Telephone appointment with psychiatrist

@Jane315STARX Hi Jane, all I would say is if it were me, I would personally be ringing to double check what their job is ie that they are definitely a psychiatrist and not something like a pyschological associate (some newer jobs have been created in recent years). The reason I say that is for instance, I had CBT which was extremely harmful to me cos of my CPTSD. I have also had harm caused by the physician associates (not mental health). I am not trying to make a sweeping generalisation that none of them are good but because of the severity to my mental health, I have now learned I have to protect myself from harm, especially mental health, and for me that means someone needs to truly understand and are not going to give me harmful advice, just a year or 2 training doesn't cut it. I also had counselling from a very well qualified pyscho-analytical counsellor but didn't know until it was almost too late, how that type of counselling could harm me and I then had 2 months of flashbacks/hearing things which was terrible and traumatising in itself. My lesson from that is I have to be very careful and not just allow someone 'in' who might not have the experience and knowledge to understand what I need. Our mind can be so very fragile. I wish you good luck too and send my very warmest wishes to you.

@Jane315STARX I must admit it would not bother me quite as much if they were not a consultant as long as they had definitely qualified (c 6yrs I'm sure) as a pyschiatrist and that they're not 'just' a speciality doctor or psychiatrist associate doctor. For anyone to mess about with my head again (knowing myself what I've gone through) they'd have better been committed to the 6yr training or I just wouldn't go there. I don't know for sure why someone who's trained/dedicated for 6 yrs would not have applied for Consultant roles that's the only caveat for me I'd say. I would not be afraid to ask what area they'd specialised in. Mi current 'counsellor' (I'm actually on waiting list but for IAPT Talking therapy) he assessed me on phone and I asked him if he was a psychotherapist and he said no he's a psychology associate. I'm still on waiting list after c 3 months, maybe he doesn't want to counsel me bless him I don't know. BTW, id googled job desc/spec for that job a while ago and basically wasn't that impressed as I'm not 100% sure but minimal in the way of any regulation. Apologies if I'm wrong anyone who's receiving help off them like i said earlier, not trying to make a sweeping generalisation just trying to stay safe😊

@Jane315STARX very true.👍 . Apologies BTW is was psychological wellbeing practitioner I meant for counselling not associate

if you find him on gmc register it should say he on the “ specialist register “ there’s also an option on the same page further down where you click on and it says “ this person can work at any level in NHS up to consultant “ this probably means he’s a consultant. I did the same thing with my CMHT psychiatrist and found them , they are a consultant but it made no difference because they still tried to destabilise me and lied about me, I’m not saying yours will but I’ve lost all trust in mine.

oh that’s a bit odd , the only other thing I can think of is that he registered as a dr in 2000 after medical training but is currently retraining in psychiatry. If I was you just ask him outright before anything if he’s a consultant psychiatrist , write down everything you want to say to him.