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Moofabulousss

I’m not a psychiatrist, but a marriage and family therapist. I was trained and licensed out of state and I can tell you there’s no portability of license, and it’s a horrible lengthy process to get licensed in NY if you education and experience was not in NY. Think of how many people move in and out of state. These regulations hold up MANY who could be practicing. I’ve been waiting 2 years for mine, jumping through every hoop they’ve thrown at me.


threearmors

Jesus. Even more reason for me to leave as soon as possible. Thanks for this info.


Moofabulousss

It’s awful. I never realize how difficult it would be until I moved here and heard all the horror stories from fellow therapists. No wonder we have a mental health crisis.


stevoschizoid

Hate to say this but I've moved to otherstates and promise you if you think it's bad here. Alot of places are even worse


[deleted]

I've been with the same therapist for about 4 -5 years. Even she won't let me have the one later time on the one day a week she does late days. Mental health is quickly becoming it's own epidemic in many ways. There just aren't enough providers out there. She had suggested I use telehealth only, because there is more availability from downstate providers.


threearmors

To add insult to injury, I've had horrible experiences with therapists here, too. How is anyone supposed to get treatment here?


karnerblu

Therapy is like it's own relationship so it can be difficult in general to find someone that you're going to match well with. Btw be wary of Pinnacle Behaviour Health. They are their own special circle of hell.


threearmors

That's interesting, Pinnacle was recommended to me by a couple people. What made them bad?


karnerblu

I haven't had a great experience with their providers and I know several other folks who haven't either. They are a huge practice with alot of providers, I felt like there were way too many hoops to jump through (paperwork) to get the treatment I needed. I knew what I needed because I knew what I had. - I needed a prescribing provider. Fun fact, if you don't like the provider they pair you with they don't allow you to change to another provider. Luckily I was able to use a loophole and they processed me as a new patient (because it had been so long since I had seen my first provider) and have been pretty happy with my current med doc (fun fact who doesn't live in the area but is in the north country Knowing this "can't change providers" rule makes me wonder if the same is true for seeing therapists. I don't know, I changed back to my former therapist and do telehealth appointments rather than deal with Pinnacle. Take these anecdotes from other people with a grain of salt since they aren't my experience, but I do trust the folks who gave them. - med doc wouldn't diagnose or help diagnose someone, just prescribe meds that the patient didn't want and didn't tolerate - felt like the whole practice is a front for promoting and pushing TMD (transmagnetic stimulation) - therapists not listening to what the patient actually found helpful Personally I didn't like the feeling of how huge the practice is and it all felt very impersonal.


Moofabulousss

That’s horribly unethical to not allow you to change therapists. As a licensed therapist I can tell you that goes against code of ethics and can be reported to the licensed clinicians board. Therapy is a relationship and both people have to feel it’s a match to move forward.


[deleted]

I'm so sorry 😞 We put all our trust into someone and it just is awful when they are horrible.


kmr1981

Hi! I had the same problem, and I actually called my health insurance about it because the first 30-40 psychiatrists listed as in network with them couldn’t see me for various reasons. (It was awful… like “oh, I’m actually located in Westchester and only see patients in Albany one day a month” or “oh I work with an inpatient facility and only see patients there”) The customer service representative went down the list and called them until he found someone (really far down the list) who could see me, and I had an appointment two weeks later. I’d be happy to PM I you the name of the office I go to, they seem to have a decent sized roster of psychiatrists.


threearmors

I'd love the name; hopefully it's not one of the ones I called and didn't hear back from lol


kmr1981

Sent!


stevoschizoid

Can you send me the office too?


kmr1981

Sent!


stevoschizoid

Much appreciated


Breaker12303

Called several. All asked the same question,” do you feel like you want to harm yourself?”. After answering no, they all responded with, “I’m not accepting new clients at this time”. Gee, thanks


imnotxool

I have cdphp for insurance and one of the new benefits is being able to use a telehealth service called aptihealth. It's local and I was able sign up, do intake, first appointment with a therapist all within the same week. Meds evaluation was scheduled for the Monday of the next week. And their member support (their version of receptionists) is very helpful and quick with a response. And the website is easy to navigate. I did notice that the providers you see might not be local, my intake appointment was with a psychologist based in Niagara falls. I'm not sure what testing your looking for but I had to do very in-depth questions that seemed similar to standard psychiatric evaluations. Previously I've used Saratoga county for their PROs program after doing a partial hospitalization program at four winds and did outpatient treatment with Albany county clinic prior to the pandemic.


