Psychiatrists only see seriously mentally ill people. That's not me. I need counseling.
Psychiatrists can see anyone with any sort of psychological problem, from mild to severe.
Do you take insurance?
Sorry, I do not. This is a direct pay practice.
I thought all psychiatrists are good for is prescribing medication.
Unfortunately our culture is awash with the message that a pill will fix everything, and that the sole purpose of a psychiatrist is to give a DSM diagnosis and prescribe medications. That is checklist psychiatry, not real psychiatry. Real psychiatry is about understanding what makes you tick, about really seeing you as a person, and helping you do something with this understanding in order to live a better life. Real psychiatry takes place between two people. Made by humans, for humans.
As for medications: some medications work very well, sometimes, for certain things. Many are no more effective than a sugar pill, and are prescribed more out of a push to 'do something' then because this is something that really works.
The best treatment for most things is to truly connect with a competent psychotherapist and have a private and safe place to talk.
I have a chemical imbalance in the brain.
There is no such thing. It's a pharma marketing myth.
But. Chemical imbalance. What do you mean it doesn't exist. It is known!
It's fake news. I've tired of explaining this over the years, to no avail, so...Google is your friend...sorry...
But you DO prescribe medications, right?
Yes, sometimes, when indicated, when benefit is greater than risk.
Other than talking, what else can help me?
A major goal of talking about your situation is to be better able to change your external circumstances, if they are the cause of your suffering.
Another thing you can do - and this is the closest thing we have to a panacea - is exercise.
Time in nature is healing.
Puppies.
Meditation.
But the greatest healing force of all is probably time...
©2023 Daria Inbar, M.D.