looking for a gun/CHL-friendly psychiatrist in San Antonio

[applefan]

My buddy is looking to get a concealed carry license. He sees a psychiatrist for some minor non-disqualifying issues, but the doc is very much anti-gun. Anyone know of a good psychiatrist in San Antonio, or Austin if necessary, that is gun-friendly and seeing new patients? You can IM me if you want your own info private, and I will keep it that way.

Thanks all

[philip964]

I would recommend that your friend, delay his or her purchase of a gun and/or his CHL, until he or she no longer needs the services of a Psychiatrist or until his or her current Psychiatrist is Ok with his gun and CHL. The latter would be preferable. I encourage your friend heed the recommendations of their current Psychiatrist.

Psychiatrist shopping can be dangerous. Andrea Yates' husband went Psychiatrist shopping and that did not turn out well for her five children.

[fickman]

Welcome to the forum. With a first post like this, many are going to be hesitant to jump right in and give advice. We see a lot of trolling by people trying to incite a rage or prove that the pro-gun crowd is irresponsible.

We get nervous and leery when the first post of a new user is a questionable use of force or a question to help navigate the fringes of the CHL law. My apologies if this seems unwelcoming to you. I do understand that these are the very scenarios that will often compel somebody to find our community and ask those questions.

Most here agree that we don't want unfit people, e.g. felons, domestic abusers, drug addicts, repeat offenders, and the mentally insane to have firearms.

A lot of people have bumps in their past or were part of truly unfortunate circumstances that can be explained. Many people seek forgiveness, rectify wrongs, and honestly change from the inside out. This community is generally warm and cautiously welcoming to these repentant people, but even they often get friendly admonition about lifestyle or the company they keep.

I hope your buddy finds what he's looking for, and, if appropriate, I hope he becomes a responsible, law abiding gun owner / carrier.

I don't have any specific help to offer you. I don't doubt that somebody may send you a PM. In the meantime, feel free to add an entry to our "Introduce Yourself" thread.

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[baldeagle]

This is the law.

(d) For purposes of Subsection (a)(7), a person is incapable of exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun if the person:

(1) has been diagnosed by a licensed physician as suffering from a psychiatric disorder or condition that causes or is likely to cause substantial impairment in judgment, mood, perception, impulse control, or intellectual ability;

(2) suffers from a psychiatric disorder or condition described by Subdivision (1) that:

(A) is in remission but is reasonably likely to redevelop at a future time; or

(B) requires continuous medical treatment to avoid redevelopment;

(3) has been diagnosed by a licensed physician, determined by a review board or similar authority, or declared by a court to be incompetent to manage the person's own affairs; or

(4) has entered in a criminal proceeding a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

(e) The following constitutes evidence that a person has a psychiatric disorder or condition described by Subsection (d)(1):

(1) involuntary psychiatric hospitalization;

(2) psychiatric hospitalization;

(3) inpatient or residential substance abuse treatment in the preceding five-year period;

(4) diagnosis in the preceding five-year period by a licensed physician that the person is dependent on alcohol, a controlled substance, or a similar substance; or

(5) diagnosis at any time by a licensed physician that the person suffers or has suffered from a psychiatric disorder or condition consisting of or relating to:

(A) schizophrenia or delusional disorder;

(B) bipolar disorder;

(C) chronic dementia, whether caused by illness, brain defect, or brain injury;

(D) dissociative identity disorder;

(E) intermittent explosive disorder; or

(F) antisocial personality disorder.

(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), a person who has previously been diagnosed as suffering from a psychiatric disorder or condition described by Subsection (d) or listed in Subsection (e) is not because of that disorder or condition incapable of exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun if the person provides the department with a certificate from a licensed physician whose primary practice is in the field of psychiatry stating that the psychiatric disorder or condition is in remission and is not reasonably likely to develop at a future time.

If you buddy hasn't been diagnosed with any of the above, then his psychiatrist is irrelevant. He should fill out form CHL-78-C if its relevant

Indicate any history or information, of treatment and/or diagnosis received by, commitment to, or residence in: a drug or alcohol treatment center licensed to provide drug or alcohol treatment under the laws of this state or another state; OR a psychiatric hospital; OR a mental institution following an adjudication as a mental defective or court ordered commitment or treatment (per 18 U.S. Code § 922(g) (4)); OR court ordered outpatient treatment; OR a physician for a psychiatric disorder or condition that causes or is likely to cause substantial impairment in judgment, mood, perception, impulse control, or intellectual ability (per Texas Government Code § 411.172(d)(1)).

He should not lie when he fills out his application.

He doesn't need a pro-CHL psychiatrist. He needs an honest psychiatrist. If his current psychiatrist is going to lie to prevent him from getting a CHL, then he needs to find another psychiatrist anyway. Getting psychiatric counseling from a dishonest professional is unwise.

[applefan]

Thanks bald eagle

Like I said he is qualified but wants a psychiatrist that isn't driven in general by silly personal opinions. It's good for the gun community to take their business to honest folk instead of more gun grabbers. The chl thing just brought it more to his attention, I promise this doc is a lousy physician in plenty of other ways.

[Zoo]

Thanks bald eagle

Like I said he is qualified but wants a psychiatrist that isn't driven in general by silly personal opinions. It's good for the gun community to take their business to honest folk instead of more gun grabbers. The chl thing just brought it more to his attention, I promise this doc is a lousy physician in plenty of other ways.

In that case, he should go to his insurance company's doctor search, select psychiatry as the specialty, and randomly pick one that's convenient. If his current "doc is a lousy physician in plenty of other ways" then a random choice has a good chance of being an improvement.

If he's willing to spend more than the 90 seconds required for that, he can Google 4 or 5 convenient doctors from the list and see what their patients think. That how I picked my new PCP after I moved.

[C-dub]

Thanks bald eagle

Like I said he is qualified but wants a psychiatrist that isn't driven in general by silly personal opinions. It's good for the gun community to take their business to honest folk instead of more gun grabbers. The chl thing just brought it more to his attention, I promise this doc is a lousy physician in plenty of other ways.

In that case, he should go to his insurance company's doctor search, select psychiatry as the specialty, and randomly pick one that's convenient. If his current "doc is a lousy physician in plenty of other ways" then a random choice has a good chance of being an improvement.

If he's willing to spend more than the 90 seconds required for that, he can Google 4 or 5 convenient doctors from the list and see what their patients think. That how I picked my new PCP after I moved.

If your friend doesn't like the doc for other reasons besides being anti-gun and he's anti-gun then I see no reason to stay with him anyway. Find a new doc and if he's anti-gun, which if your friend doesn't have any of those disqualifying disorders, then I wouldn't even ask the doc what his or her position is on the matter because it won't matter.