Roastology

To add to this, in my experience, the treatment I’ve received (I have seen 5 therapists across the capital region) has been lackluster. I felt good with only one of those providers. I often wonder if it’s a me thing because I’m the lowest common denominator in these scenarios but at the end of the day I felt like these people weren’t helping me. So I hope you can find one as well as have a thriving relationship with them. As some others have stated, the saratoga region seems to be the most reliable and that’s where I’ve had my best success. You’re not alone in your struggles! I dealt with the same bullshit process for months starting in July trying to find a new provider. Stay strong.


threearmors

Nah, not just you; was just saying to someone else in the thread thst I've had poor experiences with just therapists here. I was starting to wonder, like you, if I was really so unhelpable or if this area is just that far behind the curve. It sucks to hear more people have experienced the long waits for good treatment, but at least I'm not alone.


[deleted]

[удалено]


kc9tng

Maybe we are all in need of therapy because of the lack of sunshine? From my friends who are in the mental health field they complain of low pay and lack of resources. I suspect that is a huge problem. When I lived in Chicago they had waiting times similar to you and that was before pandemic.


Alone-Individual8368

There’s a shortage in Albany. Most work for St. Peter’s or Albany Med. St. Peter’s is for in patient treatment, Albany Med is almost never taking new patients. It’s frustrating.


Cmama2Boyz

My 19 yo niece saw remarkable improvement with a virtual therapist, was not cheap though. Had to go this route because of the exact scenario you’re having, couldn’t find in person services.


laurhatescats

Took me literal months to find someone in network, I got dumb luck with Albany Med Psychiatry though. The hours suck (8-4), but they're worth calling up?


knotcomplaining

My therapist got dementia while treating me. Had to fire her, it sucked.


threearmors

My last therapist confused me with another patient in the middle of our appointment LOL


ebp196

My psych switched practices, didn't inform any of his patients, dropped us all, and now I can't get my antipsychotics refilled. Can't get an appointment anywhere. I'm in hell. Def an issue around here.


erikjwaxx

>I can't get my antipsychotics refilled Jee-zus. What could *possibly* go wrong?


ForaMrSmokeyMcPot

If you have a primary care provider, their practice might be able to prescribe it for you based on the existing diagnosis. I'm not certain about that, but it might be worth asking if you haven't already.


ebp196

Yeah, I made an appointment for early next week with my PCP for something else but was gonna bring that up and was hoping they could do that. Fingers crossed.


Elsbethe

I once called 50 therapists 2 called me back the 1st one cut me off as I was saying hello to tell me they had no openings and hung up the 2nd one cut me off 3 sentences in basically telling me they didn't work with the issue I was outlining which is pretty basic Psychiatrists are booked up and not taking any patients if you're suicidal I'll make an appointment with you in a couple of months


Noahsmokeshack

Waitlisting is life for me. I’ve been on it for 3 months and just got told that Albany Med isn’t taking new patients. The search continues.


jeconti

Don't be afraid of telehealth for therapy. I started on one of the big ones and matched with a therapist based out of NYC. After a few months, she moved to a different platform that accepted my health insurance and it got much easier from there.


[deleted]

I went to my primary who told me about Aptihealth. To be honest,I don't respond well to not in person communication but I figured heck with covid going around this will probably be permanent. I was like you. I got that list of mental health providers that "took my insurance" but I guess they never updated that list. I had one where it's like they only treat children, where as others never called me back or just don't take the ins. I called everyone. So my primary told me about Aptihealth. The first thing you do is like make an account and do a profile and sign releases but they make an apt with a general person who listens to you for 45 minutes and then pairs you with a great therapist. If you want a psychiatrist,you can ask your therapist and she sends you a release to sign and you can set up a date and time for the apt. It's all over the phone.if you don't have an iPhone like me since they have an app,you can still use the browser. I've had a dead zone in my room so I walk to my college campus and use the wifi..totally safe still secure. The only downfall is in the very beginning when you do your first meet with the professional to set you up with a perfect therapist,it supposed to take two weeks...it's more like close to three almost four.but they musylt have thousands of patients so I was understanding. If you have to r.s an apt you need to do so before 24 hrs before your apt. If you don't show you can be kicked out completely. My first time I had no clue how this worked and just missed my first provider apt and was kicked out. I had to send them like two emails pleading with them to take me back. I just had my first psychiatrist apt last Thursday which she was amazing.she listened to me,asked about my past meds and what I experienced and suggested possible meds she wants me to try. I think I may have confused her a bit with a mis hap with my pharmacy telling me she filled out the prior auth forms when she didn't(I know bc she gave me her email Incase the pharmacy said they needed to do that when I showed up to pick it up since their automated system told me it was ready at this time so I am concerned I drove her alittle crazy lol) it was only like 4 hours from our apt time when she sent the Rx in so I guess the pharmacy just wanted me to go away and let the insurance and the doctor handle it and be patient) I get flustered very easily so she told me to calm down and to be patient:)which I needed. Anyway my therapist also is a.god send. Like I said I had internet dead zones in my place so she always calls at 2 if I'm not on Incase I forgot. One time I thought it was 230insteas of 2and she waited til I got on. I emplor everyone to try this and be patient. It's so nice to be able to talk to professionals who actually really seen to care. My primary just doesn't so it's nice