We ask our friends for recommendations for doctors, dentists, babysitters, hairdressers, real estate agents and just about anything and everything else BUT we are shy, embarrassed and hesitant about asking for a referral of a “good therapist”. And then there’s the question as to what type of mental health professional we should seek out. Dr. Barry Lubetkin sheds some light on this subject today.
Mental Health Awareness Ribbon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
People are often very confused about who to seek out for mental health diagnosis,therapy, counseling and medication. And once some professional has been chosen,how does one know that this is the right person for them. Unfortunately often, because of the stigma that still is associated with the need for Psychiatric or Psychological help, friends recommendations are often replaced by random choices from impersonal insurance provider lists.
These are the categories of mental health professionals:
Psychologists PhD or PsyD: A minimum of 4 years post college graduate training plus a 1 year clinical internship. Specializing in providing various types of psychotherapy and diagnostic assessment. An ABPP distinction after their degree signifies advanced competence in their particular specialty.
Psychiatrists MD: A minimum of 4 years post college Medical School, plus a 1 year internship and at least a 2 year residency in Psychiatry, specializing in diagnosis and psychopharmacology treatment of mental disorders. Fewer and fewer Psychiatrists spend their time providing hour-long psychotherapy sessions.
Social Workers: MSW, LCSW, DSW: A minimum of 2 post college years, plus at least 1 year of intense clinical practicum training.
Mental Health Counselors. CMHC, LMHC: A minimum of 2 post college years to earn the Masters degree in their specialty,and at least 2000 hours of intense supervised clinical training.
When choosing a therapist, you must ask yourself whether you have “chemistry” with the professional…? Are you feeling understood, not intimidated, trusting? And most importantly, does this person have the requisite training and experience to deal with your particular problem? Don’t be afraid to ask what specialized advanced workshops or training programs they have taken pertaining to your particular problem…Have they treated people with your problems before…? How long should you expect to be in treatment?
In this most important of all medical endeavor…exploring your mind, you need to be a smart and knowledgeable consumer. I am available at IBT104@aol.com for further guidance.
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