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16,958 people sought psychiatry/medication help in California in the last year

Discover how starting psychiatry/medication therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

Good news! We have 7 psychiatric NPs in California available for an online or in-person session.

Starting Psychiatry/medication

What is psychiatry?

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses specifically on the medical and psychotherapeutic treatment of mental conditions and disorders.

How does psychiatry work?

Psychiatry allows people struggling to manage mental conditions or disorders to get access to medications that will make daily functioning easier, as well as work through any mental factors that might be causing or worsening their condition. Though medications can't cure mental disorders, medication can make symptoms more manageable, making the process of psychotherapeutic treatment easier and more effective. Psychiatric care can be available through in-person psychiatry and online psychiatry, depending on where you live and your own preferences. However, psychiatric providers at Thriveworks in Huntington Beach, CA specifically offer online psychiatry to their clients.

Does psychiatry deal with anxiety?

Psychiatrists are among the mental health professionals who can prescribe anxiety medication, and they are also capable of offering therapeutic treatment for anxiety as well, though not every psychiatric professional offers therapy. Medication management can be offered via in-person or online psychiatry.

What is the difference between a mental health therapist and psychiatrist?

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.

What's the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Psychologists and psychiatrists receive differing educations, as psychologists are not medically trained the same way that psychiatrists are. Psychologists mainly specialize in providing therapy services and diagnoses for mental disorders — something that most therapists cannot provide — while psychiatrists manage medications and sometimes provide therapy services. The main difference is that psychologists (generally) cannot prescribe medications the way psychiatrists can.

Do psychiatric NPs treat mental disorders?

Psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs) treat and diagnose disorders, prescribe and manage medications, and offer psychotherapy services, too.

How do psychiatriac providers diagnose?

Oftentimes, psychiatrists or psychiatric professionals will perform a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, which involves an in-depth discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and current medications. Once they reach a diagnosis, they may suggest starting certain medications depending on your condition and the intensity of your symptoms.

Is psychiatry/medication conducted in person or online?

At Thriveworks, we offer online psychiatry as well as in-person therapy services for optimal comfort and convenience.

How long does psychiatry last?

Psychiatric services at Thriveworks Huntington Beach can last for as little or as much time as the client needs to reach their treatment goals, whether that be a month or two or over the course of years. treatment length is heavily dependent on the condition(s) being treated, the course of treatment, and the client's goals for treatment.

Need more help deciding?

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!

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Huntington Beach therapists and counselors accept 20 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Blue Shield of California | BCBS

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

  • Humana HMO/POS

  • Humana PPO | EPO | HDHP

  • Imperial Health Plan Medicare Advantage

  • JP Farley Corporation

  • Magellan

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Self-pay costs at Huntington Beach
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

Thriveworks Huntington Beach has no reviews yet, but check out these reviews from locations in California.

4.5 Thriveworks Huntington Beach reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
Thriveworks helped me realize that I do believe people can change. I’m not the person I was three months ago, broken and fearful. I’m healthy and happy and for the first time being kind to myself. Thank you for giving me my life back.
Read more Thriveworks helped me realize that I do believe people can change. I’m not the person I was three months ago, broken and fearful. I’m healthy and happy and for the first time being kind to myself. Thank you for giving me my life back.
Anonymous Thriveworks Client
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Huntington Beach shares an office with many other businesses, including Jason Cellars DDS & Robert Moretta DDS Cosmetic Dentistry, MeTime Massage, Koop Chiropractic, Priority One Bookkeeping, New Life Spirit Recovery Addiction Treatment Center, Kobra Design and Sea Cliff Dental. Next door is Fresh Face Society, and further down the road is First Option Auto Glass. We are right at the intersection of Florida Street and Professional Circle, and north of Professional Circle is Momma’s Chiro, CryoCareUSA, American Nursing Home, Around the Globe Travel, and South Coast Visa & Passport Service.

Phone number

(562) 330-4185

Languages spoken by CA providers

  • Russian
  • English
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in PT

Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in PT

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