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Psychologist vs psychiatrist

Unknown userMember22 Aug 2023, 1:06 am AEST

Psychologist vs psychiatrist

About 7 weeks ago my local dr referred me to physiologist for CBT for PTSD and placed me on medication. First 2 sessions with psychologist were completely taken up with going over timeline I had typed up summarising details of each event during the last 50 years. 3rd session I was feeling upset, psychologist spent the session trying to calm me down, talking about theory behind trauma and fight, flight, fever reactions. Also talked briefly about 3 different ways people view and react to situations.

few days later I had most recent review with local gp who has doubled my med dosage. Local dr said he thinks I might be best working with psychiatrist due to my PTSD and has asked me to discuss this with my psychologist and ask her for her thoughts.

Im confused. After having seen psychologist for only 3 sessions local dr is talking about referring me to different type of therapist. I don’t understand. During the last 50years I have experienced 25+ traumatic events and have only once received some type of help which was about 15years ago and was only for couple of years mainly focusing on one specific event and my lack of ability to cope at that time.

anyone experienced similar? Any experiencing with different therapists and which was found to be the most helpful?

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In response to: Psychologist vs psychiatrist

RollonContributor20 Mar 2024, 2:55 am AEDT

Re: Psychologist vs psychiatrist

Hi,

Have suffered depression, anxiety, loneliness, sadness my entire life. I am now 65 I miss my psychiatrist that I had been seeing for just a little while, she helped with everything imaginable with treatments etc but she has retired. I thought I was going to get somewhere, she tried me on so many drugs but all failed. I tried TMS very expensive and I did not respond to it. Then medicinal THC oil, again just drowsiness not a cure, then it was going to be mushrooms or Esketamine. I have seen Phycologists and they were never able to help, they sent me on a course of CBT but nothing changed me. The second last psychiatrist gave up on me and put me in the too hard basket and just said I am an unhappy person and I was devastated. I had quite a breakdown involving my son, just recently, who we have done everything for him as he is an addict since 14 and now is in his late 40's. I got into my GP the next day and was an emotional wreck, he gave me a couple of quick acting drugs to settle me down and suggested going to talk to an Analologist as it was going to be a long time to get into see or find a new Psychiatrist. Well never again, the cost was unbelievable for me to sit in a room while he goes through the story of my life analysing me. I lasted six visits and for me to pay hundreds of dollars to sit in some posh room, knowing he has a business in the city as well and fancy home down the coast. Just could not justify paying him hundreds of dollar for absolutely nothing. When I get out of the misery rut I am in I have to find and prefer a female Psychiatrist as I have seen three males over the years and they were terrible.

In response to: Re: Psychologist vs psychiatrist

PeppyPattiSenior Contributor19 July 2025, 12:49 am AEST

Re: Psychologist vs psychiatrist

Hi @Rollon

I'm 57 and iv been seeing a therapist for over 23 years but in the last day year IV started feeling uncomfortable.

@Snowie @NatureLover @Jojo-Dakota @Former-Member @AuntGlow

She was dissing my husband - in our session and within this year - iv been noticing her luxurious home where she practices from, her way of life.

I emailed her and she starts ' iv done nothing wrong but I wrote her exact words and she apologised.

I still feel that thing don't know what it is, I'm not jealous or anything ...

NDIS took over her payments about 4 - 5 years ago which helped me incredibly.

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