“A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety & have traits of PTSD. My therapist is a lovely person but I feel as if she isn’t asking the right questions to fully uncover how I’m feeling. I feel like my problems are being downplayed, as if I don’t have a problem. How do I go about getting referred to a different psychologist?” Brylie
Thank you for your question Brylie. I have answered a similar question previously. Please see the April 2019 Question and my response. I wanted to answer your question as well as I believe it is an important and common concern.
There are two paths to take in a situation such as yours. First is to try to stick with your current Psychologist and the second is to find a new Psychologist.
Some of the reasons to stick with your current Psychologist were outlined in my April 2019 Question. These include learning skills in working through difficulties in relationships and also learning how to get the best out of people (even people who you might feel may not have asked the right questions etc). Some of the most powerful changes I have seen occur in my clients have often occurred at times when they may have been frustrated or even angry at me but were able to keep attending sessions and we were able to work through these feelings. However, there are also times where the fit with a Psychologist does not work and in this case, it may be better to discuss this with your Psychologist and then find a new Psychologist.
A big part of therapy is timing. As your diagnosis is relatively recent your Psychologist may be giving you time to understand this or it may be that your Psychologist is trying to help you build skills before asking further questions. I would encourage you to tell your Psychologist that you do not feel the right questions are being asked. Your Psychologist may be able to modify their questioning or bring forward some questions.
If you take the second path to find a new Psychologist, it is important to inform your previous Psychologist so they can also learn from the situation and your feedback. Ideally, they will provide a written summary to your next Psychologist of the work you have completed together. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you will need to make another appointment with your GP to have the referral information changed.
As with any situation there are risks and benefits associated with taking either path. You will need to weigh these up to make the best decision for your situation.
