If you've seen a psychologist/iatrist...

Shweensickle · December 2009

What was it like? Did it help? I always felt weary of seeing a therapist... do they just sit there and listen to me vent for an hour? What kind of suggestions did they have?

Temp449052375008045 · December 2009

It is all about finding the right match for you. I went to one session because I was in denial about my PPD. My counselor listened to me vent for an hour. I didn't feel like anything constructive was happening. Little did I know that talking about it was actually therapeutic.

Rachel2315 · December 2009

Honestly, I prefer pscyhologists or social workers over psychiatrists. When I've seen psychiatrists I get the 10 minute session with a "what med do you want?" to finish. The psychologists and social workers seem more willing to have the traditional psychotherapy/talk therapy.

(Some of this may be professional bias - I am a social worker)

msalinardi@live.com · December 2009

I wouldn't have made it without my therapist. Granted, I already had a relationship with her. I have been seeing her on and off for 4 years. My dd was born 14 weeks early and I shut down emotionally. She helped me work through all my emotions and all my guilt about her. She gave me a place to say everything and anything that i wanted to say. she then helped me look at my feelings realistically and rationally. I defiently recommend seeing a therapist if you are depressed. My DH just started to see a therapist and I know he wishes he had gone sooner because it has helped him so much.

farrellashleigh · December 2009

Not exactly sure what would go on in your session. I'm lucky my mom is a psychotherapist so I get "free" counseling anytime I call her sobbing lol! And I totally agree with the PP, psychiatrists are known as the MED docs, they're more into giving you a script instead of using cognitive behavioral modification techniques, which is what a tradtional therapist (psychologist, psychotherapist) uses.

I know some of the things that we talk about are like processing your feelings and she prompts questions to me to help me understand WHY I may be feeling that way and then offers outside non-biased opinions on the fact that my feelings may not be rational. Then we go through and process new techniques, and ways to shift your perceptions, ways to interrupt your thought processes. Things like that. Re-working your thinking framework, turning negatives into positives, etc.

It also helps just to be able to talk to someone and it helps to be able to talk to someone who is not consumed with the situation, they truly offer a non-biased unskewed view of things, and it makes you kind of say "Yea seriously, why am I freaking out about this... it really isn't too big of a deal that the baby cries occassionally- babies cry" or something to that effect... I'd certainly recommend it, what have you got to lose right?

sam19 · December 2009

My psychiatrist did nothing but a routine exam and prescribed me medication. I suggest seeking a counselor. They will be able to get to see you sooner and I think are better trained in the listening aspects. They listen to what you have to say, give suggestions, ask questions to help you open up, and set up some goals that you would like to accomplish and give you some tools to accomplish those goals.

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If you've seen a psychologist/iatrist...

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