So, how do you address your T?

well my therapist is a psychiatrist but i call him by his first name.

"Lefty"

I call my T Dr. (last name) when I call or email her. I don't use her name in session much. She signs her emails with her first and last name refers to herself as first and last name when she calls (rare...most out of session contact is through email).

pdoc I call Dr. (last name) and his receptionist refers to him as that when she calls with appointment reminders as well.

I call her Dr. Lastname. I've heard other patients call her by her first name, but I can't do it. She has never asked me to call her anything else, so I guess she doesn't mind.

She calls me by my first name. She has used my Dr. title a couple of times, but only between us, when she was being playful.

I only called her a f***ing cheerleader the one time. Always her first name.

She has prefaced a few remarks with "I don't want to sound like a cheerleader, but..." Always with a sly smile. She's cool.

Same with me......

My previous therapist *really* wanted to be called "Dr." I refused, and called him by his first name.

My current therapist is very first-name basis. She told me once that the only time she pulls out the "Dr." moniker is if she's having a hard time getting a personal customer service problem resolved. i.e. the furniture store delivered the wrong piece of furniture and is not returning her calls.. she calls and identifies herself as "Dr. So & So." I thought that was funny.

since I got to an office with multiple T's, it was a challenge to know just how to check in. Mostly went with Dr. ---- but T introduced himself by first name only, so eventually I've become more comfortable using that. Sometimes it just seems too personal though. I don't think I would refer to my MD by first name only. but in session there's usually no using each other's names. Don't know if that's odd or not.

I call him Dr. Last name when talking to his front office people. I call him Dr. J (First initial) in emails. T here and at home and too his face...nothing oddly enough except maybe dude...LOL

My first pdoc (years ago) also worked at the local air force base psych hospital......always addressed him as Dr (last name) or sir. When us patients would talk ABOUT him out side or even in the hospital, he had a 2 part last name & we would refer to him as Dr (first part of the last name)

My next pdoc, I met & was initially assigned to him in the hospital. I wasn't really happy with him initially, but when I got a chance to sit down & really talk with him about my med concerns, I learned to respect him even more than my previous pdoc.......always addressed him as Dr (last name) & sir also when talking with him & responding to questions. I went awhile without a psychologist.....can't even remember what I called the first psychologists I had seen.....but sure it was Dr (last name) except for the one who was in the same dressage club as I was (we both rode horses).....it would have been awkward calling her Dr (last name) when we weren't supposed to acknowledge a professional knowledge of each other.....sure I called her by her first name most of the time when I used her name. The last psychologist I had in California worked out of the same practice as my pdoc & also worked in the same hospitals which was the first place I met him after I ended up in the psych hospital after husband abuse. He was from Israel & both his first name & last names were not easy to pronounce.....so we stuck with Dr (last name) & there were times even in therapy when sir would come out.....but tried to keep therapy more informal.

Really a strange difference from there to where I am now. The mental health group I see my psychologist at, everyone calls everyone else by their first name. It was so strange because when I first went up to the window to let them know i was there so they would let my psychologist know.....I couldn't remember her first name or her last name......I completely blanked out.....talk about ......that was about the 2 or 3 time I saw her. At the window they always say....I'll let (first name) know you are here.......& she is a psycD.

I had gone to one LCSW initially who worked out of her home & my friend had recommended her....but when I went in the first time to talk with her, she said she was not experienced enough to be able to handle the things that I was dealing with (PTSD issues at that time). It made me feel like I had the crud or something......it was after that when I went to the local comp care & they have some higher up guru that determines which psychologist or LCSW is appropriate to see you.....I ended up getting one of the outstanding psychologists.....maybe it wasn't so bad having the crud because at least I was able to see one of the most outstanding psychologists in the group. The other outstanding psychologist is the one that runs out DBT group.....an adorable lady from Italy with a thick Italian accent that is so fun to listen to........think that was what has kept me going to the DBT group. Everything she says sticks in my head with an Italian accent.

It's a really strange feeling to go from so formal to so informal.....but it feels good also & is a much warmer environment to work through my issues in.

I have refused to see one of their pdoc's /Psych PA's because I have no intention of going back on any psych meds......but that left it up to my pain specialist to prescribe my sleep meds because I didn't have anyone else who could take care of prescribing me meds & I was in desperate NEED OF SLEEP. My pain specialist is a very wonderful MD who I am sooooo happy with........always call him Dr (last name ), but feel so much less formal with my Dr's here that the use of replying with sir isn't something that comes out unless the conversation turns into a formal one.

Much more relaxed feeling for sure all the way around.

Funny thing is when I worked as a lowly BS engineer, there were some engineers who had their PhD (Piled Higher & Deeper most of the time)......some were so laid back that we never knew they had their PhD, then there were others who went around making sure that everyone addressed them as Dr (last name).....you know the ones we played the practical jokes on

If i am going to refer to anyone as dr. X they had better be using my title too. Otherwise we will both be on a first name basis. absolutely no dr.x for them and my first name for me. I feel that way about other titles too.

Miss Manners says that the only appropriate time to use the title Dr is for a medical doctor (not a veterinarian or a dentist or a psychologist or a PhD in literature) during a professional medical visit (not socially- then they are Mr, Mrs or Ms). She says PhDs are like noses- you should just assume that everyone has one unless it is glaringly obvious that they do not.

I see an LMHC, I call her by her first name. I also sometimes see a PhD neuropsychologist. I also call her by her first name.

I call my civilian patients Mr, Mrs or Ms, unless they are much younger than me when I'll call them by their first name. They all call me by my military title, which I don't have much say in changing.

I call my T by her first name, Pdoc by Dr. Last name, Dietitian...try not to talk to her at all! HA

i'm surprised by the number of pdoc's who insist on Dr lastname. my T who i call by his first name is a psychiatrist and he doesn't even sign his own correspondence Dr. last name.

i would be very uncomfortable with someone who wanted me to call them dr. lastname. it's like insisting on distance or hierarchy.