I am a therapist and psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, that means I am trained to diagnose and treat people for a range of mental health “disorders”. I am licensed to treat people using psychotherapy (talk therapy), and to prescribe a variety of medications. I have additional training in many complimentary therapies as well.
In my years as a clinician working in many different settings from private practice, hospitals, clinics and my own wellness center, I know not all treatment is the same.
I am not referring to how effective a particular treatment is but how treatment is delivered.
I do not subscribe to the “doctor or clinician knows best mentality” In my experience both as a patient and as a professional I have witnessed the negative impact of the hierarchal relationship between patient and doctor/clinician.
In mental health, the implication that the doctor/clinician is the one in charge , and is able to accurately and comprehensively diagnose your problems, give you a label, and hand you a prescription within 40 minutes of knowing you is over zealous at best and harmful at worst. This system of care does nothing to support the person’s intrinsic nature to heal and to know themselves. It does not open a window into the heart and soul of the presenting issue but rather narrowly focuses on muting the symptoms. The system does a disservice to the seeker of healing and robs both the clinician and client the opportunity to journey together. I understand this system is designed to get as many people through in a given time.Affectionally known as “factory medicine’
I believe the rise in health bloggers,products, podcasts, diets, health programs and coaching has come out of people’s total disgust with the healthcare system’s inability to see them, to partner with them and to spend time with them. Our healthcare system is sick in many ways. At a basic level it does not support true healing. As one clinician remarked -The biggest threat to the healthcare system is —health.
On the bright-side, people are creating their own path to health outside of mainstream medicine. I am heartened to see people take responsibility and ownership for their health and well-being. There are so many resources available today and more and more clinicians willing to partner with people. Case in point, the Functional Medicine Movement. This system of care seeks to uncover the root cause of illness from a holistic and healing perspective using mind-body approaches, moving away from a pharmaceutical answer to every ill. (check out The Institute for Functional Medicine online for more info)
I am so grateful to be able to work with a person from a place of mutual understanding and partnership and to be able to spend time to get to know the person.
Each person I work with enriches my life and deepens my understanding of the many roads the healing journey takes.