(Newswire.net–May 13, 2013) Beverly Hills, CA –Mental health practitioners come in different kinds from counsellors, psychologists to psychiatrists. According to the American Psychiatric Association, a psychiatrist is a medical physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses, including substance abuse and addiction.
Psychiatrists are uniquely qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological disturbance. Their medical education gives them a full working knowledge of the many causes for a patient’s feelings and symptoms. With this, psychiatrists can make a complete, accurate diagnosis and then recommend or provide treatment.
The reasons to seek psychiatric help are many and the symptoms are numerous. However, no mental illness diagnosis should be considered without a thorough examination. But when it’s time to get help, an important first step in the treatment process is finding a psychiatrist who’s right for you.
When choosing a psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, it is important to select a professional you are comfortable with and can connect with on a personal level. Here are some questions to keep in mind.
- Can you trust this person with your feelings?
- Do you feel like you are being validated and heard?
- Do you feel like they are trying to understand you?
- Do you feel like they care about your situation?
- Do they observe professional boundaries?
- Are they sensitive to your ethnic background or sexual orientation?
- Are they up front about fees?
When you visit the psychiatrist, they should ask about your background, family, habits, and general health and should ask why you think you need treatment. They will want to know when you last had a complete physical examination, may ask to see your medical records, and may ask your permission to consult with your personal physician. You should feel free to ask questions about fees, appointment flexibility, cancellation policy, and insurance form processing.
There are medications for a variety of disorders and they tend to work relatively quickly and help relieve symptoms. There is also psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy. Therapy takes more time, is more work intensive but the rewards tend to be greater and more permanent.
Some psychiatrists in Beverly Hills offer both therapy and prescriptive medication. This makes treatment flexible as there are no separate visits to see your therapist and your medication-only prescribing psychiatrist.
Once you have found a psychiatrist in Beverly Hills with whom you are comfortable, you’ve finished the first part of the treatment process. The second part—working together with your Beverly Hills psychiatrist to understand and manage your illness.
It is best to look around before you settle for one. To speak with a psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, CA call (888) 995-0608. Talk to them on the phone, and see if you are comfortable talking with them on the phone before making an appointment.
“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” M. Scott Peck quotes (American psychiatrist and Author, 1936–2005)