In Finding a Psychiatrist keep in mind several. It is important that the person to be knowledgeable, experienced and sensitive to your individual circumstance.
In Finding a Psychiatrist keep in mind how much experience do they have? How long have they been in practice? Do they see just kids, or do they also regularly see adolescents and adults? How comfortable are they with the population they see? Does the Psychiatrist regularly see patients with conditions similar to yours? All of these help to reassure you that the Psychiatrist you choose has treated and helped others in your individual circumstance.
When Finding a Psychiatrist some things are important to keep in mind regarding sensitivity. What is the Psychiatrist like? Does he or she put you at ease, listen to you and answer your questions? Are they in a hurry to see the next person or do they spend time with you so you don’t feel rushed? Does the Psychiatrist make you feel like you are a partner in the treatment or do they tell you what you will be doing with minimal regard to your own opinions and feelings? Is the Psychiatrist friendly, personable, and easy to talk to? Is this person someone that you can trust with your most intimate and private matters? Are they able to explain things to you in a comfortable way you can easily understand? Is this person someone you could refer to a family member or friend? All of these are important because you need to find someone who is a good fit with you.
Equally as important is knowledge. Does the Psychiatrist contribute to the community such as a Fellow or even a Distinguished Fellow of a Psychiatric Society? What is their local reputation when several people in the community are asked? Has any action been taken against the individual from a medical board? Is the Psychiatrist Board Certified in one or more specialties? Does that person talk to other peers on a regular basis and exchange ideas with them? Does the Psychiatrist stay up to date with modern practice methods and is therefore current? Is the Psychiatrist a qualified medical school graduate from a United States medical school?
Lastly, but very important to many individuals is the office atmosphere. What is the office appearance like? What is the environment like? Does it feel like a home: warm and welcoming or like a clinic: cold and distant? What is the office staff like? Are they friendly? How easy is it to schedule appointments with the office? Do you have to wait a long time in order to see the doctor? Is the office private? This is important for many people so that they won’t run into anyone they may know. All these are factors that should be considered in your search for a Psychiatrist who will be the right fit for you.
