Where Can A Doctor Get Anonymous Psychiatry/psychotherapy

[anonymouser]

where can a doctor get anonymous psych without it going on the official record?

[JohnGrisham]

where can a doctor get anonymous psych without it going on the official record?

Pay cash and see a registered counsellor, usually those with RCC designation.  its not a psychiatrist, but many do psychotherapy. 

[CalgStudent]

It's pretty illegal for any physician/therapy visit to go on your 'record'.

[anonymouser]

It's pretty illegal for any physician/therapy visit to go on your 'record'.

 

if its on your health record you have to disclose it to the relevant provincial colleges to obtain a license.

[medicallyinclined]

You have to disclose your Psychiatric Illnesses to colleges to obtain a license?

 

This seems like a violation of confidentiality, especially since some Psych disorders are very stigmatized. I would definitely not want my diagnosis out in the open. 

[ellorie]

So, you need to look very specifically into the exact wording of what is on the licensing application in the province where you want to do residency/practice.

 

In Ontario, the wording is "do you or have you ever had a medical condition which could impair your ability to practice medicine?" and you are expected to self-disclose if you meet that bar.

 

So it's not the specific diagnosis, it's the potential for impairment (whether or not impairment has actually OCCURRED), and that's a conversation that you need to be having with your treatment provider around the time of the licensing application in order to make that decision.

 

If you do disclose, they will ask you to provide documentation from your treatment team of your diagnosis, course of treatment, prognosis, etc.  In Ontario, that gets considered by a committee when you apply for a license, and they can decide to put conditions on your license.  Here it's generally a monitoring agreement through the OMA's Physician Health Program, and other provinces often have similar organizations.

 

So given that the onus is on you to self-disclose, versus some kind of record that the College can access, what is or isn't on your record isn't as much at issue.    If you do not disclose and you are later involved in some kind of action related to a symptomatic mental illness, that is probably not going to go well for you, if you knew and did not seek appropriate treatment and did not disclose on your licensing application, no matter what your records say.  Lying to the College is never a good start to a career.

 

I would argue that it is an ethical imperative for physicians who have health problems of any kind to get them treated early and appropriately.  The College is manageable - if you get treated and are adherent and do well, they will almost certainly let you practice, possibly with a bit of extra scrutiny, even if you DO have to disclose.  And not everybody does depending on the exact situation.

[Talon01]

if its on your health record you have to disclose it to the relevant provincial colleges to obtain a license.

You can see a psych and be honest about what your concerns are.  As you know, the psych only will break your confidentiality if you're a harm to yourself, others, or children are involved.  When you do your college application, it's ultimately up to you to answer the college applications honestly.  However, the college isn't going to have access to your personal health record.

 

Edit - if you feel you need to talk to someone then do it. If you do decide to disclose a mental health diagnosis to the college, as long as it's properly managed, it won't hinder your ability to get/renew a license.

[Lactic Folly]

Which province? There are confidential support programs for people in medicine, where you can access sessions with a psychologist. Just counselling, no diagnosis involved...

[ellorie]

Disclosing would be a good course of action if the PHP was in any way a reasonable or effective service. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I have been told in confidence by one of the medical directors at the PHP that the program is a complete disaster and that you are heavily stigmatized if you choose to disclose.

 

I have not found that to be the case with respect to the PHP.  The PHP has been truly excellent in my experience of them.  Very respectful and as helpful as they can be given the circumstances.

 

The stigma definitely comes down from the College, and that part is awful.  The PHP has nothing to do with that except that they try to mitigate it as best as they can.

[Talon01]

Disclosing would be a good course of action if the PHP was in any way a reasonable or effective service. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I have been told in confidence by one of the medical directors at the PHP that the program is a complete disaster and that you are heavily stigmatized if you choose to disclose.

There is zero truth to this.

[Talon01]

I have not found that to be the case with respect to the PHP.  The PHP has been truly excellent in my experience of them.  Very respectful and as helpful as they can be given the circumstances.

 

The stigma definitely comes down from the College, and that part is awful.  The PHP has nothing to do with that except that they try to mitigate it as best as they can.

 

This is true.  The stigma is big with any College.  To be honest, the stigma is still there with other health care workers and the general public.

 

The PHP is adamant about confidentiality and will advocate on your behalf.

 

If anyone reads this in the future and has questions/concerns shoot me a PM.

[ellorie]

I'm also willing to talk further by PM.

[Talon01]

where can a doctor get anonymous psych without it going on the official record?

If you still check this account, and need anonymous help/advise, please PM me.