Hi Starfish,
Technically, I have a therapist and a psychiatrist but not in the way that I think other people have talked about it. I started out on antidepressants with my GP and my insurance company insisted on my seeing a psychopharmocologist (P who specials in medicine) to oversee my medication. Which turned out to be a really good suggestion as since they specialize, they know a lot more about the medications and I think do a better job of getting you on an effective combination.

I originally saw the psychiatrist but now go in once every three months for an appt with a nurse practitioner (NP). The appt is usually about 10 mins, and we basically discuss how I'm doing in terms of the meds (how depressed? am I functioning? am I sleeping ok?). This is the third NP I've seen since I started going to this practice and I've been closer to some than others. I am pretty open about what's going on but it's a summary so they have an idea how I'm doing, definitely not therapy work per se. I do that with my therapist. Aside from when I first started going the practice there has been no communication between my P and T. I basically communicate with both of them about how I'm doing. So my T knows that I'm on medication and what dose (he's asked for his paperwork for my insurance company) and my NP gets a run-down of my therapy work so we can monitor my meds. But that's about it. My relationship with the NP who does my meds is very close to the kind of relationship I have with my GP and doesn't come close to the depth and intensity of my relationship with my T.

AG

Thanks AG that makes perfect sense, both co-existing with very separate but important functions. Different people there to help you and provide expertise for different needs I guess, and it obviously works well for you
I think this would be different for me, I do not take any meds so would not need a P or a NP in that sense, so not so clear cut, hence my confusion.

Oh have just seen the 'Rate It' button at the top of the page and being a curious soul was fiddling. Tried to escape when I realised it was about rating MY topic but it told me it was mndatory . Now a dilemma...wanted to rate it as one tick immediately but thought that would be being hard on myself so went halfway. Now I remember I should leave computer bits and piecs to AG who really knows about these things

starfish

Thanks BB, I always appreciate your wise input

The priest spiritual director sounds an amazing support for you to have. I am very pleased you have such a wise outlet and thrilled that he has done so much already in a short space of time. AND says he will be there for you when you need (for free too!!). Go with it BB if it helps, I am sure his work will only enhance the work with your T.

starfish

I used to have a Psychiatrist, a psychologist, a therapist (LCP) and a high school psychologist. The high school psychologist dealt with everything that happened at school. All of them communicated and even would sometimes have meetings together to see where they were all at with me and find out how to best help me. I always thought it was awesome to have such a great support system like that. I wish I still did.

I currently have a nurse practitioner that handles my meds, an individual therapist and a couples counselor. Naturally, they each handle different things, but I'm finding that I have some trouble keeping straight what topics I talked about with which therapist.

My NP and individual T will communicate sometimes, and they seem to like each other reasonably well, which is good My T and my couples counselor know each other since the beginning of time (or so I was told) but I don't think they have talked about me.

For me, personally, when the subject of additional support between session came up (and I see my T twice a week) I decided to go with something outside of the mental health realm, so that it wouldn't be something I would necessarily stop when I got "better." I picked Karate and Meditation. (My NP and T wanted me to do a group therapy or something of that nature and weren't entirely sure about my decision at the time, but my T seems quite pleased with how it's working out