Trouble finding a Psychologist to see

ValidUserName · 05-27-2009, 02:23 AM

Hi All,

I really need to get myself some professional help with my anxiety problems I have creating meaningful friendships and relationships. I've been running into roadblocks left and right recently. I've tried to get a recommendation for a psychologist on 3 occasions at walk in clinics (don't have a family dr) recently and had no luck. One of them had only one suggestion who just wasn't going to work out due to scheduling problems and he seemed like an ass, while the other 2 scoffed at the idea since they aren't “doctors”

I'm extremely hesitant to see a psychiatrist since they'll want to prescribe stuff right off the bat, which I'll refuse to take since they haven't earned my trust to drug me yet, due to side effects, or I'm at risk of abusing.

The emotional toll and energy it takes to find someone is so daunting after having tried seeing 3 psychologists, 2 psychiatrists and a social worker over the years. Nothing ever worked for more than a couple of months and only dealt with surface issues. I'm slowly but surely falling into a deeper and deeper hole.

Starting from scratch by looking them up in the yellow pages and wasting hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars trying them out is just to much. I'm living paycheck to paycheck as it is, and insurance only covers 10 visits up to $50 each. The one free short visit isn't usually enough to know if it'll work out... I need help finding a good match but I don't know how to do it.

I'm afraid that if I don't break down the wall I'm creating around myself within a few more years, I won't care to try anymore and give up. I want to salvage at least a few years of my twenties!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I should proceed?

thx

Capricorn3 · 05-27-2009, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ValidUserName

The emotional toll and energy it takes to find someone is so daunting after having tried seeing 3 psychologists, 2 psychiatrists and a social worker over the years. Nothing ever worked for more than a couple of months and only dealt with surface issues.

Just making sure I understand this correctly. You're saying that you HAVE already seen 3 psychologists, 2 psychiatrists and a social worker before?
If that's the case, then who referred you to them?

Also, I'm rather curious, but why did you stop going to them after only a couple of months? Are you saying that after seeing all 6 of these professionals, nothing worked at all? Giving up too soon will never get positive results. You have to give it a proper chance to work and go for longer periods of time. If you keep walking out then you can't expect it to help you.

I can only suggest you see the same doctor(?) who referred you to these people in the first place. Perhaps they can recommend someone else.

ValidUserName · 05-27-2009, 03:48 AM

Well I currently live in a different city and I try to avoid my parents like the plague and they found a bunch of them...

I can't sleep so to suit your curiosity...

Psychologist 1: Parents chose at the time, more related to school, but I tried to veer it away from school and to my problems and it didn't really work. It wasn't really her specialty (but she was trained) and her office was extremely uncomfortable.

Psychologist 2: Was one of the university Psychologists where I moved out to. I saw him for a couple months,but appointments were sparse and I was such a wreck that If I stayed at University I was likely going to end up hurting myself, and I ended up moving back home. (Different City)

Psychologist 3: My parents got the referal from one of their Doctors. She practiced CBT which was a disaster. We could barely agree on anything and we mutually agreed it was a bad match after a couple of months (5 visits?) She kept putting words in my mouth too...

Psychiatrist 1: Was the in-house psychiatrists at a clinic I went to. Only saw me for ~10 minutes before trying to prescribe a drug to me. Didn't even listen to anything I wanted to say, all he wanted to do was write a script and send me off. Seriously wrong.

Social Worker: Recommended by parents friend, things were working out with this guy but we weren't able to resolve the deeper issues. He recommended Psychiatrist #2 and I had enough trust in him to give some meds a try. These were for depression, not anxiety though (seriously depressed at the time) Tried them for a month, didn't like it at all and dropped the psychiatrist. I'm not up for the random guessing game when it negatively impacts me. I continued seeing the social worker until I was ready via his help to move back to city I'd left from in a wreck earlier.

And after all of that...I might have at least given myself 1 new option... I can call the University and see if they recommend people outside of the school.

Edit: Just wanted to add... The social worker dude did manage to help with some of the issues, more the coping side of things.. I should have given him more credit in the first post... I haven't been anywhere near as depressed since I've moved back out here as I have been in the past over the years, but the anxiety is still running rampant as ever and my friendship/relationship situation hasn't changed/improved at all.

Off to try and visit sleepy land again!

unabashed · 05-27-2009, 06:59 AM

If the social worker helped you, why don't you go back to him? It isn't unusual for people to do that. People leave therapy sometimes when they are feeling a little better, or when the issues get a little tougher (or both). There would be no shame in telling him you wish to resume. A social worker or psychologist will not be able to prescribe medication, but if you trust your family doctor, he or she should be able to do that while you're seeing a counselor you trust. No medication will be perfect, and all have side-effects, so it takes time to find the one that's right for you--if you need it.

girl friend · 05-27-2009, 07:49 AM

Maybe you could try talking to us guys on here for now?

