I have recently realized that I have likely been constantly battling depression for the past 3-ish years. To put it mildly, this realization has been very, very difficult. As a result, I’ve decided to at least consult with a professional. This decision was also very difficult, as I have problems asking for real-life help on anything, much less anything regarding the space between the front and back of my skull. But I digress. . .
I called my company’s mental health plan provider*, and they said that they only have one doctor in either the city I live in or the city I work in (the third and eighth largest in the state, respectively). That doctor is, however, a registered social worker, not a registered psychologist.
I can’t help but think that a social worker’s view of depression and its accompanying issues is going to be very different from a psychologist’s view of the same issues. However, I’ve never had a long-term relationship with a therapist or a psychologist, so I don’t know how relevant my view is. I worry that my plan might just want to send me to someone that can just talk to me, regardless of their credentials or area of expertise.
(Note: I am not disparaging social workers; I know a grand total of one social worker, and she works with disadvantaged chidren. I simply view their area of expertise as being more involved with the, ah, social aspects of life, whereas psychologists are more involved with the mental aspects of life. It’s more complex than this. I’m just not expressing it well).
I know that at least a few people on this board have had experiences with mental health professionals of all stripes. For those people–would a social worker be someone that you would see about depression? I know this is kind of a weird question for a message board, but I honestly don’t know who else to ask. Thanks!