Dear Carolyn
Great to talk to you again. I am really bemused with your psychologist and doctor. It seems to me that if your doc is not going to take charge of your treatment you need another doc.
The role of the GP is to co-ordinate a patient's treatment and make sure it is producing positive results.They also give their own treatment where they have the skills. Now it's not unusual for a doc to leave all the counselling to a psych if the doc feels it is not their area of expertise. What they are responsible for is to refer you to a competent practitioner and follow up on outcomes. And that means they should be aware of the strengths of any psych in their area.
Now you go to a psychiatrist and psychologist for two different illnesses. Do either or both report to the doc? They should be making annual reports at the very least, preferably more often, so that the doc knows what is going on. You should also be given a copy of these reports.
I know from experience that the GP will often say they cannot do this because it is not their report to give. This is not correct. Federal law says any patient can see any information about themselves in the doctor's file providing it does not refer to another patient, in which case that info must erased first, or seeing the report may be dangerous for the patient. Relatively few reports come into this category. When my doctor refused to show me something she had received from the psychiatrist I pointed out the provisions of the Privacy Act and she immediately handed over a copy.
It seems to me from your posts that your GP is very "relaxed" about his/her duties and you may be better off with another doc. If all the psychologist is doing is to tell you to stay relaxed, listen to the tape and your doc, he does not appear to be doing much for his money.
Look, you seem reluctant to disclose your various diagnoses, and you have every right to keep them private. The reason for my comment is that someone, probably many some-ones, will have the same or similar difficulty as you and can offer a specific form of support. But as I said, it is entirely up to you. I am not being nosey.
I am interested in what other assistance your psychologist is offering you. Also what the psych thinks your doc is offering. I keep coming back to the need for these people to work together and get their communication act together. It seems you are being shuffled around with no positives outcomes.
Please do not be offended by my rant.
Mary
