[ComfortablyNumb5]

The place I go to for my pdoc is mostly state run and low income (I don't work and have state insurance). Not that there's anything wrong with that other than the fact that it seems like a landing spot for tdocs that are right out of school and have no idea how to work with my issues. The kind of tdoc that sits and stares at me while I talk, with no input of their own because they just don't know how to respond. No one specializes in anything and I know I need CBT and someone that has worked with eating disorders. Also, they never keep anyone there for a long time. Most of my pdocs and tdocs leave for a better job offer so I never have the chance to get comfortable. So now when they offer me therapy there, I say I'll find somewhere else to go. How would you feel? Would it matter to you how much experience your tdoc has or not?

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[DysphoricManicMom]

It would absolutely matter to me. But a lot of that is having a general mistrust of people, esp doctors. For the birth of my youngest son I had a student for a nurse and then when I went to have my tubal done the next day I had a student anesthesiologist. And I broke down.

[Victoria'smom]

It doesn't matter how much experience they have to me. If they're willing to deal with my issues with me. I'm not a person that is easy to understand and normal of previous experience helps people deal with me. my current t only has 5 years in but I don't feel he's helping me. My t 's can't be easily scared, know involuntary is the very last choice, and let me lead. My current t doesn't seem to be helping me.

[HALLIEBETH87]

My last T was 4 yrs out of school and super super smart and well accomplished for himself. I miss him!

My t now is just out of school and I love her! Shes a great listener but also gives me a lot to work with. She also teaches my DBT group. I go to a community clinic.

[Homeira]

I find that someone recently out of school sometimes can be really good doctors, because they have a fresher look on things. In my "former life" as an occupational therapist, I had students all the time. And they often impressed me with how much knowlege they had, and how dedicated they were.
The biggest problem for me is when they leave. Hard. Always feel lost and extra anxious when I have to start up with a new doc.

I too is in the same situation as you, but our clinic charges according to poverty level, so the quality of pdoc's that flow through there leave a lot to be desired.

I call them med machines. I try to talk to them and I get a blank stare in return with the feeling that I'm bothering them, so I just answer the standard questions then leave. This makes them happy.

This place is more of a stepping stone to a more lucrative career for them. I'm sure it's like low pay with tons of clients.

Just hang in there Hun. I'm finding that T's are the ones that you talk too.

[Mountainbard]

You're in a tough situation because you really don't have a lot of choice. I agree with Homeira though-- sometimes a therapist fresh out of school can be excellent.

[WibblyWobbly]

It's not the experience that matters so much as how well the t is able to take care of my needs. My best 2 t's EVER were newbies. The first was working on getting licensed as a SW and 10 years younger than me and I loved her, but only for talk therapy/unburdening myself while in crisis. She wasn't as well-rounded in therapy modalities and kept trying CBT on me but I was really resistant to it at the time.

The 2nd is the one I'm seeing now. She is being supervised while she gets her Ph.D. in counseling. She has more experience because she is at that level. Our sessions are video recorded and because of that supervision she is all about pulling out coping skills and jumping on issues that I avoid, such as eating.

Sooo I would say it totally depends on who you get, how much they care and how well you click. You can get someone who's been doing this forever, is stuck in their ways and is totally condescending about your problems (obviously, I've had that a few times )

I'm sorry you've had so much bad luck. A good t can really change your life.

[cmorales]

I'm also in the state system. My first therapist was an intern at the clinic, but she was very good. At first, I was hesitant because, she was so young and it was a bit awkward that she was a few years younger than me and had accomplished so much (and by that I mean, having achieved the educational level of grad school, whereas I had flunked out repeatedly). But I actually came to find it helpful in that both of us were relatively new to the situation. Like some of you have experienced, she, being an intern, was moved to another clinic after a year or so.

My current therapist is a bit older (probably in her thirties? I don't know, I've never asked) and it seems has been at this for a while. We get along pretty well and I really like her too.

I guess it can be hard if you've been at this treatment game a while and are suddenly handed a therapist right out of school, but I'm still relatively new to the game (only about 2 years in) so I guess I'm slightly more willing to work with new therapists... or something. I don't really know.

[Nammu]

I've found good Pdocs that were still interns and old Pdocs that were lousy, old Pdocs that were great and newbys that were horrible. The good ones were great at listening and questioning bad one arrogant and demanding that what they stated was correct 100% of the time.

I'm now going to a state clinic but the Pdocs I've been meeting are older and quite good. Most are semi retried although when I first went a year ago the pdoc at the psych ER was a new doc but he was very good. As long as I get good Pdocs I'm pretty relaxed with change. I just lost both the social worker and the pdoc at the same time but I gotta say the replacements are just as good...or better in the case of the pdoc, she's been a pdoc for 26 years and still keeps current in both psych education as well as world events. II think because it's a state clinic the hours are set and emergencies are handled by crisis teams is why the mostly retired Pdocs work there. They want to keep working and lousy money isn't the reason the work there, just better hours than private practice.

[Curiosity77]

I think some of the best staff work in the free clinics, because they are there for the patients, even if it means less money. Personally, I'm fine with working with a trainee as long as they have the humility to admit when they don't know something, and ask for help, or ask me my opinion. Everyone has to train and be a new grad. The patients early in their careers form the therapist they will become. So it can be pretty cool, if you have some one smart. But I wouldn't want someone with no experience, and no humility, because it's scarier to have to rely on someone who thinks they know everything, but doesn't. I think it really depends on the trainee.