When Should You See a Psychiatry Provider? Key Indicators to Know

Getting the right type of care is important for managing mental health disorders and improving mental well-being overall. But if you're looking for help for yourself or a loved one, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out which type of provider will be the best fit.

Different kinds of help and treatment are available. And psychiatry services may be appropriate in some cases — either alone or in combination with other mental health care services. 

In the following sections, we’ll help you understand when it may be more helpful to see a psychiatry provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. We’ll also go over how these providers help treat mental health concerns.  

SonderMind offers convenient and specialized psychiatric care to help manage mental health conditions covered by most major insurance plans. 

Do I need a referral to see a psychiatry provider?

In most cases, you can meet with a psychiatry provider without having to get a referral from a primary care doctor or other healthcare provider. 

But some psychiatry providers do require referrals, and depending on your plan, your health insurance provider may need a referral before they cover the cost of services. So, if you have a healthcare plan that you plan to use, it’s best to check with your insurance company first for coverage details. 

At SonderMind, psychiatry services are available without a referral, whether you see an in-network provider or take advantage of our affordable self-pay rates. 

Seeing a psychiatry provider vs. a therapist or psychologist 

While they all provide mental healthcare services, there are several differences between seeing a psychiatry provider, psychologist, or therapist. Below, we’ll discuss these main differences — from the kind of training and education they receive to the length of treatment to expect. 

Education and training 

Psychiatry providers, psychologists, and therapists are all licensed professionals — but with different levels and types of education and training. Psychiatrists need to earn a medical degree, such as a Doctor of Medicine (MD), and complete a residency. 

Psychiatric nurse practitioners need to complete an undergraduate degree in nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN test to earn their certification and RN license. After this, they need to earn a master’s degree in nursing with a specialization in psychiatric mental health care. 

Psychologists need a doctoral degree, such as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. They also require postdoctoral training for a year before obtaining a license. 

Therapists need a master’s degree, at minimum, with a focus in the mental health field, such as a degree in counseling or psychology. They also receive clinical training during their graduate program. 

Treatment approach

Psychiatry providers typically use a medical approach to manage mental health concerns. They can evaluate, diagnose, and provide treatment for mental and behavioral health disorders. This includes evaluating and treating the physical aspects of these disorders, not just the mental aspects — such as frequent headaches with anxiety or depression. 

Therapists and psychologists use a therapeutic approach to address mental health concerns. They can evaluate and diagnose mental health disorders too. But their treatment approach typically focuses on the behavioral and/or emotional aspects of these conditions. 

Medication and talk therapy 

Psychiatry providers, therapists, and psychologists also have access to different treatment methods. Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners can prescribe medication for mental health disorders, such as anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants. 

Therapists and psychologists do not have medical training and can’t prescribe medication. These mental health professionals focus on talk therapy or psychotherapy and behavioral interventions. 

While psychiatry providers can also offer these services, many choose to focus on medical treatments and refer patients to other mental healthcare practitioners for therapy. 

Conditions treated 

Psychiatry providers, psychologists, and therapists can all diagnose and treat mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and mood disorders. 

But psychiatry providers can provide care for other conditions that affect mental well-being. They can also treat ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and more complex disorders, such as schizophrenia and dissociative disorders. 

Therapists and psychologists treat mental health disorders and address specific mental health concerns or situations, such as self-esteem issues, grief, relationship problems, or family conflicts. They can help individuals work on improving certain life skills, such as communication and conflict resolution skills, for better mental wellness. 

Length of treatment 

While it can vary depending on the person’s needs, in general, the duration of treatment with a psychiatry provider may be longer overall but with shorter sessions. 

For example, after the initial consultation, someone taking an antidepressant might meet with a psychiatrist every month for brief medication management sessions over a number of years. 

The length of treatment with psychologists and therapists might be shorter overall but include longer or more frequent sessions. Someone struggling with anxiety might meet with a therapist every week for 45 minutes or more over the course of several months, or longer depending on their unique needs.  

What are the signs that you should see a psychiatry provider?

