I agree with you that psychologists pursuing prescribing rights is stupid. Mainly because it doesn't differentiate what you do from what I do. And who would choose to see the lesser trained person for meds? It would erase the profession to some degree. Not to mention that I don't think a one semester course is suffiencient to understand comorbid illnesses (physical) and their associated treatments which may interact with psych meds. Recipe for disaster.
My program tries to produce clinicians that aren't into 15 minute med-checks. I think they succeed for the most part.
I think there is a role for medication management practices. If these folks didn't exist, many people would not be able to afford treatment. And a lot of people aren't interested in therapy.
I have a patient that has tried therapy with me and another doc. He just wants the panic attacks to go away (they have). He needs refills. And he couldn't afford 50min therapy anyway.
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