How to Find a Psychiatry Provider: What to Look for and Where to Start

Have you been struggling with your mental health? Sometimes, meeting with a therapist for talk therapy can provide effective care. But in other cases, you might need additional support and help, such as medication. 

This is when a psychiatry provider, such as a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner, may be helpful. But finding one might be difficult, especially if you live in an area with few mental health resources. 

So we’ll guide you through where to start your search — and what to look for before choosing a provider for mental health treatment. 

Understanding the role of a psychiatry provider 

Psychiatry providers, therapists, and psychologists can all diagnose mental health conditions. However, only psychiatry providers, such as psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, can prescribe medications and provide medication management as part of a treatment plan following a diagnosis. 

Since they have medical training, they can also address physical symptoms of mental health concerns, as well as diagnose underlying medical conditions that may contribute to or worsen symptoms.

So appointments with a psychiatry provider can look different than appointments with a therapist. Below, we’ll go over these differences in more detail. 

Meeting with a psychiatry provider vs. a psychologist 

Both psychiatry providers and psychologists are mental healthcare professionals with advanced degrees. However, psychiatry providers have medical degrees, while psychologists have doctoral degrees, so they use different approaches to help individuals with mental health conditions. 

Psychiatry providers tend to focus more on the medical or biological aspects of a mental health condition, such as chemical imbalances in the brain. They might prescribe medication to help manage mental health symptoms, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. Some also offer psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”). 

Psychologists can help treat or manage mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders or depression. But they focus more on the emotional and/or behavioral aspects. 

These professionals typically use talk therapy or psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to address mental health concerns. They don’t have medical training and cannot prescribe any medication.

Meeting with a psychiatry provider vs. a therapist 

Therapists can also diagnose and help address different types of mental health concerns, but like psychologists, they can’t prescribe medication. They use talk therapy techniques to help individuals improve their well-being or manage specific concerns, such as relationship problems or stress.

While they can provide therapy to help those with complex or severe cases, such as bipolar disorder, ADHD, or eating disorders, it’s often in combination with treatment from a psychiatry provider.

Whether meeting with a psychiatry provider, therapist, or psychologist, you usually won’t need a referral from your primary care doctor. But it’s a good idea to check with your healthcare insurance company for exact details on your coverage. Some insurance plans do require a referral before they will cover the cost of services.

When to see a psychiatry provider 

When you’re dealing with any kind of mental health concerns, knowing who to turn to for professional help isn’t always easy. Should you find a psychiatry provider or meet with a therapist? 

You don’t have to determine this on your own. In fact, it’s a good idea to consult with your primary care provider to discuss your symptoms and get their recommendation. 

However, there are some signs and symptoms that can indicate that treatment from a psychiatry provider may be more effective, such as:

• Excessive stress that interferes with day-to-day activities or regular routines
• Excessive or irrational fears
• Significant disturbances to sleep patterns, such as frequent or chronic insomnia 
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide (Please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to get help right away)
• Inability to manage emotions

Keep in mind that these symptoms don’t always mean that someone is experiencing a mental health condition, but it never hurts to get a professional opinion.  

6 ways to find a psychiatry provider 

Psychiatry providers are less common than therapists, and it can be difficult to find one, especially if you live in a rural area with limited access to mental healthcare services. If you’re ready to find this kind of mental health professional, there are several places to look, including:

1.  Telehealth platforms 

Online therapy platforms have become more common as demand for them increases, and they’re convenient options for finding psychiatry providers. Since you meet with the provider via video chat, rather than in person, it eliminates many barriers to care.

Whether you’re looking for medication management, therapy, or both, SonderMind can connect you with a psychiatry provider who fits your needs and preferences. 

Our process starts with just a few quick questions to determine what kind of mental health care you’re looking for. We then connect you with the right licensed mental health professional — whether that’s a psychiatry provider or a therapist. 

2.  Online directories and databases 

There are also directories online that allow you to look up or browse through psychiatry providers to find one who fits your needs. 

For example, you might use an online database to see which providers are available in your area who take your insurance. You can typically use other filters, such as gender and treatment methods, to narrow down your search even more.

SonderMind offers a directory for psychiatry providers, including psychiatric nurse practitioners. This directory makes it easy to browse through our available providers and learn more about their backgrounds and services. 

3.  Insurance provider networks

Using your health insurance might provide a more affordable way to receive psychiatry services. But you’ll need to make sure you choose a psychiatry provider who is in-network with your health insurance company. 

Most health insurance websites have their own databases you can use to look up in-network psychiatry providers. You can also get in touch with your insurance company to learn more about the types of mental healthcare your insurance plan covers and get help finding a provider.

4.  Mental health clinics or community health centers 

Your own neighborhood or greater community might offer the help you’re looking for. Check with local mental health clinics or community health centers to see if they offer psychiatric care. 

Some of these facilities provide this kind of care for underserved populations. You may even be able to find low-cost or free services to help make psychiatric care more affordable. 

5.  University medical centers and hospitals 

Hospitals and university medical centers in your area might also have psychiatric care available through specialized behavioral health programs or resident clinics. Depending on the services that are offered, you might have access to medication management, psychotherapy, or both. 

6.  Referrals from trusted sources 

It’s important for you to feel comfortable working with your psychiatry provider, so recommendations or referrals from people you trust can be a great place to start.

You might ask your primary care physician or healthcare provider for a referral to a psychiatry provider who they recommend. If you’re seeing a therapist already, they might be able to refer you to a psychiatry provider as well. Or, if you’re comfortable with it, you can even ask friends and family for recommendations. 

How to find a psychiatry provider without insurance 

If you don’t have health insurance — or you prefer not to go through your insurance company — you can use online directories or telehealth platforms to find psychiatry providers who offer self-pay rates. You might also be able to find them through mental health clinics and community health centers. 

At SonderMind, we believe everyone should have access to the care they need. So we offer affordable self-pay rates for psychiatry services to support individuals who don’t have or don’t want to use their insurance coverage. 

Get connected with a psychiatry provider with SonderMind 

There are plenty of options available for finding psychiatry providers, even if you don’t have insurance or easy access to local mental healthcare services. If you’re not sure whether these services are right for your needs, you can always start with a consultation with your primary care doctor and go from there. 

But if you’re ready to find psychiatry services for yourself or a loved one, SonderMind can help. At SonderMind, we can help you determine your specific needs and connect you with a psychiatry provider for medication management, therapy, and other services.

Get started with SonderMind today and begin your journey toward improved quality of life and mental wellness.