My shrink spent the whole session talking about himself

[RagingInMiami]

And for this, I paid $175 cause my insurance won't cover it.
And when he wasn't talking about himself, he was talking on his cell phone. He answered two calls while I was in there.
The only reason I go to this guy is because he writes me my prescription for Adderall, which I take for ADHD. My primary physician refuses to write this prescription, so I'm forced to go to the psychiatrist. But Adderall is a controlled substance, meaning I can't get refills. I have to get a new prescription every month.
But what the fuck, I don't want to pay this guy to listen to him talk about himself.

[jdots]

1. send the creep a bill

i went to a guy ( 40$ a session) about 8 times who asked me about audio gear and if i could make him a sound proof mask so his snoring wouldn't bother his wife.I have become the shrink's shrink a bunch of times,this clown you go to needs you to not pay him and find a way to get him drummed out of the bizz.

[RagingInMiami]

2. I would have said something but I 'm depending on him to write my scrips

and ever since moving back to miami a few months ago, I've had so much trouble finding someone who will do that. I even had to go off the medication for a while, which really sucked.

[EFerrari]

3. That's just not okay

What are your options for replacing this guy?

(Okay, that's me reacting.)

Depending where you live, the city or county have good docs on a list. Or, if you're already paying in blood to see a shrink, get a good referral.

We went through about five before we found a careful, thoughtful doc who'd we both go on TV for. Don't settle for this.

(Okay, that's me reacting, again :) )

Keep us posted,
Beth

[skygazer]

4. I can so relate to this story

It's so difficult to find a doctor, especially a loony doctor (no offense -that's always been what i called them). I was looking for a shrink when I first moved here and a friend recommended one guy - I saw him a couple of times but he was one of those guys who, instead of letting me work through what I was feeling, kept offering solutions. For instance, when I talked about how emotionally difficult it is for me to not be able to see my son (long story), he would offer all these practical ideas ("why don't you get a lawyer?" "why don't you do this?" "why don't you do that?"). Of course, I'd tried all those avenues and I finally told him that if I was looking for legal advice, I'd go to a lawyer but I was looking for emotional help. :grr:

So I asked my GP to refer me to someone and she sent me to this crackpot woman who listened to me for a while and then told me that I needed to put my life in the hands of Jesus. :nuke: I should have known because I'm not happy with my GP in the first place but how the hell do you shop for a doc that you can trust? You don't know until you see them and to keep changing until you find the right one is really tedious and, when you suffer from depression or other similar problems, draining and stressful.

So I don't have a therapist now - I just go through life nuts on my own. Luckily, I'm not dependent on any meds, though - if I was, I would be doing what you are. Putting up with some jerk so I could get what I needed. It sucks.

[mdmc]

5. I used to see a psychologist that used to eat things out of his hair

it was the weirdest thing ever!

I would be ranting about some obsession, suffering from anxiety and hopelessness, and the would play with his hair. Occasionally, he would "pick" something out of his hair, examine it in his fingers, then eat it.

Perhaps it was part of his treatment strategy for me... He was a pretty good counselor...

[autorank]

6. Not a good sign.

First, you're paying for how much time 25 min 50 min? You should only be paying for a brief meds session, 15 min or so. If it's an hour, that's not normal for psychostimulants. In addition, you should hear very little biographical or lifestyle information from your mental health professional. Practitioners who focus on you and gather and analyze information for your benefit have "good boundaries." You want someone like this. Get a new primary. It's not rocket science to fill these scripts or get someone who is in-plan or something like that. Sorry to hear about this.

[yardwork]

7. Find a new shrink - this one is totally unprofessional

Good psychiatrists rarely talk about themselves. They should be much too busy listening to you and helping you.

It is also unprofessional for any health care provider to accept a phone call during a session with a patient.

I suggest that you tell your primary physician what is happening, and ask for a list of other psychiatrists. Adderall is not an unusual med - my son takes it. You can find better psychiatrists who will provide you with the meds and the care that you need and deserve

Good luck and good hunting!

[Sgent]

9. Phone calls

Although I generally agree with what your saying, the phone call issue can be a little problematic, espicially for psychiatrists. If they are the p-doc on call, or have inpatients, they very well may have to interrupt a session to take a page/call. Its unfortunate, but I wouldn't go as far to say its unprofessional.

[yardwork]

10. If this were an isolated rural area I would agree

but this poster lives in Miami. In any large city a good psychiatrist should be part of a call-coverage group that allows uninterrupted patient visits.

I live in a much less densely populated area, and in more than five years my psychiatrist has never, ever interrupted a session by taking a phone call.

My psychiatrist never, ever talks about herself, either. In fact, when I attempted small talk during our first session she gently explained that she wouldn't be discussing personal details about her life with me, because our relationship was not that of friendship.

[Kire]

8. write to the licensing board

and don't even think you're writing out of anger and you're mentally ill, and you have an ax to grind...this guy is a danger to himself and others...get that mantra in your head as you write the letter...that is the next right thing...don't be aggressive, but don't be passive either, don't let him go on unchallenged,

rebuke him

[steve2470]

11. #1 - Confront him. #2 - If he and you do not agree, fire him

What he is doing is unethical, IMHO. I'm not a shrink but I know enough about them to render that opinion. 99.99% of the session should be focused on you. I don't say 100% because occasionally a good shrink may use a personal story to help you.