Exploring Therapy: Finding A Licensed Online Psychiatrist

Mental health and therapy

If you’re looking for personalized support that combines medicine and psychology for your mental health symptoms or to treat or diagnose mental health conditions, an in-person or online psychiatrist may have the knowledge and expertise to help. Licensed psychiatrists are trained physicians who specialize in the treatment of mental, behavioral, and personality disorders. These medical professionals are highly trained and equipped to treat a diverse array of mental illnesses through psychiatry sessions.

Exploring mental health therapy with an online psychiatrist

If you want to see a psychiatrist, you have options. In addition to being available for an in-person visit, there are many platforms that can match a patient with a web-based psychiatrist, so you can enlist their help without compromising your schedule. To start, you might explore your options for psychiatric care, reasons why you might choose psychiatry, and how online therapy can enhance your psychiatric treatment plan.

Psychiatrists vs. psychologists

Both psychiatrists and psychologists work in mental health, but prior to entering the field, they undergo different types of training. Unlike psychologists, who are primarily trained to provide psychotherapy and talk therapy, both in-person and web-based psychiatrists have graduated from medical school and have a deep understanding of human biology and psychological concepts of human behavior, development, and personality. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and perform medical tests, which psychologists cannot do. 

The BetterHelp platform is not intended for any information regarding which drugs, medication, or medical treatment may be appropriate for you. The content provides generalized information that is not specific to one individual. You should not take any action without consulting a qualified medical professional.

Educational and training requirements for online psychiatrists 

Both in-person and online psychiatrists are uniquely trained to work within the framework of a mind-body connection. Due to their understanding of human biology, they can prescribe medications and provide clients with a medication management plan. Qualifications in psychiatry may mean that practitioners can prescribe controlled substances such as certain anti-anxiety medications. They can also order medical procedures, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which can treat mental illnesses like major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Because they are also trained in psychology, they often understand how psychotherapy and psychological tests can complement these medical treatments.

If you believe you would benefit from a mental health treatment plan with a combined approach of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatments, an in-person or web-based psychiatrist may be the best option for you.

How to find an online psychiatrist

You might begin your search for a psychiatrist by asking close friends and family, browsing through web-based therapy platforms, or asking your primary care doctor and nurse practitioners for psychiatrist recommendations. Your primary care physician may write you a referral so that you can schedule an appointment with a psychiatric provider more quickly. If you are more comfortable starting your search discreetly, an online platform can allow prospective patients to connect with psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. 

Online psychiatry platforms: What are a few options to explore?

To learn more about potential psychiatric resources, consider the following websites: 

• American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) (Note that this directory primarily focuses on therapists but may include other mental health professionals, including psychiatrists.)
• U.S. News & World Report

Online psychiatrists and their subspecialties

You might also pay attention to each psychiatrist’s diverse range of subspecialties, which are specialty certifications within the mental health field. For example, in-person or web-based practitioners may specialize in child psychiatry, couples and family psychiatric concerns, or specific mental health conditions, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, or eating disorders. It can be helpful to choose an online mental health professional based on your specific mental health challenges and goals.

How do I choose the right psychiatric platform for me?

As you search, you might begin compiling a list of potential mental health services, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychiatrists you would like to start collaborating with. You can email or call their office to schedule a consultation, depending on your preferred contact mode. Before attending your first appointment, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recommends screening the practitioner for the following considerations:

• Compatibility with your insurance company, if they accept insurance
• Education, which includes board-certified subspecialties and areas of expertise (You can check their credentials at the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.)
• Teaching experience 
• Scientific publications that they have written
• Years of experience
• The website and description of their medical approach
• Other patients’ reviews

What to expect at your first online psychiatry session

What will a psychiatrist do after an evaluation?

If you’re curious about medication, note that psychiatrists may only prescribe medication after a psychological evaluation. An evaluation may include a thorough review of your medical history, health records, and goals. Depending on your symptoms, they may also order psychological and medical tests, such as brain imaging or blood tests, to rule out any underlying causes of your concerns.

With this information and your consent to pursue psychiatric treatment, the practitioner may develop a personalized treatment plan. Although they may decide to add or alter your medications as part of your treatment, mental health conditions may not always require medication. In these cases, a psychiatrist may recommend therapy or another non-medicinal treatment to improve and manage a patient’s symptoms. Online therapy can be a convenient way to receive mental health care.

Online psychiatric options for mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder

Through platforms like BetterHelp, board-certified therapists can provide therapeutic treatment for ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions. At this time, BetterHelp does not include online psychiatrists. However, after you meet with an in-person or web-based psychiatrist, they may suggest that you connect with a therapist whose specialty or approach aligns with your needs, and BetterHelp can assist with this part of your care.

Finding help with medication management online

When it comes to mental health, it can be difficult to find the time—let alone the words—to ask for help. However, many psychiatrists offer online mental health care to make services available to a wider variety of patients. Online care can provide the same professional insight and treatment through online visits as you’d receive in person. In some cases, you may meet with your psychiatrist in person during your first consultation and then continue treatment via video chat or another digital platform. Whatever your preference, it can be possible to find web-based help and receive a thorough assessment without leaving home. Often, health insurance providers like United Healthcare can support you financially to see a practitioner. 

Online psychiatry support options

Both therapeutic and psychiatric services are expanding rapidly to meet the needs of mental health patients. While many studies focus on the benefits of online therapy, many researchers point toward the potential of digital solutions in psychiatric treatment, such as virtual reality to facilitate exposure therapy for phobias, chatbots to deliver CBT, and voice and facial recognition software to support diagnoses.

Finding an online psychiatrist for your health conditions

If you want to work with an online psychiatrist, some directories (such as the APA Finder tool) allow you to filter the results. As you explore options, you might keep in mind that forming a healthy therapeutic relationship with your practitioner can often be key to therapy’s effectiveness, as medication management is usually a collaborative process.

If you’re ready to begin your mental health journey but unsure if psychiatry is right for you, online therapy can be an effective stepping stone to other treatments. Online therapy can provide benefits such as flexible scheduling and often offers a wider range of mental health professionals.