psychiatric service ?

[jjsummer]

I'm thinking about going to a psychiatist but have heard that Japanese psychiatry is really bad.

Does anyone know how bad it is and why ?

Thanks in advance,

[Really!]

If you're needing psych assistance you can call Tokyo English Lifeline. I don't have a number or website. I don't know for sure but I think they may know of docs in other areas.

If you need help, you can't let the things you have "heard" get in your way. If you don't like the first doc, go to a different one. If meds don't work, get different ones. It may not be easy to find the right doc or the right meds but considering the alternatives....

[jjsummer]

If you're needing psych assistance you can call Tokyo English Lifeline. I don't have a number or website. I don't know for sure but I think they may know of docs in other areas.

If you need help, you can't let the things you have "heard" get in your way. If you don't like the first doc, go to a different one. If meds don't work, get different ones. It may not be easy to find the right doc or the right meds but considering the alternatives....

thanks and thank you for your 'but'.

[wildrose]

Dr. Berger is good a good suicide/depression doctor and more information can be found at japanpsychiatrist.com . I suspect that he would be able to give you a referral should your inquiry fall out of his areas of specialty. Hope this helps.

[jjsummer]

Dr. Berger is good a good suicide/depression doctor and more information can be found at japanpsychiatrist.com . I suspect that he would be able to give you a referral should your inquiry fall out of his areas of specialty. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the link, I really appreciate it.
Would it be very expensive ? Also, which would it be, a session with a therapist or seeing a doctor ?

[dejaboo]

Send me a PM. I have a lot of experience with psychs in Japan, both Japanese and Western.

[wildrose]

I believe he is a psychiatrist which means that he first became a medical doctor and then did a Ph.d in psychiatry.
If you are in need of somebody to talk to, a counselor would be cheaper and a psychiatrist probably would not be needed. However, a psychiatrist can prescribe medications for physical symptoms (i.anxiety/hallucinations/depression)
in order to alleviate the psychological symptoms or vice versa and provide counselling/psychotherapy at the same time (hitting 2 birds with 1 stone). More information about rates are available on the website and he sends back e-mails quite quickly if you want to ask him questions before making an appointment. Hope this helps.

[dejaboo]

Dr. Berger is great, but you may not have sessions with him. He is often out of the country and one of his PhD students may do the sessions. That is not to say that the CBT sessions are not worthwhile. If you have chronic depression/anxiety disorders, mental issues that may need medication or proper CBT, don't go to Tokyo Life Line. Also, although people may bag Japanese psychs, my experiences with them have been good. Had much worse treatment back in Australia - there are good and bad everywhere.

[jjsummer]

I should get both - medication and sessions...
The thing is that I just don't want to take medications just because a doctor subscribed it after three minutes' talk, with little or no info. on its side effects. So I think a person like Dr. Berger (who can do both) would be perfect if he becomes available.

As for counselors, I saw some on the internet but don't know which one to go. I'm also interested in group sessions but seems like there's no place which does that here.

Anyway, thanks for all the info. It's been really helpful.