Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions and get the information you need quickly.
Many people are unsure of the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a physician who has completed medical school and specialized residency training in psychiatry. Because they are M.D.s, psychiatrists can prescribe medication. Most psychiatrists only treat people with medication but a few, like Dr. Ahsan, also provide therapy for people who are interested.
Psychologists are not physicians. Their degree is a Ph.D. or Psy.D. Psychologists do not prescribe medications. Most psychologists have intensive training in the treatment of mental illness through a variety of types of therapy. Psychologists usually have a lot of experience providing testing. Child psychologists have specific training in the treatment of disorders often seen in childhood.
People come to see a psychiatrist for many reasons. Some people have severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Some people are simply having trouble coping with the many stresses of modern life. Some people are already seeing a counselor who has suggested that medication might help them feel better. Most people who see a psychiatrist are simply trying to find ways to cope better with difficult feelings or behaviors and see psychiatric treatment as an opportunity to improve their lives.
We all have times when we are blue or particularly stressed. Usually these times pass and we begin to feel like ourselves again. Sometimes these problems persist a long time or start to interfere with daily life. People may have trouble sleeping, may feel more irritable, or begin to have difficulty in their jobs and relationships. Many of the websites on our links page have checklists that might help you decide if you need to see someone about your mental health. If you are unsure about whether you would benefit from treatment by Dr. Ahsan, feel free to call us and describe your problems to see if we can help you make this decision.
No. There is a negative stereotype that many people have that can make them shy about coming to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. Because of this stereotype, many people put off treatment when they could have been feeling better long ago. Seeing a mental health professional really just means that you are struggling with feelings or behavior and would like help. It's no different than if you were seeing an eye doctor because you couldn't see well. Often as part of treatment you will receive a diagnosis. We firmly believe, though, that a diagnosis does not define who you are and definitely does not mean anything bad about you. All people are unique and any two people with the same diagnosis are usually very different from each other. So coming to Recovery Clinic does not mean you are crazy and if you take a survey of your friends, family members, and coworkers, you will probably find a large percentage of people who have sought treatment for mental health at some time in their lives.
We know a lot more about the brain than we used to and are learning more all the time. What scientists have found out is that most people with mental illnesses have a predisposition to those problems, just as many people have a predisposition to diabetes or asthma. These predispositions are not a personal weakness. They may be a random difference in how your brain developed, or it may be genetic. We know that many people with depression, thought disorders, anxiety, and learning difficulties (among others) have other family members with the same problems. So we don't know what triggers this predisposition in most people but we do know that most mental illnesses are rooted in how the brain works and not in whether you are a good person.
No. Just like going to other doctors, your records are confidential and we cannot even tell people that you come to us without your permission. We take confidentiality very seriously. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Most insurance companies will need to know a specific diagnosis and may need to know general information about your treatment (for example whether you are receiving therapy or medication management), but they won't know about the specific information you share with your doctor.
Sometimes people share information that indicates they may hurt themselves or another person. If this happens, we are required to share this information in order to keep our patients safe. Also, if you are involved in a legal matter relevant to your treatment, the court can subpoena our records. But these exceptions are rare occurrences. We will never share information without informing you and usually we will need your written permission.
Maybe: You will be part of the decision process in determining what types of treatment are going to be most helpful to your child. Parents are often involved in helping the child transfer what they are learning in therapy to their everyday lives. When the difficulties have to do with parenting problems, the parents are often as active and involved in therapy as the child. As children get older, they are more concerned about privacy and may not want us to tell their parents everything they say. In these cases we will often share general issues about what the child discusses but not specific information. If your child is under 18, you have the legal right to know what happens in your child's treatment but most parents understand and support their son or daughter's right to privacy as this makes treatment more effective and can also create a more trusting relationship between parent and child.
For an appointment, please call 03349485911, 04235313131-2 between 12pm to 3pm only except Friday and Sunday. Alternatively, you can either text on our Whatsapp 03349485911 for an appointment OR fill our contact form on the website and Team Recovery will reach out to you for an appointment.
For your appointment, please make sure you bring any past medical and psychiatric records or history of checkups if applicable so Dr. Ahsan Ul Haq Chishti can review your case in detail and formulate an individual, tailored treatment plan suitable according to needs of every patient.
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