Managing Mental Health: Choosing Between An Online Psychiatrist And Psychologist

Updated August 25, 2023by MyTherapist Editorial Team

Have you always wondered what the difference is between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? Perhaps you have been meeting regularly with a psychologist who proposes additional work with a psychiatrist. While the two terms sound similar, there are several distinctions that require psychologists and psychiatrists to undergo different types of training. 

Moving forward, we’ll delve into the aspects of psychiatry that make it stand out from psychology and describe the different ways that psychiatrists may aim to help patients resolve their challenges. By the end of this article, you should emerge with greater clarity on which type of mental health practitioner may be best suited to assist you in reaching your goals.

What Does A Psychiatrist Do That A Psychologist Can’t?

According to the American Psychological Association, "Psychiatry is the branch of medicine focused on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders." Psychiatrists are highly trained medical professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating acute and chronic symptoms of mental health. 

Should You Meet With A Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Or Both?

But wait – isn’t this what psychologists do, as well? Yes, both psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose and treat various mental health conditions. The key difference is that psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medication for mental illness and mental health-related conditions, while psychologists alone are not. 

Psychiatrists have the same medical authority for practicing medicine for the mind as medical doctors have for using medicine to treat the body. Psychiatrists are medical doctors; they usually have a (Doctor of Medicine) M.D. or (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) D.O. that gives them the authority to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for mental illness and related disorders. Psychiatrists often work with doctors specializing in other departments (i.e., neurological, gastrointestinal, OBGYN) to provide a total solution for patients who are experiencing concurrent mental health and medical conditions. 

Psychologists, on the other hand, possess a Psy.D. or Ph.D., which allows them to diagnose and treat mental health-related conditions, but not to prescribe medications or to treat severe mental illness related conditions. While psychiatrists primarily focus on treating medical issues and prescribing medications that can aggravate the symptoms of mental illness, psychologists focus on practicing psychotherapy to teach people experiencing mental health issues how to change and eliminate negative behavior patterns. 

In summary, psychiatrists tend to use medication to suppress symptoms, while psychologists tend to use talk therapy to address the underlying causes of symptoms. Both are valid, and many people rely on both during treatment.

Should I Meet With A Psychiatrist, A Psychologist, Or Both?

Both psychiatrists and psychologists are highly trained mental health professionals. Whether you choose one or the other depends on if you have any existing health conditions or severe mental illness that will probably require a psychiatrist for treatment. If you're experiencing mild symptoms of depression, anxiety, or less severe mental health issues, your best option is likely to consult with a psychologist, who can utilize approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy.

On the other hand, a psychiatrist may be best equipped to treat more severe types of mental disorders, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, or bipolar disorder. When psychology patients report serious mental health issues or are diagnosed with any form of severe mental illness, they may typically be referred to a psychiatrist from a primary care physician, nurse practitioner, or other medical professional. According to the APA, today's psychiatrists can prescribe the following medications as treatments or supplemental treatments for mental illness.

  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-psychotics
  • Sedatives and anxiolytics
  • Hypnotics
  • Mood stabilizers
  • Stimulants

In reality, it is common for today's mental health clients to have both provider types as a total health medical and mental health solution. Having both a psychiatrist and psychologist can help you make more informed and positive life decisions and assure you that any issues you're having don't relate to your physical health. 

Does My Insurance Cover Psychiatry Services?

A good place to look for a free psychiatrist is by doing a quick Google search of the keywords "free online psychiatrist" or "free online psychiatrist chat." Don't be surprised if you don't find any listings for "online psychiatrist free." Psychiatrists are highly trained and sought after medical professionals who are capable of managing a range of minor to severe abnormal psychology disorders. If your free online psychiatrist search isn't yielding many results, you may have to consider another alternative. Fortunately, there are many psychology professionals available, such as therapists or social workers.

Check with your health insurance provider to see if you have any coverages or free options for an online psychiatric consultation. Providers that offer online psychiatric sessions typically provide at least one free session in the form of a free online psychiatrist consultation. Outside of these introductory sessions, you can expect to pay the national average for most psychiatric services. The national mean hourly wage for a psychiatrist is $119/hour, which may differ from state to state. If you live in a geographical area where psychiatry care is more expensive than you can afford, online therapy can be an excellent alternative.

Most insurance companies that have 50 or more employees and state-sponsored health plans purchased through the US government marketplace, have mental health provisions that provide for covering medically necessary and preventative mental health care services as a part of the Mental Health Parity Act that went into effect in 2008. This is important because psychology and physical health go hand-in-hand. It can be difficult to exercise and eat a balanced diet if you are facing mental health challenges; likewise, it can be hard to feel good mentally if you aren't sleeping, eating, or exercising an adequate amount.

Medical insurance companies can't charge more than reasonable and customary rates for common psychology-related concerns. They require pricing and availability for mental health-related services to be equivalent to those for medical providers under this federal law. What this means is that while your mental health coverage for seeing a psychiatrist isn't necessarily free, you may already have reduced coverage or even free online psychiatrist chat with your healthcare provider.

Check with your health insurance provider, including Medicaid, to see if you're covered for this benefit. Keep in mind that while your cost of seeing a psychiatrist is likely to be drastically reduced with insurance coverage, you're still responsible for paying insurance copayments and meeting annual out-of-pocket deductibles.

Getty/Xavier Lorenzo

Online Psychiatry: An Affordable Alternative To Traditional In-Person Therapy

When you take advantage of your free online psychiatrist consultation - usually in the form of a free online psychiatrist chat – you can get an idea of what future online psychiatric sessions might be like and decide if you'd like to continue recommended therapy using this online method, in-office therapy, or a combination of both.

Today's psychiatrists are branching out more than ever within the field of psychology, as their mode of practicing therapy - which largely centers on talk therapy - can be practiced as teletherapy. Many people are able to meet with an online psychiatrist through their health benefits provider. 

Online counseling platforms like MyTherapist grant access to a wide variety of psychologists who can help you out. You can work with an online psychologist and an in-person psychiatrist, for example. If you’re collaborating with a psychiatrist, you will likely meet more frequently in the beginning of your engagement, and then less often between refilling prescriptions. In the in-between time, you can engage in online talk therapy with a trusted professional from MyTherapist.

Online sessions allow clients to take part in therapy in a familiar and comfortable environment. In most cases, clients don't even have to leave their homes to get therapy. Today's online therapy clients simply login to therapy platforms like MyTherapist or BetterHelp, choose their method of distance therapy (i.e., SMS messaging, video, or audio chat), and connect with a licensed counselor who is qualified to provide advice, support, and related referrals. Additionally, online counseling is frequently viewed as a more affordable alternative to in-person therapy.

In your engagement with your online counselor, they will likely use proven treatment approaches like CBT to supplement your medication regimen. Online CBT has shown effectiveness – in some cases, more so than face-to-face therapy – in mitigating the symptoms of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders. 

Getty/Halfpoint Images
Should You Meet With A Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Or Both?

Takeaway

Now that you understand more about the differences between psychiatrists and psychologists, you can make a more informed decision when deciding the best course of treatment for improving and maintaining your mental well-being. Online psychologists are more readily available and can treat conditions similar to those of psychiatrists – just without the ability to prescribe medication. 

Mental health clients who live with mild to moderate mental health disorders may qualify to receive therapy online with licensed and certified psychologists. For medication management and more severe issues, mental health clients should be referred to a qualified psychiatrist in their state or region. In the meantime, if you've been experiencing mild-to-moderate symptoms of mental health and are ready to find relief, contact one of the online psychotherapy experts at MyTherapist to get started today.

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