Why Shrinks Have Problems

[bucolic_frolic]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199707/why-shrinks-have-problems

A number of surveys, conducted by Guy and others, reveal some worri-some statistics about therapists' lives and well-being. At least three out of four therapists have experienced major distress within the past three years, the principal cause being relationship problems. More than 60 percent may have suffered a clinically significant depression at some point in their lives, and nearly half admitted that in the weeks following a personal crisis they're unable to deliver quality care. As for psychiatrists, a 1997 study by Michael Klag, M.D., found that the divorce rate for psychiatrists who graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine between 1948 and 1964 was 51 percent—higher than that of the general population of that era, and substantially higher than the rate in any other branch of medicine.

These days, therapists face a major new source of stress: HMOs. Richard Kilburg, Ph.D., senior director of human resources at Johns Hopkins University and one of the profession's leading experts on distressed psychologists, says managed care is having a devastating effect: "Therapists are chronically anxious. It's getting harder and harder to make a living, harder to provide quality care. The paperwork requirements are enormous. You can't have a meeting of practicing psychologists today without having these issues being raised, and the pain level is rising. A number of my colleagues have been driven out of the profession altogether."

Much, much more at the link.

[Maraya1969]

1. I started with a new psychiatrist a few months ago and I really like him. But he has

some issues. The second time I went to him he started asking me my name, address etc and so I said, "You already asked me those things". He didn't not recognize me! (and for new patients he makes you come in ever 3-4 weeks) He profusely apologized and admitted he was embarrassed. Another time he said he was going to call in all my prescriptions because the pharmacist is gone during the Holidays. He knows and really likes my pharmacist. ;Anyway I went there and asked if he had called them in and the pharmacist said "No he didn't call anything in" So I started laughing and she was laughing and I said, "I think he needs Ritalin" More laughter.

Besides this he is very intelligent and it is nice to have an intelligent doctor for a change