Does anyone know of a good psychologist and/or
psychiatrist to help with
depression?
COMMENT 193765P
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2011-07-18 11:12 AM |
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The Hosford Clinic at UCSB is a good resource. http://www.education.ucsb.edu/hosford/
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COMMENT 193770P
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2011-07-18 11:15 AM |
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I agree with @743, referrals are a mixed bag. When my then-teenage daughter was depressed, I got a referral for a psychiatrist from someone I considered reliable, and the doctor was terrible. Fortunately, the pediatrician was able to steer me in the right direction and everything turned out okay. There are also different types of providers, with different approaches and personalities, so sometimes you have to shop around until you find the person who is the best fit for you and your situation. You should also check with your health insurance to try to find someone who is covered. This can mean the difference between paying a small co-pay and paying hundreds of dollars per session. Good luck!
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COMMENT 193773
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2011-07-18 11:16 AM |
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If you have a general practitioner that you respect, go with their recommendation. That is a great place to start. Good luck
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COMMENT 193775P
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2011-07-18 11:19 AM |
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Susie Crawford. Weeknight bartender at Monty's. For the price of a few cocktails and a decent tip she will listen to all your problems, and when you get done listening to all the gossip about other people's problems you come away realizing that you're not that bad off.
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COMMENT 193783
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2011-07-18 11:34 AM |
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The irony of this post on depression, with the one above it, suicidal subject on Cold Springs arch, can't be missed.
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COMMENT 193784
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2011-07-18 11:36 AM |
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If your depression has progressed from thoughts of suicide to planning how you're going to hurt yourself, you may want to skip shopping for a psychiatrist and check yourself into Cottage Hospital, because that's what a psychiatrist is going to tell you to do, anyway. They can keep you safe at Cottage and they have a great staff of psychiatrists and therapists. I know people who have checked into Cottage, and it's nothing to be ashamed of. I know it helped because they're still alive and their depression has either vanished or is waning.
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COMMENT 193801P
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2011-07-18 12:09 PM |
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There are many causes of depression -- medical as well as mental. A visit with your doctor might be a good place to start. Going to a 12-step meeting (they're anonymous and you don't have to talk) might put you in touch with others facing similar problems. In addition to psychologists and psychiatrists, there are counselors and therapists who may be able to help. Finding an activity that gets you out and interacting with others has been very helpful for me. My dog and Adult Ed have been vital to my emotional well-being.
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COMMENT 193827P
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2011-07-18 12:57 PM |
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I have depression and my doctor said nothing was wrong with me, as I sat there crying.
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COMMENT 193831P
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2011-07-18 01:02 PM |
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@827P, you need to find a different doctor.
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COMMENT 193846
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2011-07-18 01:17 PM |
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Radhule Weineger is an outstanding psychotherapist, phd, who also has an MD. She is also a mediatative leader and offers many retreats at Casa de Maria. She will not prescribe medication. For medication, Dr. John Cervantes is terrific. Good luck to you, and often it takes more than one avenue to manage depression.
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COMMENT 193851P
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2011-07-18 01:29 PM |
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I second the Hosford Clinic! (805-893-8064)
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COMMENT 193859P
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2011-07-18 01:44 PM |
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Wow, some really awful responses here. Behavioral Health building on Encina in Goleta has a good collection of doctors who are safe to see (and by safe I mean: very private offices, very well qualified, licensed and won't stick you on meds without evaluating your specific situation very carefully) Phone them at 681-0035. Good luck to you. Looking for help can be daunting, and it can take a while, but you WILL feel better once you start treatment.
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COMMENT 193860P
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2011-07-18 01:44 PM |
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831, he is the different doctor, the last one sent me to a ctscan. I got a 2,500 dollar bill for that.
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COMMENT 193869
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2011-07-18 01:54 PM |
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i used to see dr. moghtader (sp?) at sansum years ago. he's good.
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COMMENT 193893P
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2011-07-18 02:42 PM |
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This is my personal opinion from experience. I do believe referrals by patients is valuable because it is hard to not only make appointments as a new patient but then you have to weed out the ones where it isn't a good fit. Psychiatrist: Mikhail Meyerovich, M.D. (realize that psychiatrists do not do therapy talk sessions but should be used in conjunction with a talk therapist). I do not recommend Dr. Bell in the same office as he misdiagnosed me which set off a whole chain of unfortunate events as I was on the wrong medication and frankly is kinda weird (he takes a photo of you to put in his file). Family Therapy Group does individual counseling. http://ftisb.org/
Worked with Michael Dunn. If things get really bad, don't be afraid to check yourself in Cottage Hospital. A safe, time out place. If we had a broken leg we would go to the doctor and it is the same thing. Good luck. Depression is something I still deal with and I know how difficult it can be.
