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Second Life Psychiatrists?


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There are a few people who roleplay counselling. Largely they will be laypeople, unqualified and little better then talking to a stranger on the street.

I believe there would be substantial issues around professional indemnity for anyone to offer genuine medical advice inside Second Life, especially in such an international setting.

If you are seeking a roleplay psychologist then the roleplay forums would be a better place to ask as they do come and go. Search in world will bring up a few if anyone is roleplaying a clinic right now.

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Psychiatrists prescribe medicines. Psychologists do not. Perhaps psychologists would be more appropriate for Second Life, due to the distinction. 

P.S. Normally, in today’s medicine in the U.S., only psychologists perform “talk therapy”. Psychiatrists mostly talk about whether the prescribed meds are working.

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psychologists studied psychology and treat mental disorders wheras psychatrists are physicians specialisted in mental illness...

....there is a small difference, almost subtle to those not involved ... 

Edited by Fionalein
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If you are after legitimate counselling or psychological help; please don't rely on volunteer amateurs over the internet. Please get professional help. There's no shame in doing so.

I know it sounds harsh, and I know that there are many well-meaning people that want to give up their time to help; but they simply lack the training to both provide you with the help you need, and to look after their own mental health in the process. If you just want to talk, and the "counsellor" understands that you just want to talk, then that is fine - but if it ever gets to the point where you are after help rather than just a chat, please seek professional help. I can't understate the importance of that.

Source: I'm part of a suicide prevention group in another game's community. We had to introduce strict guidelines about the help our volunteers offer to those in need, as the enthusiastic yet unqualified were causing harm to both themselves and those that came to us. Mental healthcare is not something you can just make up or trust your gut with.

@everyone else; the fact that he asked for "counselling or even psychiatrists" should make it pretty obvious that he means psychologists, as colloquially the two terms are interchangeable. No need to spend half a page arguing semantics.

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4 hours ago, Benson Gravois said:

I was wondering if there are services offered anywhere on the grid like counselling or even psychiatrists? Does anyone have any info?

Should this not be in the roleplay section?

Or are you serious? You're not serious, are you?

If you are, be wary of anyone offering counselling services for less than L$ 15,000 per hour and make sure their RL credentials are legit and whether your health insurance will cover it. My advice would be to seek help IRL instead of in SL. For some things it's still better to see people face to face IRL, rather than avatar to avatar, especially when it comes to health matters.

Edited by Arduenn Schwartzman
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I've known some people (possibly actual psychologists or licensed counselors, probably not) who wanted to offer counseling in SL.  As far as I know, they all quit after a short time.

It's very hard to do counseling in a situation where you can't see the patient to read their body language and facial expressions.  Also, they can poof at any time, due to emotional stress, Real Life interruptions, technical difficulties, or just the announcement of a sale in their group chat.  Even worse, a lot of people in SL like to play mind games.  They roleplay a disturbed person, and sit back behind their monitors giggling as the therapist gets all concerned.

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On 10/2/2018 at 2:12 PM, Lindal Kidd said:

  They roleplay a disturbed person, and sit back behind their monitors giggling as the therapist gets all concerned.

:qft:

Also, i think HIPPA compliance would be another consideration (which, as far as I'm aware of, is essentially impossible in SL).

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  • 3 weeks later...

I agree with many posters here. I would advise seeking a real psychotherapist and possibly a psychiatrist if you need one. There are websites that apparently offer paid counseling but I wouldn't trust these, to be honest.

There might be licensed professionals in SL but treatment may be suboptimal - if they even choose to help you, since trolls are indeed an issue. 

Again, seek a real person to treat you. There is no shame.

And take care with bad doctors. A bad one is worse than no doctor.

Now, roleplay does exist and you can probably find someone who is willing to pretend they're a therapist.

Edited by LennoxGregor
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