One of my gripes with modern medicine is how we throw drugs at things without giving other routes a solid try, mental health in particular. I'm not criticising individual practice - it's a symptom of "10-minute-slots", defensive practice, failure of training programmes, and year-long waiting lists for therapies such as CBT. I'm not against drugs in, for example, depression, but I do want to learn how to help people through means such as psychotherapy. Sincerity, rapport, finding patient concerns, communication - having started work I know now that these are some of my stronger qualities, and I think I would do well with counselling.
But I don't know how to tie being a GP - which is what I want to do - and psychotherapy together. I don't want to do core psych training or be a psychiatrist. But I do want to learn the skills that are used in psychotherapy and counselling. I also don't know what that combination leads to, or could lead to.
Anyone had similar thoughts, or has ideas of what to think about and explore?