Help...Psychologist Vs Physcotherapist VS Councillor

In Limbo

HI all,

I am going anon on this as a few people on this know me.

I need answers to a few questions and hopefully someone can help me out.

For the past few years i have been feeling really down and depressed even though on the outside looking in all would seem fine. I eventually built up the courage to go to my GP who was very supportive. He put me on a dose of anti Depressants. I am currently trying to fine the ones that work for me best.

Having recently read Gareth O Callaghan's A day Called Hope book i have changed my thinking slightly and now belief that talking to someone might really help. However i am confused about where to start. What is the difference between a Psychologist, Psycotherapist, Psychiatrist, councillor, CBT, behavioral therapist. There seems to be so many of these similar names out there and i am wondering who is the best for me to speak too?

I am determined to beat this as i feel i have the right to a happy life but just don't know where to start. I know talking will help alongside the meds most likely but just need a bit of direction.

Sorry about the long windedness. Any help would be really appreciated

Torakx

thats a tough call and i wouldnt like to say incase i am mistaken.
having said that i will leave my thoughts

however i will say you should check your diet and medical history to make sure that isnt the cause.
i suffered with candida for a long time and was depressed for no "apparent" reason. i used to tell my doctor i didnt know why i was depressed i had everything going for me at those times. i just was.
so sometimes health problems can cause symptoms like depression.
i found it was handy to look at all the medical things i had wrong at the time and cross check it online for free.like symptoms checkers etc.

if it should be non health related if you know what i mean then i personally would chose a councillor or psychologist.
i think alot of psychiatrists believe that depression is a chemical imbalance so i think tabs would be there recommendation.

i stopped being depressed when i got rid of the cause not the symptom.
so look to the cause either medical or of the mind.
its debateable what i said im sure so take me with a pinch of salt i guess.

pm me if you would like more info or anything

Kooli

I think you would only choose to see a psychiatrist if you wanted more advice about medication.

If you want to talk to someone, it is a choice between the other professions you mentioned.

CBT therapists will focus on the link between your thoughts and moods, and try to combat negative thought and behaviour patterns.

Behavioural therapists focus mostly on behaviours. (I know that sounds obvious, but that's what it is! Changing what you do to change how you feel)

As for all the other professions, it's hard to pinpoint in advance what their approach will be, as it will depend on their training. Maybe if you say a bit more about why you have been thinking about talking to someone, and how you hope it might benefit you, then we can give better advice. For instance, do you feel you would just like a supportive, non-judgmental space to talk? Do you feel you want to look at issues from the past and family stuff?

Whatever profession you go for, make sure you choose someone accredited with their professional body e.g. PSI for psychologists, IACP for psychotherapists. This doesn't guarantee they will be brilliant, but it protects you from attending a 'counsellor' who has attended a 10 week course and decided to put a plaque on their door.


Well done by the way for being so proactive in seeking help for yourself!! It's not easy, but hopefully you will start to feel the benefits very soon!

hotspur

It is indeed very confusing knowing where to start.

Psychiatrist - a medical doctor who is specialised in mental illness. As others have said this will almost certainly lead to more anti-depressants not psychotherapy.

Psychologist - either a clinical psychologist or a counselling psychologist, this is someone who has a degree in psychology and a postgraduate degree in one of the two specialisations above.

Psychotherapist and counsellor - are the same thing these days really. There used to be a distinction in that a counsellor dealt with more short term everyday problems and a psychotherapist at greater length with more underlying issues. The terms are now pretty much used interchangeably for the most part. An accredited psychotherapist / counsellor may have just a diploma in it or they may have a degree in it or a diploma and a degree in psychology etc.

CBT and behavioural therapist - are just 2 types of the many types of psychotherapy which a therapist may be trained in and offer.

For somebody experiencing depression and no worse psychopathology I think you would be looking for a counsellor / psychotherapist. If they happen to be a psychologist too then fine, but they'll be trained to do the same thing for you.

If you wanted to read a book about each of the types of therapy which are available then this is the one to read:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Theory-Practice-Counseling-Psychotherapy-International/dp/0495595217/

If you don't wish to read up about it then you can go back to your GP and they will recommend a therapist or therapy centre where you may have a choice. They do this all the time by the way, a very high percentage of people have been on anti-depressant medication and/or seen a therapist.

Also you can find a therapist via the IACP site which is one of the main accrediting organisations for psychotherapists in Ireland:
http://www.irish-counselling.ie/index.php/members-search

In respect of evidence CBT has been found to be effective both as a stand alone and as a conjunctive treatment with medication for depression. Do some googling on it, the main 2 types are rational emotive behaviour therapy created by Ellis and cognitive therapy created by Beck.

Another popular approach, which can be used in addition to CBT, is person centred or client centred counselling created by Rogers. Here the focus is on creating a caring, non-judgemental therapeutic relationship. It is based on unconditional positive regard for the client, empathy, and congruence. Unfortunately some CBT counsellors don't manifest these important qualities in the therapeutic relationship.

So in thinking about the merits of those main two forms of therapy you have to ask yourself whether you feel the need to really talk to someone caring or more the need to be given practical advice on how to think and act differently. Different people prefer and need different approaches.

There are lots of other modalities such as psychoanalytic, existential, gestalt, systemic (if there are family problems), transpersonal etc. Also many therapists are integrative in that they use more than one modality.

You could read about them until you are blue in the face. My advice would be to decide whether you are more a CBT or client centred therapy kind of person and then go straight to your GP and ask for a referral. If that doesn't work out then just find one yourself and ensure they are accredited.

In Limbo

Thanks Hospur

I just you a PM, hopeully thats okay

r3nu4l

In Limbo,

You need to be very careful taking advice on the internet. Nobody here should be advising you on who you should be seeing, only a GP can do that once they've listened to what you have to say.

Go back to your GP and tell him/her that you want to get some further help alongside your medication. Ask him/her the questions you've asked here.

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