These six signs may indicate that you need to change psychiatrists.
Finding a psychiatrist can be difficult. Most don’t accept health insurance, and there are often long waiting lists, meaning you might not be able to get an appointment for weeks or even months. So, once you find a psychiatrist, it’s natural not to want to give them up.
But more important than simply having a psychiatrist is choosing the right one. As a licensed therapist and former patient, I’ve identified some signs that you should discuss with your psychiatrist if they appear.
If your psychiatrist isn’t willing or able to work with you to resolve any of these issues, it may mean there’s a better doctor for you.
Warning Sign #1: Nothing Changes
When you see a psychiatrist, your symptoms or medication should change. So, if you’re still experiencing symptoms, but your psychiatrist isn’t working with you to find the right medication to alleviate them, it’s time to find another doctor.
This is especially important if your psychiatrist insists that your current situation is the best you can hope for. I was in this situation—I saw a psychiatrist for years who treated my symptoms as inevitable and tried to convince me of it. And I believed him.
This led to years of suffering with symptoms that disappeared in just a few months when I switched to a psychiatrist who truly believed I could improve.
So, if you’re still experiencing symptoms, but your psychiatrist isn’t working with you to change that, find another doctor.
Warning Sign #2: Your Psychiatrist Is Focused on the Wrong Thing
I once saw a psychiatrist who was more concerned with my weight gain than with the effect of the medication he prescribed on my symptoms. He would start every session by saying, “Oh my God, you’ve gained weight!”
Not only did I feel bad about myself, but it wasn’t helping psychologically either—we were focusing on a side effect of the medication, not its primary function. Strangely, despite noticing this side effect, he didn’t change his mind about whether I should be taking the medication.
And this leads us to another warning sign…
Warning Sign Three: Your Psychiatrist Isn’t Taking Your Side Effects Seriously
Psychiatric medications can have a long list of potential side effects, ranging from mildly bothersome to extremely painful. If you experience one or more side effects that are bothering you, you should definitely ask for a change of medication, and your psychiatrist should respect that decision.
If they don’t, and try to convince you that what you’re experiencing isn’t so bad or that you won’t feel better with any other medication without actually trying any alternative, this is a sign that you might need to consult another doctor.
In my personal experience with medication, I’ve always been in the 1%—the 1% of people—who experience more serious side effects from any psychiatric drug. If that were possible, I’m sure it would have happened to me.
I learned very quickly how to stand up for myself, and I fought tooth and nail for years until I finally found a psychiatrist who didn’t question my experiences and listened attentively to what I was going through. You deserve someone who does the same.
Warning Sign #4: Talk Only About Medication
To gain a comprehensive understanding of your mental health, your sessions with your psychiatrist shouldn’t be limited to just your medication. Many factors influence your mental health, such as your social life, living conditions, relationships, family, work, and even the weather or season. If your psychiatrist never asks about what’s going on in your life, they won’t be able to form a complete picture of you and your symptoms.
While a psychiatrist session doesn’t have to be like a typical therapy session (though that’s ideal), your psychiatrist should definitely ask about other aspects of your life that might be affecting you. This helps them make more informed decisions about your care.
While a psychiatrist session doesn’t have to be like a typical therapy session (though that’s ideal), your psychiatrist should definitely ask about other aspects of your life that might be affecting you. This helps them make more informed decisions about your care.
If your psychiatrist doesn’t seem interested in this, it may be time to look for another caregiver.
Warning Sign #5: Your therapist asks (or orders) you to do something that makes you uncomfortable.
There’s a fine line between coercion and unethical behavior, but if your therapist makes a suggestion or asks you to do something that feels wrong, listen to that feeling. Here are a few examples from my own experience:
Your therapist insists you try a medication they were paid to promote or some other reward for. (This might be in the form of “free samples”—be wary of these.)
Your therapist asks you to write a positive review for them online. This is clearly unethical. (To make matters worse, my therapist told me the positive review was in response to some negative reviews written by previous patients “to get back at them.” What a clear warning sign!)
Your therapist should never make you uncomfortable, and you don’t owe them anything—they’re working for you. Don’t feel guilty if you seek another therapist if something like this happens to you.
This brings us to…
Warning Sign #6: Your therapist makes you feel bad about yourself
Regardless of who you are or your mental state, your therapist should treat you with respect. This may seem obvious, but no therapist has the right to belittle, insult, or make you feel inferior in any way. You are a human being seeking help, just like anyone who goes to the doctor for a physical illness, and you should be treated as such.
One of my personal experiences illustrates this point. My longtime therapist suddenly said to me, without warning, “Imagine what you could do if you weren’t so sick.”
These words devastated me. They made me feel like a hopeless case with no future.
I regret to say, however, that didn’t end my relationship with him. Learn from my mistake and never accept abuse, insults, or disrespect from your therapist.
In short,
Your therapist should always be open to feedback and strive to improve your relationship and collaboration. Discussing these issues can be beneficial, especially if it leads to positive change. However, if you raise your concerns and they are ignored, that’s a bad sign.
You don’t need to experience all six of these warning signs to change therapists; any one is enough. Remember, you’re paying your therapist for a service they provide, and if that service isn’t helping you, you can and should seek another therapist.
