Roll Call 70

My experience with 4 different clinical psychologists was quite positive. Yes, initially (for 2 or 3 sessions) it was a period of assessment which was then passed onto the psychiatrists on my team, but ultimately it was up to the psychiatrist to diagnose me. There's been zero element of research in my care apart from some tests I undertook from my psychiatrists which I had to sign for and give my permission to be used in their studies.

They are very well trained in therapy and don't discuss diagnoses or medication as they say that's the psychiatrists job. Any open therapy groups in the hospital were run by clinical psychologists and trainees and the DBT group is also run by clinical psychologists.

I find their sessions are more structured and skills based than that of a counsellor. As opposed to just sitting there talking about your feelings for an hour a week.

I never felt like they were just ticking boxes.

Lpc is licensed professional counselor... basically a psychologist. Counselor/therapist/psychologist are interchangeable terms

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My t is a lpcs (supervisor )... just because someone has a psyD or PhD doesn't automatically make them better

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Depends what's wrong with you I suppose. Every client will have different needs. Sometimes talk therapy is what is right for the client and sometimes a client will need a bit more than that. Psychologists are more qualified/better trained.

But yes, I get what you mean. Sometimes you can just meet an absolute pleb regardless of what their qualification is. And they'll just be useless.

Thanks for your opinion

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They haven't plowed the roads near my house. Getting here was terrible. ..

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My former T was a doctor of psychology so I don't hold much weight on whether a T is a doctor or not

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I'm feeling like I'd better reschedule my opthalmology appointment tomorrow. Ice and snow on the ground plus cataracts plus dilating drops means near blindness. Not good. I actually had not heard of the snowstorm when I called them last week.

Oops! Glad you got home safely!!!

Thanks for that! It sounds very different from my experiences in the UK. Have you ever seen a non-psychologist therapist? Or are they only private in Ireland?

I didn't mean they did research on me, just that they are heavily trained in research techniques and have to do audits and a big research dissertation as part of their clinical doctorate in the UK.

I agree that there is a big difference between basic talking about your life (which is what I consider counselling to be, although it does still have a valuable role for a lot of people) and therapy, but I've also experienced different types of therapy, some that were more behavioural and some that were more working through my feelings. For example, I didn't like CBT, although I will admit that my CPN wasn't very competent in it and that may be why I never found it (or self-help CBT) very beneficial. I've not done DBT and am not sure how something so skills-based would be useful to me having already taught myself those skills over the years of not getting any professional support? For me, the best therapy was an eclectic mix that was mainly existential, and it is still continuing to help me a year later.

*Willow*

im just convinced that had they not changed my therapists i wouldve kept moving on in my life. to some extent at least.

i dont like change. i had a good counselor. things we going pretty smoothly until change.

Newtus - Change can be hard, but I remember how upset you were last time you changed therapists to this one you are leaving now; how much you didn't want to change, how much you initially disliked her, and now how much you don't want to leave her...perhaps this new one won't be as bad as you think?

*Willow*

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Toby chillin on my clothes in the hamper

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A lint roller is a pet owner's best friend!

*Willow*

I seen a counsellor for a few sessions before she told me I needed a psychiatrist and dropped me. This was private. She reminded me of Manny in Black Books when he swallows the 'little book of calm'

Other than that I've never been referred to any type of counsellor or psychotherapist, only psychologists. This is all through the public services.

I'm glad you found something that worked for you though

it takes me awhile to get to know someone and be able to open up. thats my whole point. i dont want to keep changing therapists every year and pdocs every six months to a year.

the minute things start to get stable it all messes up.

i rely on this clinic so much because in the far past trying to find different providers, because of my insurance, they kept reffering me to this clinic.

i wish i could just rant and let it all out. i typed a big thing but i deleted it.

my point is in the first paragraph. but i just want everyone to know that its not like i havent tried to change things in my life, its that after all the open options have failed me idk what else to do and theres nobody to fall back on.

im falling through the cracks basically.
and when everything gets stable it all messes up again. the world of medicare has been a complete nightmare. i cant even afford to see my medical doctor and to see another one is a year wait.

/rant over
sorry

Newtus, could you possibly find a private T with a sliding payment scale? I'm sure there are still t's who do that for people without a lot of money. You'd get the stability you need.

i can do my best to google counselors who do that.

Newtus you've had it tough, it's a really dirt situation to be in. My local services are so bad I just flat out refuse to go to them, you see a different pdoc every session and they barely speak English. I'm lucky I have other options, I don't know how long that will last for though.

You're stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Yes, and maybe do some calls and see which ones sound good to you.

100 pages

Is it time to start a new rollcall? I'm not doing it

I've never done one, y'all mind if I do it?

Go for it!

Go ahead!

Go for it falcon