People have very different experiences with psychiatrists because psychiatrists are very different. For instance, I live in a place where there is a whole group who primarily are interested in depth therapy and only do meds on the side if necessary. This used to be more common and is now becoming unusual, which is a shame because I honestly don't see how seeing a psychiatrist for a short visit every once in a while is going to be effective in providing decent care, even if just medications. Medications are tricky and powerful. It seems to me that they require getting to know the person pretty well before determining what would be best. That is not how the world tends to work these days. My therapist is a psychiatrist. He is warm, gentle, and caring. I have never felt judged by him. It is possible.