[MotownJohnny]

I know it's the psychotherapy board, but it seems to me the psychiatrist is pretty vital to overall success. I am really lucky to have found a good one, who is actually very "normal" - friendly, personable, helpful, very willing to listen and work with me.

In contrast, I've dealt with 2 others in my own situation, a couple 25 years ago with my father's serious MH issues, and a couple professionally. I have found them to be kind of weird, odd, not very warm or too helpful.

Anyone care to address their experiences good or bad with MD's?

[likelife]

I've seen some truly awful psychiatrists over the years. Ones who didn't seem to have any people skills, ones that were just kind of checked out, ones who rushed me in and out in 5 min. My last pdoc always wore leather miniskirts and never, ever in the two years I saw her did I see her smile.

I am so, so grateful for my current pdoc who is fantastic. She's attentive, has therapy training, and had a wonderful sense of humor.

I've only seen 3 pdocs. The first and current were/are both excellent. Kind, helpful, knowledgeable, etc. I only saw the middle one a few times one summer so it is hard to make a real assessment of him. If I remembered right, he had the personality of a cardboard box, but it wasn't really a big deal as I only saw him very temporarily.

[The_little_didgee]

Most of the odd ones I met where in the hospital. I guess it is burn out and personality.

The very first psychiatrist I met did not talk at all. It was like talking to a wall. I never gained any insight from her nor formed a therapeutic alliance. I ended up lying to her, so I could get discharged. Yes, she was strange, intimidating and not helpful. My mother also found her odd. My present psychiatrist is very different. She is quite expressive and supportive. I always learn something new when I meet with her. She isn't strange at all.

[LadyShadow]

I have dealt with some weird psychiatrists being in the hospital. Even the one at the day program I was in wasn't really helpful at all. He kept me very heavily medicated.

Once I was released from the day program, I had a fantastic doctor who worked with me and got me off almost all the medication I was on. He had a PhD and a MD plus he was a professor of psychology. He was very intelligent, but very understanding as well.

My current pdoc is very supportive as well. She is a woman and understands me as a woman as well. I relate to her and she relates to me. She listens to me and adjusts my medication accordingly if I need it adjusted. She works with me too. She also trusts me very much, she gives me 2 refills so I only see her once every three months.

[dumburn]

Havn't really had the opportunity to figure out most as I used to get the registrars who would always disappear to check with the consultant or more annoyingly SHOs who seems to be counting the days until their psych rotation was over.
The last couple have been consultants
Dr Bowtie Beardface was definitely a bit strange, he never seemed to know what to say just filled any silence with "mmmmmm" and "I see". I never found out what it was he could see.

Current doc - Dr Baldy Man, creeps me out somewhat. Strangely its because I know he's actually listening to me. and as much as he has annoyed me he's quite warm and friendly. Which I find very strange and annoying because I have no idea how to deal with nice people

[ScrewedUpMe]

I have had some strange ones too. And only one out of the 6 I have seen had any concept of talking therapy and people skills.

The current one I have is always blowing her nose and then placing the tissue back inside her bra...

[Andysmom]

Originally Posted by PlatinumHeart

I have dealt with some weird psychiatrists being in the hospital. Even the one at the day program I was in wasn't really helpful at all. He kept me very heavily medicated.

Once I was released from the day program, I had a fantastic doctor who worked with me and got me off almost all the medication I was on. He had a PhD and a MD plus he was a professor of psychology. He was very intelligent, but very understanding as well.

My current pdoc is very supportive as well. She is a woman and understands me as a woman as well. I relate to her and she relates to me. She listens to me and adjusts my medication accordingly if I need it adjusted. She works with me too. She also trusts me very much, she gives me 2 refills so I only see her once every three months.

My current Pdoc is great. She listens to everything I say and we work together on adjusting my meds. She spends a lot of time making sure we are on the same page. She is also concerned with my overall health as well.

[unlockingsanity]

I've only had one, but I think she is great. She listens to me and engages me in conversations. She encourages a healthy relationship with my T and they share notes with each other. I feel like she listens to me and cares. I don't think I could ask for anything more.

[purplemystery]

I have had only one T, and I do love her. However, I do see some of the weirdness that you're referring to. I think that my T purposely refrains from expressing emotions in some instances, when anyone else in everyday life would. I've interpreted it as her not wanting to cross any boundaries and appear as though she is a friend. But sometimes it also comes off as cold or distant. I think psychologists in general may appear strange because they use different listening techniques than the average person. And they also have to protect themselves against all of the tough stories that they hear from others.