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Jul 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
#1
If you have MDD - Anxiety - DID - PSTD issues .. which would be the better choise to see a MSW or Psychologist?
I am in between choosing a new T and wondering which would be a better choice ? Which would you choose and why? .. other than cost... need input ... thank so much for your replies. __________________ "I see my light come shining From the west unto the east. Any day now, any day now, I shall be released." |
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Jul 15, 2008 at 12:22 PM
#2
If insurance, cost, etc. weren't an issue, I'd want to see someone who specializes in the issues I'm having, with whom I feel potential for a connection. My T has a M. Div. and a Masters in Psychology, and is licensed as a counselor. I chose him because he takes my insurance, he specializes in trauma, PTSD, dissociative disorders, survivors of abuse, and I felt in our first meeting that there was potential for building a real connection with him. I'm not sure if the degree matters as much as the experience. Just my opinion, though! |
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Jul 15, 2008 at 12:28 PM
#3
I'm with earthmama. I'd look at their training to deal with trauma issues and their experience in dealing with patients with trauma. Trauma therapy can be very distinct from other forms of therapy.
Personally I'm biased towards psychologists, although I do realize that they cost a lot more, but I think they get better and broader training and have longer supervised internships where they gain real clinical experience with clients, than do MSW's. I've seen both. My current T is a psychologist, and I saw a MSW counsellor through my workplace employee assistance program. I didn't really click with the MSW, although partly that was because it was her job to "fix" me to get me back to work as soon as possible, so she was always trying to push solutions on me, that I wasn't ready for. __________________  "I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn. "If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba 
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Member Since Apr 2007
Location: Caribbean!!!
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Jul 15, 2008 at 01:17 PM
#4
I too think experience is the biggest factor in choosing a therapist. But I agree that for me there is a bias towards psychologists because they have been in training longer in much broader settings for a longer period of time. For me I have had a better experience with the psychologist, than I have had with an MSW. Actually the MSW referred me to the psychologist because she thought so wasnt qualified enough.
As I said I think experience is the best thing and it matters the most. More than any degree. __________________ Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.
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Jul 15, 2008 at 01:51 PM
#5
It depends.
Of course, I'm going for my MSW so I want to say "MSW all the way!" But really - it depends on the person and their training. I've seen really, really, really crappy social workers, and really, really, really crappy psychologists. But the 2 best people to treat me were from both - in my teens one had their MSW/LCSW and I loved her. The one I see now has her Masters in Psych. Really depends on the person and chemistry with them. |
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Jul 15, 2008 at 02:06 PM
#6
For me it depends on theoretical orientation, and of course, connection, which you won't be able to judge until you actually meet the person.
I have had three therapists in my time. One was an MSW, one was a psychologist, and my current T is MSS, LSW. The way I came about finding my current T was because I was looking for someone who: a. is eclectic, but whose foundations are in psychoanalysis and psychodymanic therapy b. is male c. works on a sliding fee scale One really interesting thing is that I didn't know what degree he had until about 2 years into our therapy... that's how little it mattered to me. |
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Veteran Member
Member Since Apr 2007
Posts: 363
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Jul 15, 2008 at 04:01 PM
#7
thank you for all your input and insight .. i have been with MSWs and just dont feel that the ones i saw were experienced in what i need .. trying to see if others saw it the same and help make the decision to go up a level into therapy.. will see.
__________________ "I see my light come shining From the west unto the east. Any day now, any day now, I shall be released." |
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Legendary
Member Since Jan 2007
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Jul 15, 2008 at 06:51 PM
#8
There are also other choices besides Psychologist and MSW. My therapist has a M.A. in Psychology and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (or something like that). I believe the theoretical orientation is important, whether you connect with them, and their areas of expertise. One of my T's major areas of expertise is Trauma. He is level 2 certified in EMDR and has been using other techniques as well with trauma clients for years. Since you mention DID, I would make sure the T had experience with this. (I have heard some Ts are not receptive to this diagnosis or don't know what to do with it.)
Good luck. __________________ "Therapists are experts at developing therapeutic relationships." |
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Legendary
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Jul 15, 2008 at 07:28 PM
#9
My therapist is a MS and a LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) and she it the best T I've had in all my years of therapy. I chose her because of her orientation and gender, and that she is a cadidate at the psychoanalytic institute. I was concerned about her degree designation at first because I expected her to be a psychologist, but that fell away soon after we began. She's great!
Why chose a LMHC |
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Grand Magnate
Member Since Apr 2007
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Jul 15, 2008 at 08:53 PM
#10
My T has an MSW. He is also trained in psychoanalysis and somatic psychology and who knows what else..... He has tons of experience treating ptsd.
See if you can figure out and define those things that are important to you because of the problems you are having and then interview a few T's of different backgrounds but with the experience you need. Good luck. 
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