sporkiatry: the practice of a psychiatrist who has the knowledge, skills, and personal attributes to adroitly use both a "
spoon" and a "fork." In the trade, a "
spoon" (medicine
spoon to dispense meds) is known as medication management and a "fork" is known as the ability to analyze and assist - get correct data, synthesize and analyze the data, and, in a truly consultative way, promote correct thinking and interventions.
"Therapy" does not include (1) psychoanalysis (passive), (2) superficial
work like weekly "debriefings"; (3) anything less than supportively challenging clients to move towards mindfulness, wellness and health. Dr. Phil, but way less arrogant. Sporkiatry is uncommon and not a term to be used loosely or without regard to a psychiatrist's actual ability to use both a
spoon and a fork.
Sporkiatry and sporkiatrists are in short supply due to the dumbing down of psychiatry as "biological psychiatry" since about 1979. Although the terms have been used by some to disparage those in psychiatry who would "deign" to provide both
spoon and fork services, the term has the exact opposite meaning. Clearly, psychiatrists who cannot effectively provide both
spoon and fork services would NOT have a clue about what a true sporkiatrist can do or of sporkiatry's power.
Sporkiatry and sporkiatrist are related to "
spork," a word invented more than 100 years ago to stand for a utensil that was both a
spoon and a fork. See "spork" at
wikipedia.
