How much time???

[Alaskamomma]

When you are with your psych doc... typically, how much time do you spend with him/her?

Reason I ask that I took my daughter to see hers today and he spent less than 5 minutes with us and this was only our second visit to see him.

I was a little on the outraged side, but held my tongue. And just how much does he get paid????

And last week I met with my new psych doc and he spent less than 10 minutes with me and put me on yet another med. Does this seem right to anyone?

 

[madison1101]

Hi,
I understand your frustration. I have had psychiatrists who only saw me for 10 minutes. These are typically medication checks and they are usually docs who work in managed mental health care, in practices contracted with the insurance companies.

My doc is in private practice, and I pay him out of pocket. I see him for 30 solid minutes, but pay him $80 for that half hour. My sister sees hers for an hour, at $180 and hour. For her, it is a weekly psychotherapy session. Mine is a medication check every 6-8 weeks. I see my psychotherapist almost weekly.

Do you have a separate therapist in addition to the psychiatrist?

Hugs,
Trish

 

[Soulwings]

I, as Trish does, see my NP for half an hour. However, we pay $75 out of pocket, and insurance pays the rest (I don't want to know how much that is....). It doesn't seem right that your pdoc sees you for that amount of time... seeing my NP is somewhat of a therapy session. She asks about everything that's been going on lately, mostly checking up on mood and stuff, but also asks how things with my nutritionist are going, how things are going with my T, etc., etc. Maybe you should seek out a different pdoc if this one upsets you so much??

Praying for you, love.

 

[bsd13]

A psychopharmacologist will spend very little time with you. They're just going to ask a few questions to gauge the medicine's effectiveness. If need be they'll adjust dosing. If you want counseling you need to go to a psychologist or a psychiatrist. If you are and they're only spending 5 or 10 minutes with you then it is time to find a new one.

 

[pentecostalgirl0414]

When you are with your psych doc... typically, how much time do you spend with him/her?

Reason I ask that I took my daughter to see hers today and he spent less than 5 minutes with us and this was only our second visit to see him.

I was a little on the outraged side, but held my tongue. And just how much does he get paid????

And last week I met with my new psych doc and he spent less than 10 minutes with me and put me on yet another med. Does this seem right to anyone?

My psych doc used to spend about 10 minutes with me before they had to stop seeing me. (Insurance so I am without a doctor and a therapist and NO meds either. bleh.)

Many psych docs don't spend loads of time with you. I think that is why most people see a counselor or therapist in addition to them.

 

[RedheadedPrincess]

My psych doc only spends 10-15 minutes with me. I usually book the last apt so if it requires a little more time he is not rushed to see the next patient. I get a little extra time that way. I also see a counselor twice a month in addition to the meds.

 

[Alive again]

So I definitely have something else to be thankful for. With my private insurance, I have an outside referral for my med management with a pdoc. I either schedule and hour or half hour and see her on ave about once every month or two, though relatively stable on my meds. I do not use my insurance for counseling though and pay for it out of pocket aand can only afford to go monthly.

My hubby with same insurance an ddepression sees his AMHNP for about 15 minutes once a year. SIGH!

 

[michael714]

I see my psychiatrist 30 minutes for 110.00, all of which I pay out of pocket.
Then there's the fun of having to pay for the medication...

 

[rickr1955]

I am a veteran, following a finger amputation at work with no insurance I could no longer afford private care and meds. $85 pr 1/2 hr weekly and another $85 for 1 hour therapy twice a month. Then of course the meds on top. I went into the VA healthcare system. Excellent care at our place in CT. All the Docs there are from Yale. All prescriptions are $8.00 each, office visits $15. I see both a psychiatrist for 1/2 hr and a psychologist/therapist for 1 hr every week. It also made my hospitalization really cheap. If any are Vets, check it out. My private shrink told me some of the best gravitate to VA's because we're the highest demographic with mental illnesses.

 

[Alaskamomma]

I have taken myself and my daughter to new psych docs and boy are they really great. They ask a lot of questions, they are willing to listen and they aren't quick to push more meds. It took some time to find them, but really feel blessed that we have and that our insurance is paying for it. My heart goes out to you guys that have to pay out of pocket.

 

[4Everloved]

I have taken myself and my daughter to new psych docs and boy are they really great. They ask a lot of questions, they are willing to listen and they aren't quick to push more meds. It took some time to find them, but really feel blessed that we have and that our insurance is paying for it. My heart goes out to you guys that have to pay out of pocket.

This is really good news!