The cost of a psychiatrist depends on your location, the psychiatrist's experience, the type of treatment you need, and whether your visit is covered by insurance or not. Costs are highest in major metropolitan cities like New York, San Francisco, and Boston.

• Without insurance, the average cost to see a psychiatrist is $250 to $500 for the initial evaluation and $80 to $250 for each follow-up visit.
• With insurance, you'll typically pay a standard copay. Check your health insurance plan to confirm whether psychiatric visits are covered and if you'll need a referral from your primary care doctor or not.
• Many mental health practitioners offer sliding-scale rates that are adjusted based on your income for uninsured patients.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, behavioral disorders, and emotional disorders. Psychiatrists can order a wide range of medical and psychological tests to help diagnose your physical and mental state and determine the best treatment approach.

During an initial consultation, you and the psychiatrist will discuss your mental and physical symptoms and family health history. The psychiatrist may prescribe additional tests, medication, therapy, or other treatments. Most treatments and medication plans require periodic follow-up visits.

Yes, a psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor and can prescribe medication. Your psychiatrist will determine if medication is needed and will develop a treatment plan that includes ongoing medication management.

They may also recommend other forms of therapy as an alternative or to complement the medication. Popular supplementary therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). However, your psychiatrist will likely refer you to a psychologist or therapist for these treatments.

Consider seeing a psychiatrist if you're suffering from a mental health condition that negatively impacts your life, such as feeling sad all the time, having difficulty concentrating, having trouble sleeping, or experiencing panic attacks. Common conditions treated by psychiatrists include:

• Depression
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Insomnia
• Eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Complex PTSD
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Schizophrenia

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is authorized to prescribe medication. While psychiatrists will diagnose your mental health condition and determine the proper treatment plan, they typically do not offer talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and will refer you to a psychologist for those services.

A psychologist is not a medical doctor but is trained in helping clients with mental health conditions. Psychologists cannot prescribe medication—except in Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, and New Mexico—but can diagnose issues like anxiety, depression, or phobias and provide talk therapy, CBT, or other treatments.

Most doctors recommend seeing both a psychiatrist and a psychologist to address your condition from both angles.

Most HMO insurance plans require you to get a referral from your doctor to see a psychiatrist. PPO insurance plans typically allow you to see a psychiatrist without first getting a referral.

If you're not using health insurance to pay for the visit, no referral is necessary.

When choosing a psychiatrist, it's important to find one who makes you feel comfortable and respected. Follow these tips to find the best psychiatrist for you:

• If you have a specific mental health concern—such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, or ADHD—look for psychiatrists with experience treating that condition.
• Ask your medical provider for recommendations.
• Read reviews from other patients on Thervo and Google.
• Confirm the psychiatrist accepts your insurance or offers a sliding-scale rate.
• Ask about telemedicine and virtual visit options.
• Schedule an initial consultation to make sure you're happy with the psychiatrist's communication style and empathy.

Ask the psychiatrist these questions before establishing yourself as a patient:

• How many years have you been practicing?
• What is your area of expertise?
• Have you treated other people with my condition successfully?
• What treatment methods do you offer for people with my condition?
• Can you prescribe medication if needed?
• Do you offer virtual/telemedicine appointments?
• Do you accept my insurance? Do you bill the insurance company directly?
• Do you offer sliding-scale rates for patients without insurance?