Can we use more than one psychiatrist?

[helpplease]

Hi, Our psychiatrist is in town 2 weeks out of every 4. We have a referral from our GP to a private one who is based here full time. We are really happy with the present one (who actually mentioned the second one was here all the time), but would like to have the other one as a 'back up' if the need arises. Here's the thing - the clinician involved is suggesting it is inappropriate and she is the best one to manage in the absence of the 1st psychiatrist (in the past, the only help offered by her has been to go to the hospital until we can have the appointment with the psychiatrist when she comes back, sometimes a week later.... the hospital doesn't help, they just say come to Emergency). My impression is she is not happy to 'share' what she sees as 'her' client. We are happy to sign a release of info form so everyone is on the same page, so it's not like we're 'doctor shopping', just want access to high quality care all the time. We would love to find a psychologist, but there is not one that is a good fit for us - the good ones have a waiting list- we have tried, we live in a small town. So to reiterate, neither psychiatrists have a problem and the GP says it's a good idea, what is the best thing to say to the clinician when she suggests it's too confusing and we're better just relying on her? She's a nice person and has been of limited help, but things are not progressing as we would like. 

[geoff]

dear Helpplease, that's a very good question, and there maybe many different opinions, but as far as I'm concerned, I don't believe that having two psychiatrists is a good idea, and I explain my reasons;

-firstly they may differ on what antidepressant you should take,

-the school that they were trained at might have different ways of treating patients, either aggressively or passively,

-one may want you to do a specific course to help you, while the other one disagrees,

-one may feel that you don't need any more sessions, while the other one does,

-you may feel more comfortable in talking to one of them in trustworthy way, while you don't feel as though you could tell the other one exactly what has happened, because you feel apprehensive,

-there are many ways in which a psych can talk about what you are concerned about and how to overcome your problems, while the other one has a different tactic,

in other words it gets too confusing, and out of the two, is there one that you favour or look forward in seeing, more than the other.

If you suggest what one of them has said to you and then mention this to the other one, he/she will get nose out of joint.

Others may have another point, which is good, however that's what I think. Geoff.