While it varies on an individual basis, these signs, symptoms, and situations may indicate that seeing a psychiatry provider could be helpful. If you are experiencing any of these signs, they don’t always mean you are experiencing a mental health condition. 

• Severe or persistent mental health symptoms 
• Unexplained physical symptoms 
• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm (Please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for immediate help)
• Trauma or PTSD
• Difficulty functioning in daily life
• Chronic stress or burnout 
• Referral from your primary care provider 
• Detachment from reality, such as experiencing hallucinations or delusions
• Desire to explore medication management 

You may not know if you should meet with a psychiatry provider for mental health concerns — and that’s okay! At SonderMind, we can help you connect with the right mental health professional based on your needs.

How a psychiatry provider helps 

Psychiatrists and other psychiatry providers can offer effective care for many mental health disorders and other issues that affect mental well-being. Below, we’ll go through several ways in which these providers help patients, from evaluating mental health symptoms to working with therapists and other healthcare providers. 

Diagnosis of mental health disorders

An accurate mental health diagnosis helps ensure that you receive the right care. Psychiatry providers conduct in-depth evaluations in order to make diagnoses with a high degree of accuracy. This involves psychological assessments for emotional and behavioral symptoms — but it might also include medical testing.

Mental health disorders can sometimes cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heart or digestive issues. As professionals with medical training, psychiatry providers can evaluate both physical and mental symptoms to diagnose mental health conditions. 

Medication prescription and management 

In some cases, individuals need medication to help manage a mental health disorder, and only psychiatry providers can prescribe and manage these medications. For example, they might prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or an antidepressant for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Medication management includes monitoring side effects and adjusting dosages as needed to ensure effective treatment. Psychiatry providers typically meet with patients regularly to evaluate how well their current medication is working. Based on these sessions, they can adjust dosages — or even switch medications if necessary.

Therapy and counseling 

Medication management isn’t the only treatment that psychiatry providers use. Some also use psychotherapy methods, such as psychodynamic therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In some cases, talk therapy is used alongside medication in these cases to provide patients with behavioral and emotional support. 

An individual with an anxiety disorder might meet with a psychiatry provider for medication management, and with a therapist for CBT. This treatment plan may provide them with more effective results than medication or talk therapy alone. 

Treatment of co-occurring conditions 

Some patients live with two or more conditions at a time, such as a mental health disorder like anxiety, along with a substance use disorder. Having co-occurring conditions can create complexities that may require psychiatric mental health treatment.

For example, if an individual has both depression and an alcohol addiction, they may need the professional help of a psychiatry provider. The provider can help them recover from their substance use disorder safely without worsening their depression. 

Ongoing monitoring and adjustment of treatment 

Treatment is an ongoing process that involves regular monitoring. Psychiatry providers continuously track patients’ progress, and if needed, they can make adjustments to treatment plans, such as changing a medication dosage or trying a different psychotherapy technique. 

This regular monitoring helps patients continue to make progress. If any new problems or conditions come up, the provider can address them. For example, if a patient experiences severe anxiety while receiving care for bipolar disorder, a psychiatry provider can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication or recommend additional therapy.

Collaboration with other healthcare providers 

Psychiatry providers may not offer all of the services that a patient needs. But they often collaborate with other healthcare providers to deliver holistic care that helps fully meet patients’ mental and physical needs.

For example, a psychiatric nurse practitioner might work with a psychologist to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for a patient. Or a psychiatrist might refer a patient to a therapist who specializes in a specific therapeutic approach.  

Let SonderMind connect you with a psychiatry provider today 

Psychiatry providers offer valuable services to help treat many different mental health disorders and concerns. The biggest difference between them and therapists or psychologists is that they have a medical degree. This allows them to prescribe medications and diagnose and treat underlying physical health issues as well.

So individuals who have complex needs or require medication to help manage mental health conditions may find it more beneficial to work with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Are you considering seeking help from a psychiatry provider? At SonderMind, we can connect you with the right mental healthcare provider for your needs. 

Start your journey toward better mental wellness today!