I was thinking about why I think my pdoc is such a great pdoc...and I thought it might be helpful to others who may be looking for a psychaitrist to see the kinds of things that have mad a difference to me:
1) He is NEVER judgemental...no matter how bizarre my behaviour, or how "unacceptable" I feel my behaviour has been...not once has he ever said I did something wrong.
2) He listens. Not the kind of listening where he is just waiting to tell me his perspective...but the deep listening that occurs even when I am silent and unable to speak. He waits, never interrupts, let's me find the time and the place to say what I need to say.
3) He never TELLS me what to do. He provides me with information, he makes suggestions and we talk about options, but in the end all the decisions are left to me. I feel autonomous and respected because of this. I also feel like he believes I am intelligent enough to make my own decisions. Also, I own the decisions I make. If they don't work...well then we discuss that and hopefully I will have learned something.
4) He is knowledgeable. Especially important to me as I have had depression that has been extraordinarily treatment resistant. I feel he is up on all the latest information and provides me with that info.
5) He is open to many kinds of treatments and therapies. I sense that his motto is do whatever helps, whatever works. While medication is a big part of getting well...it is not the only thing needed. I feel he isn't stuck in believing only in the biological aspects of mood disorders like some psychiatrists. He treats the whole person. He values therapy, believes alternative therapies like meditation and yoga can help alleviate some of the symptoms (like anxiety, irritability and difficulty sleeping), he understands that the body needs good food and exercise to help it get well and takes the time to discuss what this means. I feel he understands the need to make lifestyle changes as well...to address the psycho/social aspects of the depression for instance.
6) He genuinely cares about his patients. This is obvious in how he interacts with me, how he has made himself available, how he remembers the things I tell him, and just in the way he generally is when I am in my therapy sessions.
This is an excellent post and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to put such a thoughtful piece together. While reading your post, I found myself nodding my head as I went along with you. I realized just how lucky I've been with my PDoc. She and I go back almost 5 years now and I've liked her from the start. Now I have concrete words to go with my emotional assumptions. Thank you.
"A writer does his thing totally alone" J.N. Williamson
Perhaps I was non-compliant. What finally helped me the most with my primary therapist was that he didtell me what to do. If I was given the reigns I would have and did with many treating psych's tromped all over them. I was very well experienced at my game - it was a survival instinct after years of playing the insurance game. It took a very keen observer to see my combatedness as more than a client wanting to stabilize and lead a productive life. As you know, he found much more.
So there is where I differ. I believe the therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist should always be the one to make the decisions. That is not to say I should not have my opinion - we always discus the "why's". They are the ones who have the experience and hopefully know what is best in my care. Of course the client has the decision to shop around to find a good "fit" also.
I agree with both duffy and aqua. In the beginning of my treatment my pdoc had to be the one in total control. I'm bipolar II, borderline personality disorder, and DID. I would completely play him if he didn't take control. And I assure you it wasn't easy for him, I fought him all the way. I was horrible. Mean and nasty I'm sure is a correct term. But he was patient with me and after months and months of treatment I began to improve. Now his style is totally different. Its more relaxed. We trust each other now. He knows I want to get better, I wont lie to him about my feelings, or my moods. I trust his judgment completely now as well. Just this week I received a letter from his office stating that as of August he is closing his outpatient practice. I see him next Wednesday and at that time he will refer me to ano pdoc. I'm not looking forward to changing doc's after 3yrs. I'll miss him and the relationship we have developed over time. He has been a great doctor to me and I'd like to call him a friend.
What makes a good psychiatrist
Posted - 05/29/2005 : 20:07:11
I see him next Wednesday and at that time he will refer me to ano pdoc. I'm not looking forward to changing doc's after 3yrs. I'll miss him and the relationship we have developed over time. He has been a great doctor to me and I'd like to call him a friend.
