Primary Care Physicians

Primary care physicians are often the front line in the care of patients with emotional or behavioral problems, because the symptoms of those problems are typically physical, leading to an office visit. Primary care physicians can feel safe referring patients to Recovery International self-help groups.

The following are some common situations where a primary care physician could refer a patient to Recovery International:

1. Patients with no obvious emotional disorder who are coping badly with their day-to-day problems;
2. Patients with emotional disorders who initially refuse specialist care. Attending the group helps many overcome the sense of shame associated with the disorder, so professional care becomes more acceptable to them;
3. Patients referred to a mental health professional who must wait a considerable length of time before their first appointment; and
4. Patients waiting for medications to take affect.