Posted by Carol on March 1, 1999, at 8:24:58
In reply to Re: new therapist-help, posted by Victoria on February 26, 1999, at 18:13:07
Jane,
I have made Dr. switches before, and they are not "easy" times. One of the things that I have found useful is to write down everything that I can remember about my psych history, including medications, dosages (if I remember), and my reaction to them. Also, if you have had postive repsonses to any particular kind of therapy, (for me-cognitive therapy), you will do yourself a favor by letting your new Dr. know all this.
You can have a mis-fit between you and your doctor. The Dr. I had before the one who is helping me now was very traditional, and did not think that combining medications or "pushing dosages" were acceptable treatments. She also kept pushing me to evaluate my marriage as one of the root causes of my problem. (Depression has been a problem since I was 13).
I worked with that doctor for almost 8 months before I moved on to my current Dr. I can work with his style much more easily.
There are a couple of methods to "interview" doctors. Possible questions: 1) How long do your patients stay in therapy with you? 2) What "style" would you describe yourself as having? 3) What is a "good" treatment outcome (problem here if the Dr. wants to see you every week for the next 10 years) 4)What is your approach to medications? (i.e. are they tools to assist, the only "cure", or only to be used as a last resort?) 5) How do you diagnose a patient as having particular problems? (I've had a LOT of trouble with mis-diagnoses) 6) Describe what a "normal" session will look like.
In the 15 years or so that I've been working on my depression, I've seen 7 or 8 different psychiatrists and about that many therapists and social workers. Bad fits happen. They do NOT mean that you are not applying yourself to solving your problem, or that you are looking for a miracle that no one can provide. You DO need to assume responsibility and determine that YOU are in charge of your life. (The cognitive stuff REALLY works for me, as long as my meds are working.)
I hope some of this helps.
Good Luck
Carol
poster:Carol
thread:3247
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/3313.html