[doogie]

Do any of you see a psychiatrist and a therapist? I do - the psychiatrist mostly for medication management, though recently it's been more "therapy". My therapist is, of course, for my week to week therapy. It's been hard to have both. When I talk to the Psychiatrist, it almost feels like I'm betraying my therapist. I don't know if that makes any sense at all, but it makes me a little uncomfortable. I don't know why, though. It just feels really strange. They also have two very different techniques to "therapy". My therapist is very touch y feely warm caring, and I've been seeing her almost 2 1/2 years now. My Psych is very nice and I like her, but much more clinical. I don't know. Any input here. I just feel like I'm in a very weird spot.

I have both a psychiatrist and a therapist, and they are both quite different. But it's to be expected though. My psychiatrist is very formal, clinical, and takes care of the medication aspect of my recovery, mainly. The therapist essentially works on everything but the medication. But they both try to be on the same page, and just because I talk to one doesn't mean I'm "betraying" the other.

They both have two completely different jobs, so it's no wonder that they're different. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself - I highly doubt one of them would be insulted just because you see another professional as well.

[WikidPissah]

My psychiatrist (Pdoc) sees me once a month, and he just goes over meds and effects. I can't talk to him at all. After 5 yrs it's become this jovial friendly chat and I am embarrassed to bring up mood problems. If I bring up med issues he gets kind of defensive so I have a habit of altering my meds without telling him. It's become a pointless meeting, and my therapist and I joke about it. (He eggs me on to talk to pdoc and I always fail)

[Stoda]

I see both a t and a pdoc. And both know that I see the other.

I would recommend you let each know about the other, that may eliviate some of your guilty feelings.

Its been my expierence that most pdocs will recommend you see a t. And most ts will recommed you see a pdoc!

Hang in there!

[roads]

Mine know about each other and talk about me -- sometimes I eavesdrop. I got T referral from pdoc in fact. They aren't at all alike &thats great. I don't understand why you'd feel betrayal. Talk it betrayal.

Talk it out with them. Let them work it out for you. Shouldn't me a big deal.

Yes, I have a therapist since about 7 months, and she referred me to a psychiatrist a few months ago. I've met with him twice. I wish I could see him for therapy instead, because he's much easier to talk to, for me.

Originally Posted by doogie

When I talk to the Psychiatrist, it almost feels like I'm betraying my therapist. I don't know if that makes any sense at all, but it makes me a little uncomfortable.

It makes perfect sense and I feel this too. I assume your therapist and your psychiatrist are aware of the fact that you also meet with the other person? Do they know each other at all? In my case they do - probably not very well, since my therapist tends to forget the psychiatrist's name but I still feel very self-conscious especially when I have to say something about the other person.

[doogie]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Yes, my t and pdoc know that I see both and they have talked about my case I know. I guess the betrayal thing comes from the intense loyalty I feel toward my T. Like I shouldn't be accepting help from anyone but her, especially when pdoc frames an issue differently and I "get" it in a way I don't with my T. I don't know. Maybe betrayal isn't the right word. It's just a loyalty thing I guess. I don't really know for sure.

[lostmyway21]

I have a pdoc and T. They talk about me when I request it, when I need them on the same page. T was on pdocs referral list. Um I would die if pdoc ever tried to do any talk therapy. He is all about meds/ side effects/ how I'm feeling. Although I have cried in front of pdoc several times over the years. Your not betraying anyone, there both part of your treatment team.

[likelife]

Originally Posted by doogie

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Yes, my t and pdoc know that I see both and they have talked about my case I know. I guess the betrayal thing comes from the intense loyalty I feel toward my T. Like I shouldn't be accepting help from anyone but her, especially when pdoc frames an issue differently and I "get" it in a way I don't with my T. I don't know. Maybe betrayal isn't the right word. It's just a loyalty thing I guess. I don't really know for sure.

I get that way sometimes with my pdoc. For me, it comes from the standpoint of not wanting my therapy with my T challenged. My pdoc hasn't ever done that, but I think it's just something I'm vigilant about. For awhile, my H and I were seeing a marriage counselor and I had the same reaction when he wanted to talk to my individual T.

I'm wondering if issues of loyalty come up for you in other areas, doogie. I know they do for me.

[LadyShadow]

I'm sorry you feel like it is a betrayal, you really shouldn't. The idea is that they are working together to help you not against you in any way. They know each other huh? You know, I know its all clinical with the psychiatrist so why not tell your therapist about your psychiatrist session? I talk about my sessions with my therapist all the time, he likes to know how I'm progressing and feeling on my meds. Maybe by telling the therapist everything you talked to the psychiatrist about, you won't feel guilty or feel like you are betraying anyone.

Hope that helps! Good luck

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by doogie

Do any of you see a psychiatrist and a therapist? I do - the psychiatrist mostly for medication management, though recently it's been more "therapy". My therapist is, of course, for my week to week therapy. It's been hard to have both. When I talk to the Psychiatrist, it almost feels like I'm betraying my therapist. I don't know if that makes any sense at all, but it makes me a little uncomfortable. I don't know why, though. It just feels really strange. They also have two very different techniques to "therapy". My therapist is very touch y feely warm caring, and I've been seeing her almost 2 1/2 years now. My Psych is very nice and I like her, but much more clinical. I don't know. Any input here. I just feel like I'm in a very weird spot.

I see both. i have it set up so that both can discuss me and m problems and we all get together once a month so that we are all working on the same wave length, same page, ...

there's nothing worse then having a psychiatrist work one way with me and a therapist pointing me in the other direction. this is how I solved this and other seeing more than one treatment provider issues. works great for me.

[Mike_J]

I have one of each, and I think that is normal and healthy. Differant people are going to have differant styles.

I have both (well, my situation complicated because I am/was sorta between therapists, but generally the idea was that I'd have a psych doc for the meds and a talk therapist. At first I only had the talk therapist but then something went wrong with the meds so I had a quick find a psych. I just started with the psych doc when my talk therapist left me. So then my goal was to find a new talk therapist, which I think I've finally done (took awhile). I'd been with my old T long enough that I did want them to talk to each other (saves me time and money, right?) so I put them in touch with each other but as far as I know they never connected, just played phone tag. It seems very disorganized to me.

Anyway I think it's fine to have both and probably good. (also 'cause I think it gets a couple different perspectives on things too and I tend to think that's a good thing).

But it also depends on if your psych doc also does talk therapy. Some don't. They just do meds. Mine does meds and talk therapy but I don't like his talk therapy as much as the regular talk therapists.

My pdoc and my T have consulted with each other on occasion about my care and progress. Remember, they are both on your side. They will have different styles, and certainly you'll get different things from each of them. That's a good thing.

Maybe consider sharing with your T what you discuss with Pdoc. I think you will find that he will be interested to hear about it.