Psych docs aren't held accountable!

downsolong,

It may be that you just have'nt found the right person yet.

I have been through several different mental-health professionals.
It was only when I was passed on to a PSYCHOLOGIST, that things started to work for me.
I do remember at one point wanting to give up with him but realised that we were somehow matched.Still with him now for 4 years and can see that the process is a very long one.

I guess it's finding the person who is experienced in your particular problem.

I don't wish to start a problem here but Scientology is a religion. It is in fact one I am most uncomfortable with. We know that scientologists do not believe in mental health problems, but that one must "become cleared". I personally can justify enough abuses in the current and past psychiatric practices without bringing scientology into it. It is a system where consumers can lose their power mighty quickly. There are horror stories and there are success stories but scientologist have mega billions with which to lead their agenda and I would rather keep their arguments out of this place designed with mental health support in mind. I don't think I am being politically correct here but that is one religion I reallyu want nothing to do with.

I hear you. It can be frustrating to feel like nobody cares and nothing can be done when you've been through the ringer of the system and multiple therapists and seen multiple doctors. I imagine people who died of treatable diseases today felt just as frustrated 100 years ago when doctors didn't understand back then what a "heart attack" or "stroke" was.

In some ways, we're at a similar level of knowledge in our understanding of the brain, how it works, why one thing works and another doesn't. Why treatment Z works on person A but not on person B. It's all very astounding the complexities involved in this area of research. And for people just looking for reliable help, it can all be very frustrating.

I hope that someday you do find something that works for you, or a professional or someone who finds a way to provide you with some relief from your pain.

DocJohn

WOW!!!!!!! I believe I just fainted here! Now as soon as I get my bearings .. I'll do my happy dance .. LOL I just cant believe it!
Teeheheehee~ thats all I can say about this!

Bethy

That's so true, I agree 100%.
Sometimes it is easier for people to push blame on others than accepting the fact they themselves need to be compliant, and make some sort of effort,if they wish to make progress.
Between therapy, pdoc visits and treatment, I wouldn't have improved if I didn't work with them as a team.
Sure, there may be bad T's,docs, etc. but we can't just judge "all" mental health professionals by the bad apples.
It is unfair to hold others accountable for our wrong doings,mistakes, we do have to take some responsibility for ourselves.
But this is just my own feelings on this topic.

There is not a lot of good things I can say about my therapy experience. In my opinion therapy did me more harm than good. Not only did this T see me, but he saw my 11 yr old son. A few months in therapy my son comes home all upset, demanding and fillled with anger that his "baby book" was not fully completed. He then went on a rage saying I wanted a girl and not a boy. All his anger was now being vented at me within a few months of therapy.. I became my son's punching bag.. This is what therapy is to do??? When it was his father who lived two miles from us did not even call or see his son for almost a year. And then when his father did pick up our son, he would take him to his brother's and leave him there and go out. My son would call me crying and I would go pick him up......... Oh God what a mess.. Not to mention whatever was happening to me... And this man who calls himself a pastoral counselor thought he was helping....When not only was I getting worse, but my son was now starting to act out... Which earned him a dx of ODD.. He had ODD like I have a hole in my head... I still don't see how when my son and I walked arm in arm into the T's office and the next thing my son hates my guts.... Yea for therapy... I think the only thing I was good at was being a mother and now that was flushed down the toilet...

Grant it, something was happening to me that I didn't understand. I wasn't "emotionally" doing that well and was hanging on by a thin thread for my sanity.... I told this T he wasn't helping and could he refer me to someone else.. He said he didn't know anyone to send me to.. I tried to quit many times and he always put me on this guilt trip and say I needed therapy and it would be against his advice for me to quit... yada yada yada Because I didn't know any better and thought I was getting worse was because of me and not the therapy.. I blamed me.. I worked hard in T. I would of done most anyting to get back on track... And all therapy did was keep me derailed.........I lost a few years I can't account for. Between the panic and fear I was too afraid to leave.. Is this what therapy is supost to do???? Ok so instead of blaming the T, I will take the blame for "failing" therapy..... But I can say I will never ever see another T again.. Sad thing is tho, as long as he has his office in a church, I will never go back to church.. Makes me cringe thinking he is working out of a church and he does more harm than good...........

