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Tips for Selecting the Right Psychiatrist
Deciding to get help for your mental health issues is no easy task, but it’s an essential step toward overcoming your struggles. Working with a psychiatrist is not a one-size-fits-all solution. To be successful, you must take your time to find the right psychiatrist who will meet your needs. How do you know if you have found the right adult psychiatrist? Use the tips below to simplify your search and choose the best mental health professional.
Ask for Referrals
Begin your search by talking to your primary care physician. They will be able to provide you with a referral list of psychiatrists who may be able to help you. You can also ask your family, friends, and other health care providers for their recommendations too. Do a little bit of preliminary research to learn more about each potential psychiatrist. You will quickly find that there are many kinds of practices and subspecialties. Use your research to narrow down your list to a few top contenders. Once you have a whittled your list to a few hopefuls, schedule consultations with all of them so you can meet them in person, ask any questions you have, and determine if they are a good fit.
Check Their Credentials
When choosing a psychiatrist, one of the most important factors to consider is their credentials, and more specifically, their board certification. This lets you know if the doctor has the proper training, experience, and skills needed to practice psychiatry. Additionally, you should ask them where they went to medical school, what hospital they did their training at, if they have any certifications, and whether or not they have a history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions.
Consider Their Experience
During your initial consultation, gauge the psychiatrist’s experience. The more experience they have treating conditions similar to yours, the better off you will be. Ask them how long they have been treating patients with your condition and how many patients they have treated. If you need a specific treatment, be sure to talk to them about their experience with it.
Determine What Your Insurance Covers
One of the major hurdles that hold people back from seeking the proper mental health help is money. Take a look at your insurance plan and see if it covers appointments with psychiatrists. To get the most from your insurance benefits and pay the least out of pocket, you may need to find a psychiatrist in your network. Your insurer should be able to provide you a list of psychiatrists who accept your insurance. From there, you can compare their credentials, experience, and other qualities to find a doctor who will suit your financial and mental health needs.
Gauge Their Communication Style
Though experience and professional credentials are important, you also need to find a psychiatrist who you will be comfortable talking to and sharing some of the most intimate parts of yourself with. It can take months or even years to build a relationship based on trust with your psychiatrist. So, trust your gut when it comes to their communication style. With a little bit of effort, you can find a doctor who will be interested in getting to know you, respect your choices, support you, and consider your treatment preferences.
Are you looking for a new psychiatrist? Dr. Prasanti Tatini, MD, in Tallahassee, FL, is here to help. Reach out to us at Florida First Psychiatry Specialist to learn more.
Florida First Psychiatry Specialist
Dr. Prasanti Tatini, Psychiatrist
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