Navigating the mental health world can be confusing if you don’t have any experience. Here are some questions patients have asked me before. No matter which provider you end up working with, I hope you find them helpful.
What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a therapist?
A psychiatrist is a physician with medical training who specializes in conditions of the mind. A psychiatrist can treat disorders with medications and/or therapy (short for “psychotherapy”). Therapist is the generic word for a person who provides psychotherapy, and can have a variety of degrees such as PhD, PsyD, LMFT, and LCSW.
I’ve never had therapy before, what exactly is it?
The word “therapy” in this context is short for “psychotherapy”, which is psychological treatment of mental distress (as opposed to medication treatment). The goal of treatment can be quite varied, including resolving painful feelings, eliminating self destructive behaviors, improving connections, and strengthening one’s relationship with self. There are many different types of psychotherapy, and no two therapy experiences are alike.
In my practice, I treat psychotherapy as a journey of self discovery, and respect the wisdom of the individual’s own mind. I stay closely attuned to patients’ inner experiences with an open stance, and provide feedback and guidance at critical junctures in ways that are consistent with the patient’s stated goals. I see therapy as a way of helping patients help themselves.
How long will I need to be taking medications?
The length of time a person takes a particular medication depends on a multitude of factors and is a complex clinical decision that should be shared between the patient and psychiatrist. For some it’s a few months, for others many years. There are evidence-based guidelines for medication discontinuation from the American Psychiatric Association for many disorders, which vary depending on the condition, severity, response, previous episodes, etc. Discontinuation of medications should be done gradually and with the guidance of a psychiatrist to prevent withdrawal effects and relapse of symptoms.
Grace Liu, MD 