Are you talking about a "T" (counselor, psychologist, etc) or a PDoc (psychiatrist) ??? I guess I should have asked Downsolong this in the first reply, I assumed he was discussing psychiatrists.

IDK the full data anymore, but psychologists had to go through a bit of personal therapy before licensure (no problems were required though lol.) And there used to be a difference between social workers and psychologists/counselors... is there still? Social workers learned (social science) HOW society worked, HOW people interacted, WHY they might be that way. Psychologists and counselors also learned how to help those who didn't like the HOWs of themselves

I'm so sorry you had this horrible experience, this is what I mean, that there are "bad" T's, but also good ones.
My first T was a nut,the second was an arrogant SOB,the last one, a woman my age group who turned out to be really nice, giving me a better outlook towards therapists. I'm glad my hubby's job had moved to another state with job relo cause the move also gave me the opportunity for change . . . a new T, who worked with my pdoc as well.
I truly understand why you feel this way about therapy, some T's can be downright strange and sadistic, but try to keep in mind, like people, everyone is not bad in this world, there is good. It is natural for us to turn away from stuff, once we have a had a bad experience, and it sounds like you did, but slowly, in time, try to see there are good people in the mental health field.
There is good and bad in everything in life,the world, but we all have to not allow the bad to stifle us, turning us off/away from future possibilities and/or opportunities that may lie ahead of us.
I hope all will work for you soon, and brighter days will enter your life.
Take care now,
DE

(((((((((( radio flyer ))))))))))))


Oh, you mentioned this T was with the church? The first one I saw, who was a nut, was some pastor at some church near his group office. After hearing his BS, I thought, OMG this man is a pastor? Geesh, what a joke. I definately think I can relate to the T you mentioned. Personally, when I found out that he was also connected to a church, that turned me off, I do not care to mix therapy and church affiliations, it's one of my hang ups. I never went back to him, I had quit. The 2nd one was good at first,then became some arrogant,concieted,untrustworthy, SOB, let's just say it was a very negative experience, took me a year of therapy to get over the hurt and mind games played.
Heck, I can go on about some things, but I wouldn't burden anyone, I don't mind though if anyone would like to share our experiences, I'm around here often.

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_Sky said:
Are you talking about a "T" (counselor, psychologist, etc) or a PDoc (psychiatrist) ??? I guess I should have asked Downsolong this in the first reply, I assumed he was discussing psychiatrists.

IDK the full data anymore, but psychologists had to go through a bit of personal therapy before licensure (no problems were required though lol.) And there used to be a difference between social workers and psychologists/counselors... is there still? Social workers learned (social science) HOW society worked, HOW people interacted, WHY they might be that way. Psychologists and counselors also learned how to help those who didn't like the HOWs of themselves

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From what I know, there are also different kinds of psychologists and counselors. They can specialize like "counseling psychology" "Corporate psychology"

But isn't there just one main request form for application for license as a psychologist? (APA) IDK maybe it's the fever getting me?

I'm not sure, Sky. Maybe Doc John can help us with this question.

Hi Darkeyes

..... Sounds like you had a few bad experiences with Ts. I am sorry that you also experienced "quacks".. It is a shame they get away with it... Do they know they are messing with "real people's" lives? Do they even care?

At the time, church was safety for me, so that is why I went to him in the first place. Boy was I wrong about having a pastoral counselor. Having a preacher and counselor in one package, how could I go wrong! "bangs head on soft pillow"... Think the preachers should stick to preaching and keep their noses out of being counselors. I, as usual, trusted when I should have been careful.....

Oh, I do know there are great Ts and counselors. I just don't think I could ever go to another T, even if he was the most qualified, popular, or even free.. . I am the kind of person that never asks for help. This is the first time in my life I reached out because I was sinking and I had a lot to lose if I didn't get my act together. What a smack in the face... Anyway, I do "surfen mental health-therapy"" lol.... When I have an issue I just search for the answers online.. Has worked so far... .......I prob still have issues I am not dealing with, but I think in time, things will work out......

