Will a Psychiatrist Do Talk Therapy?

With so many mental health professionals to choose from, such as a psychiatrist, counselor, or psychologist, it can be difficult to keep track of who to go to for what type of treatment. Psychiatry and psychology are the two primary fields that overlap in the mental health field, but there are key differences. Psychologists receive education up to the doctoral level in the study of the human mind and human behavior. In contrast, psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health.

Because of the differences in educational and training backgrounds, how these professionals approach mental health therapy will also differ. Most counselors and psychologists use talk therapy to treat patients. This is known as psychotherapy and allows the patient to speak candidly with a therapist, sometimes with questions as guides. However, it is not as common a feature in mental health treatment provided by psychiatrists. This may be because they have other tools at their disposal that may not be available to other mental health professionals.

Psychotherapy as part of psychiatry

Psychiatrists study not just the mind, but also the body and how the two influence each other. Because of this, psychiatrists are not as reliant on the patient’s self-description of symptoms to diagnose or treat them. Instead, these doctors may also rely on treatments that affect the chemical or biological makeup of a person. Note that unlike most other mental health professionals, they may write prescriptions.

Even so, virtually all psychiatrists complete mandatory psychotherapy courses during their university education. Some doctors are also exposed to further talk therapy training while working in psychiatric clinics. Psychotherapy may be commonly used as part of the diagnosis of a patient. Whether or not a psychiatrist continues psychotherapy beyond diagnosis depends on the preferences of that specific doctor.

How a psychiatrist treats mental illness

Treating mental illness in patients begins with identifying what the problem may be. As previously mentioned, some psychiatrists may use talk therapy as part of the available diagnostic tools. Other methods of diagnosis that may be paired with this include laboratory and psychological tests.

Once a psychiatrist identifies what the mental health difficulty may be, a combination of treatments is used to either cure or manage the problem. Potential treatments include electroconvulsive therapy, psychosocial interventions, medications, and talk therapy. If a psychiatrist does not provide psychotherapy as part of treatment and believes a patient may benefit from this, they may refer that patient to a psychologist or counselor.

Below is a list of the types of drugs a patient is most likely to be prescribed by a psychiatrist:

• Hypnotics
• Stimulants
• Antidepressants
• Mood stabilizers
• Sedatives and anxiolytics
• Antipsychotic medications

Patients who are prescribed medications will typically need to keep seeing the psychiatrist even when no talk therapy is involved. This is necessary for the doctor to monitor the effects of the drugs and take corrective action if necessary.

What to expect during a talk therapy visit

It can help to know what to expect before you begin talk therapy. Many have fears that it is an uncomfortable experience that pushes them to talk about things they are not ready to discuss. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Instead, most patients report a good experience with talk therapy and find it more therapeutic and beneficial than intimidating. It is important to keep in mind that every patient is unique, so what talk therapy is like for one patient may be entirely different for another.

The first talk therapy session

For your very first visit, you may be asked to fill out various forms, including HIPAA forms, insurance information, a medical history, and symptom questionnaires. The first talk therapy session may look different than it does with follow-up visits. The first visit may focus more on a discussion of your symptoms, treatment goals, and other more general information.

Follow-up talk therapy sessions

The follow-up talk therapy sessions offer more of an opportunity to dive deeper into life events and circumstances that may contribute to your symptoms and overall condition. For example, follow-up sessions may include talking about your past trauma, relationships, and other important details that can have a notable impact on your overall mental health.

The bottom line

Because psychologists often cannot prescribe medication, if treatment of your mental health condition requires any form of chemical or biological treatment, it may make sense to find a psychiatrist who also practices psychotherapy. This may be a lot easier than you think.

Request an appointment here: https://www.hopetmsofny.com or call Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center at (646) 578-8152 for an appointment in our New York office.

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