapy from Freudian to NLP!.

i don't know who'd be best, look around, talk to people, good luck, and hopefully you'll find the right person to assist you!.

if one form of counseling or medication isn't working for you,
let them know then keep looking till you find one that works!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

psychologistWww@Answer-Health@Com

There must be some self-harm telephone support lines available somewhere!. Try to find one or more of these and phone up for advice!. And good for you it sounds like you really want to do something about your problems!. But remember the self-harm is just the tip of the iceburg!. Beneath the surface will be much emotional damage and to really help yourself properly you will have to be prepared to deal with a lot of this!. There may be specialist counsellors around or there may be counsellors, therapists and psychotherapists who are prepared to take you on!. Or these people may be able to assess you and refer you on to someone more specialised!. Your local doctor may be able to discuss options with you in private and in confidence and he or she will probably respect any desire of yours to avoid hospitalisation!. At some point you may be refered to a psychiatrist and then it is hard to say what will happen next!. It will probably depend on local practices!. But if you do see a shrink then be very clear about what you are looking for--an end to the self-harming; an end to emotional problems; avoidance of hospitalisation; as much normality as possible whilst you are getting better, etc!. Try not to let shrinks ingore your perceptions and your wishes!. You are even entitled to view about medication and which side-effects you want to avoid!. Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Go to a psychologist they at least have to have a Masters degree in Psychology!. They are less expensive then a Psychiatrist!. If your psychologist thinks you need drugs IE anti depressants then he will send you to a Psychiatrist who will then assess your situation again and if needed give you the correct advise or pills!.

Walk Through!. Therapist-Generalization!. They want to talk to you about your issues, and get you to come back thinking they can solve it though conversation!. Cheapest do to education level!.
-Psychologist!. Generalization!. They will dig a bit deeper wanting you to do a bit of exercises even homework to dissect exactly what type of emotions you are feeling and what may trigger them!. IE!. {Pain,Shame,Guilt,Fear,) Stuff like that!. If they notice any signs of issues they cannot solve though discussions then they will Recommend you to a Psychiatrist who will do their thing and send you back to your psychologist!.
Psychiatrist Generalization!.- Its like a DR's office!. You check in and wait!. They call you in go over their files sent to you by the psychologist!. They may do some type of tests using the computer or ink blot type tests!. Among other things!. They usually prescribe you some type of drug!. They then refer you back to your psychologist who will ask you how you feel and if the dosage is correct!. If not they send you back to Psychologist!.
Any word of murder/suicide!. They have to report!. Almost anything else is confidential!.
No one can force medication on you unless you get institutionalized!. They only do that if you have physically harmed yourself to the point where they believe you tried to kill yourselve beyond attention!. If you psychotically attack someone else or have psychotic promises to do so they can!. If you flip out w/ some type of split personality issues yeah you may be forced to take medication!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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