((((((((((((((darkeyes)))))))))))))))))))

The licensure to practice as a psychologist is essentially the same, although the programs may be different. At least the APA doesn't distinguish between clinical psych and counseling psych, although counseling psych seems to have a bit more concentration on educational settings and applications. There seems to be less and less difference these days between what psychologists can do, and master's level counselors (LCSW, LFT, LPC, etc.), although they all have different licensing organizations and different emphases in the coursework.

I used to feel that master's level counselors were really not adequately trained, as I had not gotten what I needed from them. My last few therapists have been psychologists. I do think that there is an advantage there, but I know some master's level counselors who I think are pretty good. Now that I am in a master's program, the differences that I see are that master's programs focus more intensely on practical application and have less flexibility for developing specialties and other interests. It will take the same amount of time to become licensed, since a doctoral program is 4 years of classes (with practicum experiences along the way) and a year of internship, and a dissertation so there is a lot more research focus; and master's programs (mine anyway) consist of a couple of years of classes, then a year of practicum, after which the master's degree is awarded, but still require 3 years of supervision before being eligible for licensure.

There are also continuing education requirements for all. I don't know if I will ever have the opportunity to earn a phd as I would like to do, but I am sure that I will continue to learn, formally and informally, and maybe get certifications in specific theories and methods, and get involved in research. I think that someone who has the motivation will be competent whichever path they take.

Rap

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Rapunzel said:
There seems to be less and less difference these days between what psychologists can do, and master's level counselors (LCSW, LFT, LPC, etc.), although they all have different licensing organizations and different emphases in the coursework.

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And, there are some Ph.D. level people who are LCSW, LFT, LPC's, etc. I even know some people who have Ph.D.'s in Psychology that chose counselor licensure instead of psych licensure.

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I do think that there is an advantage there, but I know some master's level counselors who I think are pretty good.

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And these days there are even some master's level people that are leaders in their fields. (Bill O'Hanlon, for example.)

Do not forget either, guys, that with each state there are different requirements. I have even set these up (with Dr. John's asking) on the PsychCentral links...

Go to: http://psychcentral.com/resources/Li...g_Information/

and look for your state...

Hope this helps...remember, there are always some bad in each walk of life, but the good far outweigh the bad...

I'd like to thank everyone for their input.

I was a bit surprised that this was still here and want to think on JustBen's question some with a little distance before attempting another reply.

Thanks again~Down

Down,

It's a good topic. It's taken several tries for some of us to get the right kind of help, and sometimes it has to do with incompetence and unaccountability, but more often it's a poor fit or we're not ready or we don't understand how to do our own part. Nobody can make you recover against your will, no matter how good they are.

Rap

Would you believe the first T, also was a pastor at some church, told me after I went for first session about how broken up I was when I found out about my husband's relationship with his female co-worker and business travel companion, (long story) but anyway this moron told me I needed to go home,be forgiving and work at our marriage, could you believe this? I never had a need for any sort of counseling, till this discovery (1999), and to think "I" needed to work on forgiveness and our marriage? A guy can screw around, while the wife is at home raising the kid,doing all heavy duty yard and house care, homemaker stuff, etc. while hubby goes on business trips to Europe . . . yeah, nice, eh?
Like I said, I can go on or go off on good T,bad T, but once getting through the burn, I still manage to keep the faith, and using that "keep the faith" I'm not referring to church, ha!ha!

((((((((((( radio flyer )))))))))))))

okay, did you read what happened to my daughter with her OBGYN doc? i was married to a surgeon who would NEVER fill records out the way he did. people are different. how dull it would be if every Pdoc thought the way all the others do. bad apples are in every barrel..but i believe there are more good apples.

I bet if the pastor/T's wife was sleeping with the organ player or associate pastor he would be singing a different tune. I doubt he'd be bringing his wife flowers and chocolates.... Am sure he'd be marching right to divorce court and calling his wife a harlot.... Yet they tell the wives who's hubbys cheat to make the hubby his fav dinner and take him to bed and that will solve the problem...

I too keep the faith. Not even sure if i miss going to church because of all the "junk" that goes on there... But I still hold on dearly to my faith in God....