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shockmonk3y

New member
Greetings all..

Does anyone have some hints as to how I can find a poly friendly psychiatrist in the Wichita, KS area?

I know.. sounds silly.. but if I am going to get what appears to me to be an avoidant personality disorder fixed, I'm going to have to be able to tell my doctor everything.


Thanks in advance =)
 
Ooo! A question about my industry that I actually have a competent answer for!

For Avoidant PD or even related disorders you might want to start with a psychologist or both a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

Get a list of covered psychiatrists/psychologists from your insurance company (probably can get this from the insurance's website too). Then call and ask them if they are sensitive to polyamorous or non-monogamous issues. If they have no idea what you are talking about, try the next name on the list. You also might get a receptionist, so make sure you speak to the actual person your appointment will be with. You can ask other questions over the phone too. And if you make it to your appointment and things don't work out with one professional, you can certainly switch.

There usually is a wait time to get in to see mental health professionals so if you do end up switching keep your appointments with the not so good match until you can get in to see another professional. It is perfectly ok to make sure you are seeing the professional that is going to be the greatest help to you.
 
Thanks!!

I'm going now to locate that list.. I know I saw a link when we enrolled.


On a side note.. I'm loving this forum.. I probably should set some time aside to get an intro written.
 
Psychiatrists are medical doctors by training/education who focus on psychological ("psychiatric") issues and conditions, while psychotherapeutic psychologists are not medical doctors and are specialists in helping people with psychological issues/problems....

My own view or opinion is that psychologists of the psychotherapeutic variety are more likely to be helpful than psychiatrists, generally. Psychiatrists are too often oriented toward the pill (drugs) as a solution to everything. There are some good psychiatrists who are also good psychologists and who don't see drugs as the primary focus of treatment, but there aren't nearly enough of these around.

Drugs may sometimes be necessary or useful, especially in the case of severe and high-risk conditions like clinical depression with suicidal yada-yada, or bipolar disorder, etc. So, I'm not all against the use of drugs for folks with psych issues. But I think the psychiatric profession is too quick to hand their patients a prescription and a bottle of pills -- and that this isn't good. Be wary.
 
Contact Dr. Charles Gaynor with Comcare of Sedgwick County, 1919 N Amidon Ave, Wichita, KS 67203. Phone: (316) 660-7675

You may not be able to see him since he sees only Comcare patients, but I'm confident he'd be able to refer you to someone. He would be a good, poly-friendly therapist.
 
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