There are psychiatrists who offer both therapy and medication management, allowing patients to see a single mental health provider. It may require several phone calls to find a physician who is willing to and enabled to offer both. Frequently these physicians are in private practice.
Because these psychiatrists offer both therapy and medication management, you may find that their offices take a less clinical approach than a strictly medication management clinic. You are more likely to see a functional blend of a calm therapy setting combined with the capability to complete physical exams when needed.
Physicians who feel comfortable providing both services will usually start with a blend of supportive psychotherapy and your psychiatric intake assessment over the first few sessions. Then they will gradually transition to whatever form of care will be most helpful for you. The frequency and structure of your appointments will vary based on whether your care is more therapy or medication based.
Also, remember that within both psychotherapy modalitiesand psychiatry, there is specialization. As a result, you may find that while a psychiatrist offers mixed modality care, they may focus on a particular psychotherapy approach or a specific patient population. For instance, a psychiatrist might have chosen to specialize in therapies and medication management for anxiety, and refers patients who need other types of help to other physicians. Again, this may differ in urban vs remote areas, with urban areas far more likely to have subspecialty psychiatrists.
Whether a mixed modality clinic is better for you is really a matter of preference. Some people prefer to work with a single provider. Others have been taking the same medication for years, and so want to focus their funds and appointments on therapy. The opposite also frequently happens; sometimes people want to find a new medication management provider but are very comfortable with their long time therapist.
As with any treatment plan, it's important to remember that there is no approach that is effective for all people. Rather, it's important to have a conversation with your psychiatrist about your goals and what kinds of treatments you feel most comfortable with, and go from there.
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