Five Traits of a Good Psychiatrist

We are always looking for good psychiatrists. Translation: there are not many good psychiatrists out there.

But do you know what to look for in a good psychiatrist?

Here are five traits that you should be looking for in a good psychiatrist so that you can spot one when you see one.

A good psychiatrist will see you as a person and not as symptoms to be treated

How do you know whether your psychiatrist sees you as a person rather than a collection of symptoms that need to be medicated? They will show genuine interest in you and ask many questions just as when we meet someone new, we ask lots of questions!

They will ask about your childhood, occupation, relationships, beliefs, hobbies and dreams... Questions that you may not think that a psychiatrist would or should ask. Questions that may not seem "clinical". This shows their curiosity about you as a person.

And a good psychiatrist will not ask these questions purely out of curiosity. They know that asking these questions will yield to a more comprehensive picture of you as a person. This leads to a higher chance of more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.

A good psychiatrist will frequently express empathy

When you sit in front of a psychiatrist, you will have to share things that you would otherwise never share in front of another human being. A good psychiatrist will not withhold empathetic statements.

They will say things like, “I am sorry that happened to you”, “that must have been really hard", "let's get you better".

A psychiatrist who does not express empathy will feel like a cold and distant examiner who is in the same room with you, but is not really with you.

Opening up to another human being about your difficult experiences can be deeply therapeutic or traumatic depending on how empathetic that person is. A good psychiatrist will be embody empathy.

A good psychiatrist will let you be in control instead of taking control from you.

For most people, seeing a psychiatrist is the last resort. Why? Because becoming emotionally and psychologically naked in front of another can feel like handing over control to that person. Hence it takes tremendous courage and resolve to see a psychiatrist.

A good psychiatrist understands this dynamic and what it is like to sit on the other side. Even more importantly, a good psychiatrist will put you back in control because they understand that clients, not psychiatrists are the boss of their mental health.

Here's an illustration. You are driving to a place with your friend. Though you've never been there your friend knows the place. So your friend is giving you directions on how to get there. But since you are the one who is driving and it's your car, ultimately you get to make the decision.

That is exactly how it should be with your mental health. A good psychiatrist will respect your autonomy and keep you in the driver's seat. The psychiatrist is simply an expert advisor, who makes sound mental health advise sitting next to you in the passenger seat.

A good psychiatrist will be open to your feedback and suggestions

If the psychiatrist really believes that you are the boss of your mental health, then they will give ear to your feedback and suggestion.

In psychiatric treatment most of the clinical information that your psychiatrist needs come from you. So your feedback about how the medication or therapy is working or not working is an invaluable data point necessary for the best outcome.

And sometimes you may have a specific treatment in mind that you would like to give a try. A good psychiatrist will be open minded and be willing to consider your suggestion rather than letting their ego dictate the decision making process. As a psychiatrist, I can tell you this is easier said than done!

A good psychiatrist is well-rounded and integrative in their approach

There is abundant research data that shows that psychiatric meds should not be the first-line treatment for most mental illnesses. In severe cases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, psych meds play a crucial role. However, when it comes to mild to moderate depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD there are many non-medication options that are equally effective and more sustainable than the medications, especially in the long run.

So find someone who is well-rounded in both medication and non-medication options. Someone who seeks to uncover and treat the underlying cause rather than providing a short-term quick fix solutions.

The field of psychiatry is increasingly becoming more holistic and integrative. A good psychiatrist will treat the whole person with every effective means available.

Conclusion

I hope this article gave you some idea of what a good psychiatrist may look like. Though I do not always do it perfectly, I try to practice these five traits with all of my clients. If you are needing to see a psychiatrist, please feel free to email me.