Shrinks...

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Also, medical doctors are mostly useless except for referrals to shrinks.

Mostly. 

Of course, I had to go through 2 pill pushers before I got one that figured out there was a serious physiological problem.

That shit drives me fucking crazy. I have had to practically fend off the offers of pills before, for things that really needed to be handled in other ways.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

Nigel, maybe your state regs are different...where I live, "delving into issues" is something people do with a clinical psychologist, not a counselor...

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Nigel, maybe your state regs are different...where I live, "delving into issues" is something people do with a clinical psychologist, not a counselor...

Stella, it's blatantly obvious that you have no idea what you're talking about here, and I don't really understand why you insist on blustering through.

Since state regulations differ, there is a reason I used the words "Trained and experienced therapist".

I recommend you go back and read the words I actually wrote, and then maybe read the words you actually wrote. And then think about them.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Counselors are a complete waste of human skin, no point in anybody going to them who isn't trying to make a court case go away. The whole profession is a total farce. Either you're bad off enough for a psychiatrist or you're ok.

You dismiss "the entire profession" (of therapy?) as "a farce", and then state that "Either you're bad off enough for a psychiatrist or you're ok."

Psychiatrists and psychologists are not the same thing. A trained and licensed psychologist would be a type of therapist or counselor, not a psychiatrist.

http://www.sos.state.or.us/archives/rules/OARS_800/OAR_833/833_030.html
http://www.sos.state.or.us/archives/rules/OARS_800/OAR_833/833_040.html

Again, my only point here is to discourage you from telling people not to seek help. It's irresponsible.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

You're in Texas, right? http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/OC/htm/OC.503.htm

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

Nigel, years of observation and I've seen nothing but snake oil. If you want to believe in them, that's you. As far as I'm concerned, they suck. Not sure why that bothers you so much.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Nigel, years of observation and I've seen nothing but snake oil. If you want to believe in them, that's you. As far as I'm concerned, they suck. Not sure why that bothers you so much.

Because you just told someone who expressed psychological distress not to go to a psychologist for help.

That bothers me. I'm funny that way. And yeah, I guess I "believe in" psychology, sort of like I "believe in" gravity and the sun. 

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

So, on what, exactly, do you base your decision to "believe in" psychiatrists, but not psychologists? What makes psychiatrists exempt from your disbelief in the field of mental health care?

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

You're in Texas, right? http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/OC/htm/OC.503.htm

Subchapter B looks like it might be the hole that the idiots get through...

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

So, on what, exactly, do you base your decision to "believe in" psychiatrists, but not psychologists? What makes psychiatrists exempt from your disbelief in the field of mental health care?

I knew one once. He was actually intelligent.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

You're in Texas, right? http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/OC/htm/OC.503.htm

Subchapter B looks like it might be the hole that the idiots get through...

I don't think you're reading it correctly. What do you think it means? Did you look at the requirements for licensing?

As the links prove quite thoroughly, in order to be licensed in either your state or mine as a counselor, you must have at least a master's degree in psychology, or in social work with a psychology background.

Rather than mere observation, I have many years of direct personal experience with therapy, as well as seeing many other people helped significantly by therapy with trained and experienced counselors.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

If you want to backpedal a bit and modify your complaint to apply only to unlicensed counselors, I'll get off your case about it. Because it's not hard to agree that unlicensed counselors have no real credentials, can't be said to be properly trained, and are probably peddling a load of bunk.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

So, on what, exactly, do you base your decision to "believe in" psychiatrists, but not psychologists? What makes psychiatrists exempt from your disbelief in the field of mental health care?

I knew one once. He was actually intelligent.

Well, I know a physicist who's a real asshole, so I stopped believing in mass.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

If you want to backpedal a bit and modify your complaint to apply only to unlicensed counselors, I'll get off your case about it. Because it's not hard to agree that unlicensed counselors have no real credentials, can't be said to be properly trained, and are probably peddling a load of bunk.

Looking at the link, I suppose the bulk of them are unlicensed. I didn't know that, so it's not a backpedal...just assumed that if somebody had a counseling practice, it would imply some kind of license. The Rumplestiltskin rule: look for "licensed professional counselor", exact words, not "certified professional counselor" or "licensed counselor" or any of that.
Which doesn't help 99% of the people running around, since the best ones are probably in the major cities, not affordable, don't take Medicaid, etc. And judges stipulate druggies to whatever is cheap.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

So, on what, exactly, do you base your decision to "believe in" psychiatrists, but not psychologists? What makes psychiatrists exempt from your disbelief in the field of mental health care?

I knew one once. He was actually intelligent.

Well, I know a physicist who's a real asshole, so I stopped believing in mass.

I know a proctologist who...oh, never mind.