In general, most people are happy to tell you the name of their favorite foot doctor or eye specialist. But when you say the word bipolar, you will hear silence in the background. Talking about a psychiatrist is much harder for people than talking about their gynecologist or their dermatologist.
It is not completely impossible to discover how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you. It will just take some patience, persistence and some work on your part to find your answers.
You may have a suspicion that you have a mental illness and need professional help or you are wanting to switch from your current psychiatrist. Below you will find tangible ways of how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you that will help you live a full life with your mental illness.
Ask your Family Doctor
Usually when you come into your family doctor’s office and your illness is beyond his scope of knowledge, he writes a referral to a cardiologist or an endocrinologist or maybe even a nutritionist. With all his connections, he should know at least one psychiatrist or at least get you started on how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.
If you are a woman and go to your gynecologist for your primary care needs, then maybe she is the one you can talk to. In my quest to find a new psychiatrist, I actually asked my gynecologist for referrals. I trust her opinion and know that whomever she referred was a top rated doctor. Besides, I wanted to stay in the same hospital network of physicians that she is in.
Call your Insurance Company
It is a benefit to you to find a psychiatrist in your insurance company’s network. It is cost efficient to you and this psychiatrist might even work with other doctors in the same network. Your doctors coming together to work as a team could help the holistic treatment of your body.
If you choose to look at a doctor in-network, ask for more information about the doctor. Be sure to ask the following:
- if the doctor is board certified;
- information on her level of experience;
- ask if she is taking on new patients;
- hours and days the psychiatrist is available to see patients;
- is the psychiatrist easily accessible; and
- inquire about any areas of subspecialty like mood disorders, anxiety.
The more information you can gather from each name, the easier it will be on you in completing the process of how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.
Check with your Therapist
If you are already in treatment and have a therapist, ask him if he knows any psychiatrists that he would refer to you. He may have a wealth of contacts in the mental health community and knows the inside scoop on who would be a good fit for you. He might also have some advice on how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.
Go online
When searching online for names of doctors in the mental health field, use established, professional websites provided by a local medical society or a specialty society:
WedMD at http://doctor.webmd.com/
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) at http://findapro.dbsapages.org
Consult your Support Group
You may be involved in a support group, self-help or therapy group, 12-step program or an advocacy group. These places are gold mines for gathering names for doctors to try out and doctors names to stay away from. People at these places are always ready to give their two-cents worth on their current doctor or former doctors. These people have been there and done it — sometimes multiple times and have mastered the ropes and can show you how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.
How to Find a Psychiatrist that is Right for You
As you can see, there are many paths you can take to get to your destination. You may jump online one night, find a psychiatrist, call his office the next day and get an appointment within the next month. Or you may have to call fifteen doctors from your online list, get names from your insurance company’s website and talk to your friends at your support group before you find one. Finding a doctor is a process. It can be slow or it can be fast. Be patient and do not give up. One day you will be giving advice on how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.
References:
Fink, Candida MD and Kraynak, Joe MA; Bipolar Disorder for Dummies 3rd Edition; pp.76-78.