There are some strategies you can use to get an appointment with a new psychiatrist even when you get the dreaded "not taking new patients" message.. Many physicians will open space in their practice if the referral comes from a clinician they know or possibly from one he doesn't know but hears the need.

Your first line of approach would be your therapist. Therapists usually work and refer patients to psychiatrists when they see evidence of an illness that needs more sophisticated diagnosis. They may have a preferred list of MDs they go to or they may call a new psychiatrist on your behalf if you have someone in mind. She can even ask around and find out more about the psychiatrist you are interested in whom she doesn't know. It's a place to start.

Your PCP (or any physician you see regularly) is your next level of approach. Physicians work with physicians and refer all the time. You can also bring a name to him and he can break the ice and the "we aren't accepting new patients" log jam. It's called professional courtesy.

Your third level of approach, a clergy. Many clergy refer congregants for care confidentially when the need arises. Of course this only helps if you are a member of a congregation. Even if you don't know your clergy, you can make an appointment with him and see if he works with a psychiatrist he trusts. Clergy are held to the same standards of confidentiality as physicians and therapists.

Your fourth level of approach, cold calling yourself. Sometimes you get lucky working off an insurance company provider list. Sometimes you hear, "we aren't taking new patients". It's a frustrating process, especially if you are ill and struggling.

Remember there just aren't that many psychiatrists to go around. It helps to have a strategy when looking for one. Hope I've given you some ideas of how to find a new MD.