Tips on How to Choose the Best Therapist or Psychiatrist for Depression
When searching for a professional to help you with your depression, you first need to consider whether or not you are planning to see someone for therapy, or are only looking for a medical evaluation. To begin with, you should choose someone that has the experience and skill to treat depression. And secondly, you should rely more on the advice of your therapist, they could have to work with your psychiatrist whilst you are being treated. Other considerations are their training, reputation and credentials. Should finances be a worry, verify if your health insurance will cover their services and, should it not, ask the psychiatrist for their financial policies before asking for an appointment.
Psychiatrists are doctors that have finished a residency within psychiatry, after they have graduated from medical school. These professionals are capable of diagnosing and treating many mental health problems, with various treatments, ranging from electric shock therapy, psychotherapy, or prescription drugs. Even though one can receive psychotherapy from numerous different kinds of mental health experts, in most areas, only a certified medical doctor is able to prescribe drugs to treat depression. Because of this, seeing a psychiatrist could make more sense should you or your therapist think that medication will be your best bet.
Should you be looking for a psychiatrist ask friends or family members if they can recommend anyone, or contact a community mental health center in your area for a referral. Should you feel you need to see a psychiatrist, ask about this when calling to schedule an appointment. Bear in mind some psychiatrists are better at tailoring pharmaceutical regimens to their patients, than to actually providing psychotherapy. With these cases, you should think of only using their services for pharmaceutical treatment, however, seeking psychotherapy or counselling with someone else. Before making the decision to use a particular professional, see how your first session goes, should you feel comfortable and safe, then you have found the right one.
Call Sally Hackman PhD, MFT - Relationship Counseling at (310) 693-5546, we are in Mar Vista, CA.