05-27-2009, 02:23 AM	#1
ValidUserName Offline Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2	Trouble finding a Psychologist to see Hi All, I really need to get myself some professional help with my anxiety problems I have creating meaningful friendships and relationships. I've been running into roadblocks left and right recently. I've tried to get a recommendation for a psychologist on 3 occasions at walk in clinics (don't have a family dr) recently and had no luck. One of them had only one suggestion who just wasn't going to work out due to scheduling problems and he seemed like an ass, while the other 2 scoffed at the idea since they aren't “doctors” I'm extremely hesitant to see a psychiatrist since they'll want to prescribe stuff right off the bat, which I'll refuse to take since they haven't earned my trust to drug me yet, due to side effects, or I'm at risk of abusing. The emotional toll and energy it takes to find someone is so daunting after having tried seeing 3 psychologists, 2 psychiatrists and a social worker over the years. Nothing ever worked for more than a couple of months and only dealt with surface issues. I'm slowly but surely falling into a deeper and deeper hole. Starting from scratch by looking them up in the yellow pages and wasting hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars trying them out is just to much. I'm living paycheck to paycheck as it is, and insurance only covers 10 visits up to $50 each. The one free short visit isn't usually enough to know if it'll work out... I need help finding a good match but I don't know how to do it. I'm afraid that if I don't break down the wall I'm creating around myself within a few more years, I won't care to try anymore and give up. I want to salvage at least a few years of my twenties! Does anyone have any suggestions on how I should proceed? thx Last edited by ValidUserName; 05-27-2009 at 02:29 AM.

05-27-2009, 03:48 AM	#3
ValidUserName Offline Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2	Well I currently live in a different city and I try to avoid my parents like the plague and they found a bunch of them... I can't sleep so to suit your curiosity... Psychologist 1: Parents chose at the time, more related to school, but I tried to veer it away from school and to my problems and it didn't really work. It wasn't really her specialty (but she was trained) and her office was extremely uncomfortable. Psychologist 2: Was one of the university Psychologists where I moved out to. I saw him for a couple months,but appointments were sparse and I was such a wreck that If I stayed at University I was likely going to end up hurting myself, and I ended up moving back home. (Different City) Psychologist 3: My parents got the referal from one of their Doctors. She practiced CBT which was a disaster. We could barely agree on anything and we mutually agreed it was a bad match after a couple of months (5 visits?) She kept putting words in my mouth too... Psychiatrist 1: Was the in-house psychiatrists at a clinic I went to. Only saw me for ~10 minutes before trying to prescribe a drug to me. Didn't even listen to anything I wanted to say, all he wanted to do was write a script and send me off. Seriously wrong. Social Worker: Recommended by parents friend, things were working out with this guy but we weren't able to resolve the deeper issues. He recommended Psychiatrist #2 and I had enough trust in him to give some meds a try. These were for depression, not anxiety though (seriously depressed at the time) Tried them for a month, didn't like it at all and dropped the psychiatrist. I'm not up for the random guessing game when it negatively impacts me. I continued seeing the social worker until I was ready via his help to move back to city I'd left from in a wreck earlier. And after all of that...I might have at least given myself 1 new option... I can call the University and see if they recommend people outside of the school. Edit: Just wanted to add... The social worker dude did manage to help with some of the issues, more the coping side of things.. I should have given him more credit in the first post... I haven't been anywhere near as depressed since I've moved back out here as I have been in the past over the years, but the anxiety is still running rampant as ever and my friendship/relationship situation hasn't changed/improved at all. Off to try and visit sleepy land again! Last edited by ValidUserName; 05-27-2009 at 04:04 AM.

05-27-2009, 07:49 AM	#5
girl friend Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: England, North Gender: Female Age: 22 Posts: 1,656	Maybe you could try talking to us guys on here for now? __________________ "I always find it uncanny when I can't understand someone in terms of myself." Sigmund Freud 'Did you know that every species of mammal has found some way to temporarily drug, inebriate or anaesthetise itself; even if its just banging its head against a rock. Its seems we all have some natural urge to just get away from ourselves for a while. I've had it for as long as i can remember.'

05-27-2009, 06:59 AM	#4
unabashed Offline Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Gender: None Specified Posts: 626	If the social worker helped you, why don't you go back to him? It isn't unusual for people to do that. People leave therapy sometimes when they are feeling a little better, or when the issues get a little tougher (or both). There would be no shame in telling him you wish to resume. A social worker or psychologist will not be able to prescribe medication, but if you trust your family doctor, he or she should be able to do that while you're seeing a counselor you trust. No medication will be perfect, and all have side-effects, so it takes time to find the one that's right for you--if you need it.