Please Note: PlushCare does not have online psychiatrists at this time. That said, our primary care physicians are able to prescribe mental health medications such as antidepressants, and if necessary can provide you with a referral to a psychiatrist.
How to Find a Psychiatrist
Are you struggling with your mental health? Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or another mental health issue, you may benefit from seeing a psychiatrist.
What do psychiatrists do? How can they help you? How do you find a good psychiatrist? Can you find a psychiatrist online?
Here are some tips on how to find a psychiatrist.
1
Take your free mental health assessment.
Your results will help determine which type of support you may benefit from the most.
2
Meet with a top doctor, get an official diagnosis and prescription treatment plan.
3
Sit back and have your prescription delivered to your door.
Why Should You See a Psychiatrist?
The biggest reason to see a psychiatrist is to get a prescription for psychiatric medication. Your primary care doctor may feel comfortable prescribing a simple antidepressant. However, for more complicated mental health disorders they may refer you to a psychiatrist.
Psychiatrists are familiar with all psychiatric medications, which ones may be best for your condition, and how they may interact with other medications. Therapists and psychologists can’t prescribe medication, so a psychiatrist is likely to be a key person in your treatment.
Related Quiz: Do I Need Therapy?
What Do Psychiatrists Do?
Psychiatrists primarily prescribe and manage your medications. Some psychiatrists also do talk therapy, while others focus almost entirely on medication management.
Psychiatrists are also the doctors who provide diagnoses. A therapist or psychologist may believe you have a certain mood disorder. However, a psychiatrist is usually required to confirm a diagnosis.
Why Is it Important to Find a Good Psychiatrist?
Finding the right medication or combination of medications can be difficult. Some drugs shouldn’t be used together, while others should be started on a low dose that’s gradually increased.
A good psychiatrist will have the best knowledge to guide you through your medication journey.
How to Find a Good Psychiatrist
There are three main steps to finding a good psychiatrist: search, screen, and consult.
Search
There are lots of sources you can turn to when searching for a good psychiatrist:
Recommendations from friends or family
Check medical centers for their affiliations
Referral from a primary care doctor or therapist
Look for subspecialties
Online directories
Read medical journals
Screen
Once you’ve identified some potential psychiatrists, it’s still important to do some screening to make sure they’re right for you. Look for the following information:
Do they take your insurance?
Does the website seem like the psychiatrist would be a good fit for you?
What are their areas of expertise?
How much experience do they have?
Where did they go to school, including med school and residency?
Do they have specialty board certifications?
Consult
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to just a few psychiatrists, it’s time to see them. A psychiatrist who looks good in theory may not be a good fit when you meet them in person. That’s okay. Keep looking for somebody you jibe well with.
1
Take your free mental health assessment.
Your results will help determine which type of support you may benefit from the most.
2
Meet with a top doctor, get an official diagnosis and prescription treatment plan.
3
Sit back and have your prescription delivered to your door.
Online Psychiatrist
Luckily, you can now find an online psychiatrist. With PlushCare, you no longer need to go to a psychiatrist’s office to get psychiatric medications. You can get the medication you need after a simple video or phone appointment with a licensed psychiatrist.
Getting started is easy. Just click here or call (888) 885-7062 any time to schedule an appointment. You’ll talk to the psychiatrist about your symptoms, history, and current medications.
If they feel you would benefit from psychiatric medication, they can send an electronic prescription to your local pharmacy. Then, all you have to do is pick it up when it’s ready.
It really is that easy to talk to an online psychiatrist and get medication as soon as today. Simply click here get started. You can feel better.
Read More About Finding a Psychiatrist
Sources:
PlushCare is dedicated to providing you with accurate and trustworthy health information.
NAMI. Finding The Best Psychiatrist For You. Accessed on September 6, 2019 at https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2019/Finding-the-Best-Psychiatrist-for-You
The American Journal of Psychiatry. (2017). Patient-Targeted Googling and Psychiatry: A Brief Review and Recommendations in Practice. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2016.110504
Medlineplus.gov. Stress and Your Health. Accessed June 5, 2020 at https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm
