Thoughts - mental health care professionals of our era
A page in the diary "Accept, Adapt and Appreciate: How?"
Written by nw4m Aug 5 2008 08:41 PM
This post is partly in response to Jaded's recent post about the mental health care professionals of our era.
I share the same/similar concerns and maybe feelings of disappointment or confusion expressed by Jaded in her post.
As she mentioned in her post: 'shrinks just don't have time to talk to us and therapists have too many clients leading to long waiting list. it's really sad'.
I have just visted my doctor a couple of weeks ago as part of those usual follow-ups (it's mainly to check if I had finished my medication, ask a few questions about what I am doing and..that's it).
I took up the courage to ask about whether I could be referred to a mental professional who can have more time to discuss various issues within me. He said this is called 'psychotherapy' and it is not widely available in Singapore. Furthermore, it would be expensive, both short and long-term.
He recommended me to go check out Counselling and Care Centre, where counsellor Mr Anthony Yeo is. He's the one who pens fornightly columns in Sunday Times about life and emotional well-being and replies letters by readers.
Actually I had already checked out the Counselling and Care Centre's website before this visit. For those who are interested, http://www.counsel.org.sg/index.htm. I also know rather clearly that it would be an expensive treatment option. That's why I have not taken any action to contact the centre and am unlikely to do so for some time to come.
My psychiatrist said as a matter of factly that he would not usually recommend psychotherapy to his patients unless a patient specifically asks for it and has shown the determination to be able to co-operate well with the assigned therapist in all sessions.
As he put it, there is no point in recommending psychotherapy to patients or for any one to go for such sessions if one is not ready/willing/unable to decide and act firmly to help him/herself recover.
I took the opportunity to recommend the doctor a book that I had finished reading. It's a memoir by a recovered Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) patient. She's now happily married with kids and is doing well with her job as an accountant. It's called 'Get me out of here' by Rachel Reiland.
I personally feel it is a really insightful and touching read. Her conversations with her psychotherapist, Dr. Padgett during all their sessions gave me an introduction of what psychotherapy is about. This memoir also touches me cos it speaks of hope, recovery and most importantly, unconditional acceptance and concern.
Go read it. It may be helpful in some ways, be it whether you have BPD or not.
Tata for now. ^_^