Phychologist vs. Pyschiatrist

[Guest guest]

Okay, went to see our new doctor yesterday. (Insurance reason and our current

doctor has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the outlook isn't good.)

Switching doctors is always scary for me to begin with. However, our insurance

may require a referral to see a psychiatrist or psychologist even though I know

in most cases behavioral health is usually a self-referral. But I thought I'd at

least start with him to get the ball rolling.

I was taking my daughter, 9, to see him to discuss getting her formally

diagnosed with dyslexia and OCD. Okay, he tells me that she may have sleep apnea

because she snores and her throat opening is smaller than average. So, now I

have to see an ENT and possibly a sleep specialist. He wants me to rule out

sleep apnea as a possible means of what is going on with her. (Rolling my eyes.)

Okay, he suggests I see a psychologist to diagnose the dyslexia. I was thinking

I needed to see a pediatric neurologist. I'll take the psychologist because it's

closer, but then do I need to see a psychiatrist for the OCD? I'm confused as to

which to do what.

Any help would certainly be appreciated as I am sitting here in front of my

insurance booklet trying to figure out who to see.

-Melinda