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 Berkeley, 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 Berkeley 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 licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners at Thriveworks in Berkeley, CA can support people who feel that they’ve temporarily lost their way and need a little guidance.
Psychiatrists and other psychiatric providers diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental health conditions that can interfere with daily functioning. But the psychiatric nurse practitioners at Thriveworks don’t treat the condition; they treat the person. This means that each Thriveworks client gets compassionate, expert, personalized care.
How Do Psychiatrists Diagnose Mental Health Conditions?
A psychiatrist’s evaluation and diagnosis process may include the following elements:
- Comprehensive discussion of cognitive and behavioral symptoms
- Psychological tests
- Physical tests
- Lifestyle questions (i.e., do you abuse drugs or alcohol? Do you exercise regularly?)
- Medical history
- Family medical history (because some mental health conditions like bipolar disorder have genetic components)
- Consultation with the individual’s other doctors and caregivers
- Mood charting
- Psychosocial evaluation (What are your relationships like? Do you have a support system?)
Who Can Psychiatrists Help?
The licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners at Thriveworks in Berkeley, CA have experience treating the following issues, and many more:
- Major depression
- Mild depressive disorder
- Dysthymia (depression lasting longer than two years)
- Postpartum depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Ecological anxiety and ecological grief
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Type I bipolar disorder (manic depression)
- Type II bipolar disorder (which involves hypomania)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Childhood psychiatric issues
- Specific phobias
- Self-harming behaviors
- Violent behaviors
- Libido concerns
- Psychotropic medication adverse side effects
- Anger and rage
- Sex or gambling addiction
- Substance abuse
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Personality disorders
- Hallucinations
- Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia
- Sleep disorders like insomnia
Book an Online Appointment with a Psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Berkeley, CA
Here at our Thriveworks office in Berkeley, CA, most clients can meet with their provider within the same week of their initial call or online appointment booking. Thriveworks psychiatric nurse practitioners meet clients online at their convenience.
Thriveworks psychiatric providers are fully licensed and accept most major health insurance plans. For people who don’t have health insurance coverage, Thriveworks offers affordable self-pay rates.
Book your psychiatry session at Thriveworks in Berkeley, CA today to find out what makes our providers so exceptional. We can’t wait to help deliver the premium mental health services you deserve.