A therapist has an education specifically rooted in therapeutic practice, approaches, techniques, and treatment. They cannot prescribe medications for clients, thought they often refer clients to psychiatrists for medication management. Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors who specialize in mental health treatment, mainly through medication management and prescription, though they can also practice therapy.
The psychiatrist Irvin D. Yalom once stated, “I believe that a different therapy must be constructed for each patient because each has a unique story.” It seems obvious that every person is different, and yet some psychiatrists just treat the diagnosis, not the individual. But mental health conditions are complicated. Both environmental and genetic factors can influence their course. And the stories a person tells themselves about their mental health condition matter as well. For instance, someone who thinks about their major depression as an illness that’s out of their control and someone who thinks of their major depression as a personal fault (which it’s definitely not) might have vastly different treatment outcomes.
The psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Huntington Beach, CA take all these individualized factors into account when they diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Compassion and personalized attention can be critical to helping clients manage their symptoms and gradually overcome their issues. Thriveworks psychiatrists don’t just doctor with their prescription pads and medicalize personal histories. They use the full extent of their expertise and their humanity to help clients achieve their goals.
What’s a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who specializes in the branch of medicine called psychiatry. Psychiatry deals with mental health, particularly mental health conditions that might be maladaptive. For example, some people experience moods, behaviors, or perceptions that interfere with their daily lives. Psychiatrists can help with these issues. They are trained in psychotherapy techniques, but one of their main professional tasks is to prescribe medications that might support better neurological functioning.
In contrast to Thriveworks psychiatrists, the following mental health providers at Thriveworks in Huntington Beach, CA cannot prescribe medication because they did not graduate from medical school, though their roles are also essential in the mental health field:
- Psychologists (PhDs or PsyDs), who use psychotherapy (talk therapy) to help people understand themselves and their obstacles, and in so doing achieve their goals.
- Licensed professional counselors (LPCs), who provide solution-focused counseling, usually for people with specific issues.
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), who provide counseling and guidance for social services.
- Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), who treat couples or family members for interpersonal issues.
Does Psychiatry Address Mental Health Effectively?
Psychiatry is an effective way to address serious mental health issues like depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and more. Psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Huntington Beach, CA may prescribe medication to address underlying neurochemical imbalances, but they may also be skilled in a variety of evidence-based psychotherapy approaches that treat mental conditions, including the following:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
- Person-centered therapy (PCT)
- Existential therapy
- Exposure therapy, especially for specific phobias
- Systematic desensitization therapy
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness therapy
- Holistic therapy like meditation training or progressive muscle relaxation
- Supportive-expressive therapy
- Anger management
- Emotion-focused therapy (EFT)
- Narrative therapy
- Lifestyle modifications that address nutrition and exercise
- Psychosocial interventions like support groups
- Motivation enhancement therapy (MET)
- Biofeedback
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
What Symptoms Can a Psychiatrist Treat?
The treatment of mental health conditions can be incredibly complex. Symptoms can often overlap and occlude each other. The fully licensed, highly qualified psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Huntington Beach, CA are trained to recognize a wide variety of signs and symptoms that could indicate a treatable mental health condition. Psychiatrists often use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a guide for these symptoms, which include the following:
- Extreme mood swings or frequent bouts of sadness that last longer than two weeks after childbirth might indicate postpartum depression
- Sweating and hyperventilation accompanied by extreme fear and worry might indicate panic attacks, panic disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder
- Difficulty concentrating might indicate attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Atypical eating behaviors might indicate bulimia or anorexia nervosa
- Manias and sleeplessness might indicate bipolar disorder (manic depression)
How Long Does It Take to Get a Mental Health Diagnosis?
The amount of time it takes to get a mental health diagnosis all depends on the individual patient, their history, the existence of co-occurring disorders, and much more. Psychiatrists use a variety of comprehensive assessment tools to achieve an accurate diagnosis, including the following:
- Medical history
- Consultation with primary care doctor
- A full physical
- Psychological tests
- Discussion of symptoms, both cognitive and behavioral
- Psychoeducation on mental health conditions
- Discussion of lifestyle
- A psychosocial evaluation
- Family medical history
Start a Relationship with an Exceptional Psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Huntington Beach, CA
The top-rated psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Huntington Beach, CA can meet with clients online at the client’s comfort level and convenience. These virtual sessions are of equal length and quality as in-person sessions. In addition, Thriveworks clients can reach their provider by phone or email between sessions.
Call today and meet with your premium psychiatrist as early as tomorrow. We look forward to hearing from you!