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COMMENT 193906
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2011-07-18 03:27 PM |
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I would suggest you start by consulting with a Licensed Psychologist who has a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and therefore has been trained to assess and treat depression. Deciding who to see for psychotherapy is a personal decision and you might have to weigh certain factors, such as medical insurance, geographical location of the practitioner and service cost. In addition to the Hosford Clinic, SB Behavioral Health, and website databases, you can visit the local psychological association website at www.sbcpa.org; there you will find a searchable database for local, licensed psychologists. Once you find a few names, you can interview each by phone and decide whom you feel most comfortable with. You could use a similar process to select a psychiatrist that fits your needs, should you conclude that medication would be a helpful part of your treatment.
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COMMENT 193925
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2011-07-18 03:58 PM |
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I second Dr. Moghtader at Sansum. And for people that are saying to exercise or hike: a person with serious depression can have a hard time getting out of bed, let alone doing any of that. Some people actually need medication. I think @787 is a very hurtful comment.
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COMMENT 193935
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2011-07-18 04:10 PM |
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#925 - You are so right. I am sort of an exercise maniac, but when I went through my last bout of serious depression some 10 years ago, I could not get out of bed even on beautiful days like today. It's a slow process recovering, but for me the first step was seeking some kind of professional help. Depression is very mentally as well as physically debilitating. My heart goes out to the OP and anyone who is suffering depression.
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COMMENT 193947P
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2011-07-18 04:26 PM |
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Yes, exercise is a mood lifter and sometimes a mood stabilizer. But the person who suggested it as treatment is really woefully ignorant. Depression goes far beyond any kind of relief that simple joint compression chemical release can fix. This is one of those subjects that if you don't know a lot about, you should shut your mouth.
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COMMENT 193960P
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2011-07-18 04:45 PM |
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It's depressing to be fat, skinny, beautiful, ugly, surrounded by family and all alone. You have to take responsibility for your own health. Doctors are mostly quacks, so you must pull yourself up by your bootstraps, sort of speak. This is edhat and everyone is allowed their opinion, ignorant or not.
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MTNDRIVER
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2011-07-18 09:55 PM |
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Only MDs can prescribe drugs, other therapists--MFCCs, Ph.D.s, MFCs, MSW's, all the other degrees and certifications, cannot. Psychiatrists (MDs) used to do talk therapy, but now it seems they only prescribe drugs--what MD in any specialty can spend more than ten minutes with an individual any more? Nothing can happen in ten minutes besides writing a prescription.... I think it's dangerous to suggest therapists when you aren't really familiar with the potential patient. Best to get referrals from a trusted physician--one who has lots of empathy and believes in talk therapy! Often it takes time to find the right person for yourself. If the depression is severe, it is probably wisest to go to a psychiatrist, who will surely prescribe a drug, or maybe a spell in a facility where you can get intensive therapy. Depression is no joke, hope you get good help.
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COMMENT 194080P
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2011-07-19 07:33 AM |
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060P, so even if that opinion is hostile or makes worse the very delicate situation someone is going thru you should just put it out there? Sure, you're entitled to your opinion, but sometimes the mark of a good person is to hold their tongue not to spew it out when it only makes things more difficult for someone. Discouraging someone from going to a doctor when they are seeking help is one of those times.
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GRACE
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2011-07-19 07:50 AM |
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Michael Dunn
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COMMENT 194103P
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2011-07-19 08:03 AM |
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Advanced Psychiatric Care of Santa Barbara (http:www.advancedpsychiatric.com/) provides a new treatment for depression. It's called TMS and is great for people who don't respond to medication or may wish to avoid their side effects. Dr. Denise Lin will need to do a full psychiatric exam to see if TMS is appropriate for you. Before that though, you can ask for a free consultation with her staff.
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PJG
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2011-07-19 08:23 AM |
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I third Dr. Moghtader at Sansum. Ditto 080p.
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COMMENT 194164P
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2011-07-19 09:43 AM |
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Dr. Moghtader at Sansome is a compassionate MD and very skilled at managing psychotropic medications. Some kinds of depression absolutely require meds and really help a person get better in only a few weeks. It took me two weeks to feel a lot better. A good psychiatrist doesn't keep you on meds any longer than is necessary. Talk therapy is also very helpful and for that you would go to a recommended psychologist or clinical social worker. You can find those at Jewish Family Services (957-1116) among other places in Santa Barbara. My insurance covers those and I hope yours does too. Good luck.
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COMMENT 194455P
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2011-07-20 06:16 AM |
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One thing you will find is that several of the practitioners named on this thread are either not accepting patients or are booked out very far, and because they are being bombarded, there are a lot of phone messages sending people away without help. This is overwhelming and frustrating to a depressed person who feels that doors are being slammed in their face. I think this is a really big problem in SB right now and there is no compassionate organization to help patients find care in a timely way. My advice is to see if your family doctor can help navigate the system and get you into see someone soon or at least find someone to help you get through the gap until you get into your first appointment.
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