Can anyone recommend a Psychiatrist in Vancouver, BC?

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Got pointed in the right direction and have done my own self diagnosis late last Summer. I've done a fair bit of reading online, read Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome and a couple of Aspie autobiographies. Cross referencing all of this info with my thoughts/behaviours & entire life to date confirms, to me, my diagnosis.

However, I need an official diagnosis for a few reasons and must get a referral to a Psychiatrist who specializes in diagnosing Aserger's and related things. Googling as only been able to bring up one Psychologist in the area that specializes in these things, but the difference here is that getting referred to a Psychiatrist will be no cost to me, and a Psychologist will cost approximately $2,000.00 for a diagnosis. So, I'd much rather find a Psychiatrist.

My family GP is willing to refer me to any Psychiatrist in the area once I find one that's able to find one that deals with these things. Asking here to see if anyone is familiar with one that they'd recommend, as otherwise it looks like my best option will be to go through the phone book and just start dialing.. all of them, and asking. I'm sure I'll find one that way, but it'd be a whole lot quicker and simpler if anyone here already knows who to see in the Vancouver, BC, Canada area.

Please & Thank You in advance,
Richard

Richard - I would contact UBC and see if they can tell you who specializes in your area: http://psychiatry.ubc.ca/

I also recommend you reconsider a psychologist - check it out, because if diagnosed you can claim a lot of the assessment on income tax.

You are in a large center, so should have better luck - but I found out the hard way it was worth my while to ensure I saw someone with the experience and expertise to diagnose - and that meant seeing a psychologist.

These people might help you as well: http://autismvancouver.org/

And, the CMHA may point you in the right direction:

http://www.cmha.bc.ca/

Maybe these guys have a registry: http://www.autismcanada.org/index.html

Good luck!

PM me so that I'll remember this thread and you. I'm e-mailing my specialist as we speak to ask about his network connections in BC.

Thanks for the input, I'll get in touch with UBC & check out the other links.

If I had unlimited financial resources it wouldn't make a difference, I'd just make an appointment to see the one specialist Psychologist that comes up in google searches. But I don't have a bottomless bank account and $2,000.00 is a significant sum to me at this stage in my life, so I won't be voluntarily paying it when there's a free option available covered by public health insurance.

Also, if it makes any difference, I don't need a Psychiatrist or Psychologist to confirm what I've already learned and know about myself. I know exactly which traits I have of what and what they all add up to. I simply need an official diagnosis for a few reasons, so need to get a referral and go have a chat with a Psychiatrist to point out aaallll of the very typical traits I have & get an official diagnosis that will then serve a few purposes, some financial/tax reasons, some possibly for work/career, but also as a 3rd party expert opinion so that family members can no longer discount what I've learned as being self-diagnosis BS - and not because it changes anything in my life whatsoever, but because then they can't (as easily) deny that several of these traits run throughout our family and affect them and their children as well. If it takes me being the first out of Four generations of us all living with this in order to get the ball rolling on some of the others accepting themselves, learning about it & how to manage it for themselves and their children, then so be it. Must be their own Aspie traits of wanting hard proven logical facts vs. the possibility of someone being incorrect. :p But whatever, I'll go get the official seal of approval if that's what will help open their eyes to things a bit better than they're willing to do so far.

I'll be watching this thread, because I'm in a very similar situation and am actually a student at UBC. I was recently told by a psychiatrist that I very likely have HFA/Asperger's. Learning about it actually made a lot of stuff in my life make sense and actually got me almost entirely out of my very bad depression. He said to me too that it would cost about 2000 dollars to get an official diagnosis done. Students like me don't have money either. Anyways I just started seeing a new psychiatrist at UBC but I'm only going in for my second session this week, so I don't know what he does or does not know about Asperger's. I've tried explaining it to my parents, but I don't think they get it. Anyways, good luck, and please keep us informed on your progress.

I got this info in an email reply from someone at BC Mental Health & Addictions Services:

The following psychiatrists see adults with Asperger's:

Dr. Anthony Bailey

Dr. Anton Scamvougeras

Dr. Keith Marriage


So, there ya have it - if you're in the Metro Vancouver area, these are the doctors to look up.

Anyone end up seeing any of these psychiatrists? Any experience with the assessment by say Dr Bailey vs private psychologist?

Nope. I never bothered doing it to appease family members.

Symptoms have since subsided in such a big way that I'm no longer interested in doing so at all - hopefully ever.

I will be seeing Dr. Bailey at UBC within the next few months, i'll let you guys know my experience. I already have an official diagnosis though I just need a psychiatrist for medication and what not.

Hey, thanks so much for this. I know I'm not the OP but I'm still interested. May I ask-how did you get an appt with him? I couldn't find a page for him online...or any info on the ASD assessments by him or ubc or other (not even sure if it's a group of people, or organization)...

I don't have an appointment yet but the ASD specialist who diagnosed me knows him and spoke with him about meeting me. So I'm not sure the exact date yet but it should be within the next little bit. I will make a post on it after I meet with him.

Dr David worling is fantastic