What should my appointments with a psychiatrist involve?

[Sakalibre]

I pay privately to speak to my psychiatrist fortnightly (referred by GP).

I spend quite a lot on these sessions as my mental health is a priority. I've been diagnosed with OCD and PTSD.

This morning I spoke to my psychiatrist again but all she ever does is ask how my week was and play around with my dosages.

That’s all psychiatrists do. Psychiatrists manage medication. For talking therapy, you need sessions with a psychologist.

That's largely what psychiatrists do. If you're looking for therapy perhaps ask what type she suggests? Once your medication is at a therapeutic level I'd be focusing on regular therapy, then appointments with the psychiatrist once every month or even three months.

I speak to a psychologist as well for my disordered eating issues.

Good to know, thanks both.

Pretty much what you said your psychiatrist does. I saw a psychiatrist weekly for a long time and she dealt with medications, asked about my mood and whether anything of significance happened that week. I also had weekly psychotherapy appointments as well.

Think about what you want from sessions then find the right practitioner. I'm counselling a woman with ptsd and ocd at the moment and mostly we talk about random things but within that she expresses her issues. Because of covid I now meet people outside and I've found "hiking therapy" very effective for many clients. I use mixed approaches and refer on for specialists

Yes sadly, these days, that's what happens with psychiatrists.

If you have PTSD though maybe ask him if there are alternatives to medication (EMDR, for example). Or ask how he sees this progressing: a lifetime of medication? You don't seem happy with what he is doing and your gut may have a good reason for prompting this feeling - it usually does!