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 Abingdon, VA 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 Abingdon 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?
What Is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?
A psychiatric nurse practitioner (NP) is a medical professional who can prescribe medication treatment for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders?
There are some of the symptoms that may indicate to a psychiatric NP at Thriveworks in Bristol, VA the need for further assessment:
- Difficulty focusing or paying attention
- Extreme mood swings
- Persistent sadness that lasts longer than two weeks
- Extreme fears and worries
- New eating behaviors
- Manias
- Hallucinations
- Difficulty sleeping or staying awake
- Repetitive behaviors
- Obsessive thoughts
How Do I Know If I Have a Psychiatric Condition?
To determine whether or not you have a psychiatric condition, a psychiatric NP at Thriveworks in Bristol, VA can walk you through all the steps necessary to diagnose someone with a mental health condition–or to find another root cause for distressing emotions or behaviors that are impairing your daily functioning.
The process of diagnosis may include taking a medical history of you and your immediate family members. It may also include a comprehensive discussion of your symptoms, your lifestyle, and your psychosocial environment. A full evaluation could incorporate psychological tests.
Some psychiatric conditions may only last a few months, while others may be chronic conditions that require long-term care and treatment. But for most people, it’s a relief to find a psychiatric NP who can help them understand what’s going on and treat mental difficulties.
What Happens in a Psychiatry Session?
A psychiatry session may include medication management, psychotherapy, meditation training, mindfulness exercises, CBT, exposure therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). The most effective approach will depend on the doctor’s unique skill sets and the client’s individual needs.
Initial sessions with psychiatric NPs are typically longer, then follow-up sessions can be shorter if clinically indicated. Ideally, a client will develop a trusting, open relationship with their psychiatric NP at Thriveworks in Bristol, VA.
Schedule with a Psychiatric NP at Thriveworks in Bristol, VA
The psychiatric NPs at Thriveworks in Bristol, VA are currently accepting new clients. They can often see new clients for an initial assessment within a week of a booking. Thriveworks also accepts most major forms of health insurance, helping to relieve clients’ financial stress.
Psychiatric NPs can meet with Thriveworks clients virtually through online counseling appointments–a convenient and secure way to get the mental health care you need from the comfort of your own home.