[SarahSweden]

I´ve been searching for a T for a long time and ended up within psychiatry. Perhaps that´s not the same in every country but with psychiatry I mean where you can get therapy but also get diagnosed with psychiatric conditions like autism.

So far I have gotten much worse from going through a lot of evaluations, seeing different doctors, therapists and so on just to find a diagnosis. That is, you can´t just go straight into therapy seeing a T. I´ve been met with condescending staff, staff who don´t listen but just talk about financials and waiting cues. People who talk badly about certain kind of therapies.

I would like to share such experiences with you here at PC who see a T within psychiatry or who seek care within psychiatry to get a specific diagnosis.

1. What kind of care do you get, therapy or other?

2. For how long did you have to wait before you got a proper treatment or got to see a T?

3. Did they demand you to get a diagnosis before you could see a T?

4. Are you being well treated? If not, why?

[Blue_Bird]

I go to a local clinic, I get therapy from a therapist there, meds from the doctor there, and I go to a support group that's run there.

All I had to do was make an appointment and saw someone within the first week.

Diagnosing takes time, mine didn't immediately diagnose me until they got to know me more.

I am treated wonderfully and with respect. I live in the US, kentucky specifically.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I see my Pdoc at a county health clinic. My T has her own private practice. And my group T is a private practice. I was able to see them within a week of first contact. I did not have to have a diagnosis for any of them to see me, though my Pdoc did diagnose me. I'm treated very well by my Pdoc, but her staff kind of sucks. My T and group T I'm having problems with atm.

I was referred to the psychiatry department of a hospital, up from a primary healthcare clinic which offered brief counseling.

1. What kind of care do you get, therapy or other?
Med management and diagnosis was done with psychiatry. The doctor put in an order / referral to the psychology department for me to get therapy.

2. For how long did you have to wait before you got a proper treatment or got to see a T?

It took two to three months from primary care referral due to the waiting list. Once I had seen the psychiatrist, I had to wait about two weeks for therapy.

3. Did they demand you to get a diagnosis before you could see a T?
No. My psychologists told me that they can see people without diagnoses.

However, I was given a diagnosis by the psychiatrist as I met criteria.

4. Are you being well treated? If not, why?

I feel my psychiatrist cares and so do my current and former psychologists.

The clinic staff are polite, patient and warm without being intrusive.

Longwinded response from me because I'm also in Sweden.

1. What kind of care do you get, therapy or other?
I first contacted my psychiatrist for medication management, but after seeing him a few times over the course of 2 -3 months, I asked if I could come to him for therapy. For the last three years I've seen him twice a week for psychotherapy, and he also prescribes medication for me.

2. For how long did you have to wait before you got a proper treatment or got to see a T?
I had to wait approximately two weeks. My then-therapist recommended a psychiatrist with a private practice connected to Landstinget, and I contacted him, he got back to me the next day and offered me an appointment time about two weeks later. When I wanted to see him for therapy (because he was a much better match for me than my previous therapist - I'd stopped seeing her by then) I got my first appointment the week after.

3. Did they demand you to get a diagnosis before you could see a T?
I don't think I have a formal diagnosis. Since I'm not on sick leave I don't need a diagnosis for any formal paperwork. He doesn't have to provide a diagnosis to Landstinget for me to get therapy, either, which is good.

4. Are you being well treated? If not, why?
I am being very well treated indeed. I have bad previous experiences of people in the psychiatric health care system but my current psychiatrist/therapist treats me with respect and care. He has no office staff or other people working in his practice.

[PinkFlamingo99]

I'm in Canada and I'm being treated in outpatient psychiatry at a psychiatric hospital. It's all free.

1. What kind of care do you get, therapy or other?

I get weekly therapy from psychologist and medication from psychiatrist. I am waiting for social worker as well since they think i need more help.

2. For how long did you have to wait before you got a proper treatment or got to see a T?

After the referral was sent in, probably a month.

3. Did they demand you to get a diagnosis before you could see a T?

I already had a diagnosis but they re-diagnosed me. My first appt was about 3 hours with diagnostic tests and an interview, then later my own psychologist (phd in clinical psych) and pdoc cemented the diagnosis.

4. Are you being well treated? If not, why?

Very, very, very well treated. For the first time I'm getting real help and being taken seriously and I feel safer. The first time I heard my pdoc call me "severely ill" I almost died, but I know it's true and in a way it helps to realize that.

[BlessedRhiannon]

Originally Posted by SarahSweden

1. What kind of care do you get, therapy or other?

2. For how long did you have to wait before you got a proper treatment or got to see a T?

3. Did they demand you to get a diagnosis before you could see a T?

4. Are you being well treated? If not, why?

1. I see both a therapist and a psychiatrist. The therapist is for weekly talk therapy, the psychiatrist is for medication and I see him about once every month or two depending on how I'm doing with meds.

2. I started seeing a T first, and was very resistant to seeing a psychiatrist. After 3 years with my T, I was willing to consider a psychiatrist. Once I called to make an appointment, I was seen within a week.

3. Like I said, I started with a T, so no, I didn't have to get a diagnosis first. My psychiatrist did diagnose within the first appointment, but since I've been seeing him, that has changed as he's gotten to know me better

4. My T is in private practice, and has no staff. My psychiatrist has an office manager that is awesome. So, yes, I'd say I'm being well treated.

[The_little_didgee]

I have an extensive psychiatric history that haunts me. Most of my dealings with psychiatry have been very unpleasant mainly due to misdiagnosis and adverse reactions to certain medications. My hospitalizations were almost always traumatic and they often made me feel more despondent about life. I felt alienated. It was hell.

Now I see my psychiatrist at the assertive community treatment team office. She is very different from most, because she believes in recovery and living a full life. It took me a long time to trust her, because so many psychiatrists have treated me with disrespect. Now I actually enjoy seeing her.

1. What kind of care do you get, therapy or other?

I'm in therapy, on medication (which helps me function), and I meet regularly with an outreach worker.

2. For how long did you have to wait before you got a proper treatment or got to see a T?

I waited 6 weeks.

3. Did they demand you to get a diagnosis before you could see a T?

No. My therapist is a psychiatrist. She did a full assessment in four appointments, and didn't even bother to request my old medical records. This really surprised me.

4. Are you being well treated? If not, why?

My present psychiatrist treats me with respect and listens to me. She works with me, not against me.