My PsychTherapist has referred me to a Psychologist

eyesopen · 26-08-2011, 07:56 PM

Does this mean I'm crazy? Or too much for her?
I feel like I'm out in the wild with all this. I didn't go to a GP for over ten years and the last few months since I got help to go to a GP still feels immediate and uncomfortable.
Trying to work out how they see me means I've never relaxed.
It felt like she didn't want me in that office and I have no idea what's next, what she can't do but a psychologist can? Noones really talked, they've asked simplistic questions and not given many opinions, I don't even know what's wrong with me yet, I don't even know if I'm supposed to know :/
Feel detached. I don't know. Like I'm just going from one thing to the next, no real control, no real aim, no real hope.

Anyone got any advice about psychologists? How is it different.

ems · 26-08-2011, 08:37 PM

firstly, don't panic, psychiatrists are mainly (if not entirely) only there to prescribe meds, that is their only role. Psychologists are there to offer talking therapies, they spend longer with you, can offer a variety of therapies that I'm guessing they think will help you. Oh and you're not crazy

silent_scars11 · 26-08-2011, 11:01 PM

First off, you're not crazy. You might be surprised how common it is to switch therapists during this whole mental health recovery thing. I myself have had to go to several different therapists until I found one that seemed to work for me.

I actually see both a psychiatrist and a psychologist, but the psychologist far more regularly. The psychiatrist, as ems said, is pretty much there for prescribing meds.

And I don't think you should take being referred to a psychologist personally, as maybe it's just because the therapist doesn't feel he/she is adequately trained to give you the help you need. Which doesn't mean you're a problem case by any means - it just means that all doctors have their specialties and perhaps the one you weren't seeing has a different one than what you need.

My last therapist really wanted to help me, but she didn't feel she could give me the support I needed in terms of my self-injury, so she also recommended I look for another psychologist. It wasn't because she thought I was crazy or beyond help, but because she knew there were other people out there who could help me, and she didn't want to waste my time knowing she couldn't. It may very well be a similar situation for you.

Please don't despair and just try to go to this new psychologist with an open mind. And please let us know how it goes!

*Thinking of you*

Margo · 30-08-2011, 04:43 PM

I cant figure if you mean you have been referred to a psychotherapist by the psychiatrist? quite rightly the above have stated that sht iatrist will dispense medication primarily and the ologist will do the talking therapies!

Firstly mad people dont ask if they are mad! Mad people simply are mad and have no clue and would class themselves the most normal in the world!

Secondly it IS scary and most of us have been through it. If your GP requests you see a psychiatrist it will be because they can provide a more accurate assessment of your symptoms and refer you for the correct treatment. In extreme cases this can mean hospitalisation but only if your life/health or the lives of others are at risk. If you are being referred to a psychologist then this will be beacuase you may need someone to talk to about your problems and feelings.

I would give a word of caution on that i see you are from the UK and the waiting list for psychotherapy can be very long. You can wait weeks or months for an assessment and then futher weeks or months to be seen for treatment.

Its natural to be scared and its natural to be worried abut what will happen to you. Its more healthy to feel like this than to not give a damn!

Good luck!

eyesopen · 04-09-2011, 09:39 PM

I don't have it in me to come back here often but I appreciate the replies, reading them, can be upsetting but I do need it.

akita · 05-09-2011, 08:19 AM

A psychologist spends an hour with you talking therapy whereas a psychiatrist only spends about 15 minutes with you to ask how your medication is going.

silent_scars11 · 06-09-2011, 05:38 AM

If it makes you feel any better, I'm currently seeing two psychologists at the same practice, as well as a psychiatrist from someplace else. And I don't think I'm crazy at the moment.

I'm finding that it's actually really common for someone to see both a psychologist and a psychiatrist - Flik Flak is completely right about how it generally works. I understand your concern, but everything should work out fine and it's really a pretty routine thing in therapy.

eyesopen · 06-09-2011, 10:43 AM

It's so far out of my routine which has really been longer than a decade, that it's bewildering lol, it's hard to take it all in. I get the vibe that it's normal from them but I'm really trying to read these people then I'm off to another one and every time I have to go through my story/stories and it's hard y'know, mentally draining. I'm trying though, thanks for the replies. I hope at some point to have the strength to offer support to others on here in the same way.