Executive Chronicles | Top 3 Factors to Consider When Picking a Psychiatrist | When you’re in the midst of a mental health issue, it feels like there’s nothing out there that can help you. The truth is that you’re not alone. In fact, over 13 percent of Americans regularly take anti-depressants to help improve their mental health.
In order to find the right medication for you, it’s important to seek out the help of an experienced psychiatrist. When it comes to picking a psychiatrist, many people feel overwhelmed by their options. Thankfully, we’ve compiled a list of a few ways to help you navigate your options for psychiatrists.
Read on to learn how to find the best one for you!
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Get a Referral
The best way to find an excellent psychiatrist is by asking for a referral. There are a couple of different ways in which you can get referrals.
The first is to go through your primary care physician, or your child’s pediatrician when you’re looking for a psychiatrist for kids. They often have professional relationships with psychiatrists and can point you in the direction of one that is well-qualified. They can also help you find one that accepts your insurance.
If you aren’t worried about insurance, you can ask for referrals from trusted friends and family members.
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Review Their Credentials
Before making an appointment with a psychiatrist, it’s important to take the time to ensure that they have solid credentials. Reviewing credentials ensures that you’re visiting a psychiatrist who has the right training and experience to treat you for mental health conditions.
Psychiatrists generally require at least years of training after finishing up their undergraduate degrees, including a four-year residency and an optional board certification every ten years. Spend some time reviewing potential psychiatrists’ educational records and their residency to ensure that their training is in line with what you’re looking for.
It’s also important to verify that they do not have any disciplinary actions on their records.
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Have an Introductory Session Before Picking a Psychiatrist
You’re likely to going to wind up with a handful of potential psychiatrists who are well-qualified to help you. The thing is, not every psychiatrist is going to be the right fit for you, even if they have the best education and training behind them.
For this reason, it’s important to ask for an intro session to determine if they’re a good fit for you or your child. If you don’t feel comfortable with one psychiatrist, then it’s time to move on to another one.
Finding the Right Psychiatrist Is Important
Picking a psychiatrist isn’t as simple as Googling psychiatrists in your area. You want to find one who has plenty of experience with psychiatry and whose personality makes you feel comfortable. Take your time finding the right one, you won’t regret it.
Caring for yourself is not always easy. You have to make sure that you’re taking a holistic approach to your health, incorporating elements of nutrition, exercise, and mental health. If you’re looking for more information about how you can improve your health, take a minute to check out the rest of our blog!
