How Do I Find A Psychiatrist I Feel Safe With, Without Revealing The Issues That Make Me Feel Unsafe

[Sunset]

Well, I'm not having suicidal ideation or anything at all. I just ran into a psychiatrist who wasn't listening and seemed to make freaking everything into a symptom (for example, being a goth was listed as "dressing bizarrely" and put up as a symptom of possibly being delusional).

 

[joeylittle]

I also feel like bringing up the questions I have is dangerous. I feel like, say, asking outright how they handle thinking someone is suicidal, or what are the criteria, is itself something that makes people think you're suicidal.

So this isn't actually your problem? I'm confused...

 

[Anarchy]

(for example, being a goth was listed as "dressing bizarrely" and put up as a symptom of possibly being delusional).

Glad you are away from that bugger now!
It's only a day or two since I commented on another thread about psychiatrists falsely medicalising their own prejudices and control freakery.

In that thread, one of the contributors had found their being bisexual, used as justification for a diagnosis of "borderline personality"!

 

[Ronin]

Is questioning them about their own bias an option?

Turning the cards, without being seen as oppositional or a risk or whatever they pull when one challenges their abusive power tripping bullshit?

 

[Suzetig]

I think it's perfectly reasonable to question a therapists bias if/when you become aware of them or if you have concerns. A good therapist will be open to talking about their own values - and you may highlight something they weren't aware of. In the UK, therapists should have supervision for all of their client work and I know, for example, my supervisor consistently challenges my values and judgements when we meet.

If they're pulling defensive bullshit, I'd look for a new therapist.

 

[Sunset]

So this isn't actually your problem? I'm confused...

What I'm trying to say is I've had mental health professionals take things that I think are perfectly reasonable actions (such as dressing goth) as a sign of deeper problems. I want to avoid that by being clear on what they're looking for as "danger to self or others", but I'm afraid that asking that question will be seen as a sign of being a danger (i.e. "you wouldn't be asking how we handle this if you weren't suicidal" type mentality).

If they're pulling defensive bullshit, I'd look for a new therapist.

Part of my worry is that I got into a situation where it was essentially, you can't see someone else because I think I know best and if you try to resist treatment, it's obviously a sign you need forced intervention.

 

[Ronin]

think I know best and if you try to resist treatment, it's obviously a sign you need forced intervention.

Get a human rights advocate, then.
Report the everloving f*ck out of it. If possible.
They can't do that shit, f*ck them.

(I promise I can come up with a more coherent reply but basics, tldr. You don't deserve abuse. Drop the system that f*cks you up from your life as much as you can. Better yet, grab allies at that dropping who'll stick by you and won't let you be dragged away to be further abused.)

 

[Ronin]

While we're at it: Where do you friends go to a psychiatrist? I bet you there's some fella not giving a damn if one's a goth or not, so where do your scene people go if needing care? Getting references that way?

 

[joeylittle]

Where do you friends go to a psychiatrist?

Super-smart.

 

[Ronin]

@joeylittle, more like Captain Obvious just noticed nobody asked it yet. ;)

 

[Sunset]

While we're at it: Where do you friends go to a psychiatrist? I bet you there's some fella not giving a da...

I don't really have scene friends in the area.

 

[Ronin]

@Sunset: Okay, let's chip at it from a different angle then.

Let's not worry about being hurt for a while: what do you need from a therapist? Or, in a therapist?

So so far we've got 'Is competent in judging suicidality accurately' and before that 'Doesn't assume mental state from appearance', correct? What's your other needs to click with a practitioner? (Maybe it will be easier making a shopping list for what you need in a therapist, then narrow it by that area, with conflicting interests minimized?)