Psychiatry vs. Psychology

http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2006/10/psychology_vs_psychiatry.html

If I was a good clinical psychologist– PhD helpful but not necessary, master’s is fine– I would find two or three good psychiatrists and set up a group…  I would find the nearest academic institution with a “residents’ clinic.”  That’s a gold mine.  There are a lot of private insurance patients there, who need short term therapy.   These academic clinics almost never have enough therapists, because the ones that are on staff are not really incentivized to see extra patients; they’re on salary.  So there is a massive number of patients who could benefit from therapy, but are on a waiting list…  “Hi, I’m a therapist, send me patients” is very different than, “Hi, I specialize in Grief Counseling, short and long term, so if you have any patients…” … Try to meet psychiatrists wherever you can, but the best place I know is through drug reps.  Go to one of the “drug dinners” and meet the psychiatrists who attend.  Find a psychiatrist-parent– hell, any kind of doctor– in your kid’s school, meet them, let them know you’re open for business.  Meet the guidance counselor, tell them you specialize in adolescent issues. (Obviously, make sure you actually do specialize in adolescent issues.)  Or Family Systems model.  Or divorcing parents.  Etc.  Remember: it’s not “why refer to me?” It’s, “who else are they going to refer to?”  A doctor who has any sort of emotional connection to you (i.e. met you once) will more likely refer to you than anyone else.