Each psychologist should have his own psychiatrist. With such an eccentric name, I want to draw your attention to the following facts: Out of 10 clients of psychologists, 5 (!) have a mental disorder (major or minor psychiatry). This indicates that approximately every second person who seeks advice from a psychologist has one disorder or another. Does this mean that a psychologist should refuse a client, say, with impulsive overeating or some kind of phobia, or a client with schizophrenia or reactive depression? No, that doesn't mean it. The work of a psychologist is often necessary in such cases. After all, a schizophrenic also has problems in the family, at work, etc. - problems with which the psychiatrist does not work, but the solution of which significantly affects the dynamics of the disease. HOWEVER: the work of a psychologist in such situations must certainly be carried out in collaboration with a psychiatrist - a specialist with a higher medical education. Thus, every practicing psychologist (especially in private practice) must have an agreement on cooperation with a psychiatrist. This is necessary not only if a mental disorder is detected in the client, but also in case of any suspicion of the presence of one. IMPORTANT: it is better if the psychologist has an agreement with a psychiatrist who understands and accepts the practice of a particular specialist (it is no secret that quite a large part of psychiatrists ( doctors) is very skeptical about representatives of psychological science). Ideally, there should be some kind of professional tandem of a psychologist and a psychiatrist, mutual understanding in which ensures the safety of all participants in the process: the client and specialists. Let me draw your attention to one more important point. A psychologist who, for one reason or another, decides to refer a client to a psychiatrist should ask himself the following questions: Why am I making such a decision? Who do I care about in this case: the client or myself? What result do I expect from my client’s visit to to the psychiatrist and what will I then do with this result? Am I trying to “hand over” the client in this way, relieving myself of responsibility or 5. Am I trying to share responsibility for the client with another? It seems that such reflection, with the most honest answers to these questions, will significantly advance the psychologist in his professional self-awareness and will become an additional element in ensuring the safety of the psychotherapeutic relationship. What do you think, colleagues??