What is the difference between psychiatry and therapy?

Psychiatry and therapy both focus on treating mental health disorders and helping people become the best versions of themselves. However, they do so in different ways. The biggest difference is that psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications and medical treatments to help treat mental health disorders while therapists cannot.

Psychiatry focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health disorders, while therapy focuses on resolving behaviors, feelings, issues, and responses related to the disorder. Depending on the disorder, a combination of psychiatry and therapy can be extremely beneficial.

What does a psychiatrist treat?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can diagnose, treat, and prevent various mental health disorders. Diagnoses are based on criteria specified in the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as the DSM-5. The DSM-5 contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria in order to make an accurate diagnosis for a mental health disorder.

A psychiatrist can diagnose and treat anything from anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and insomnia to bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and substance abuse.

Treatment can involve multiple methods such as talk therapy and medications. Psychiatrists will typically prescribe one or more of the following medications based on your diagnosis: antidepressants, mood stabilizers, stimulants, sedatives, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and hypnotics.

If you are looking for a local NJ psychiatrist, simply search for a ‘psychiatrist near me’ and review the psychiatrists that you feel might be a good match.

What does a therapist treat?

In psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, you will work together with your therapist to address and change any behaviors, feelings, issues, and responses related to your mental health disorder. This can be done in a one-on-one or group setting. Therapists will help you confront any unresolved feelings, improve your relationships, change any self-destructive behaviors, and help you become the strongest and most empowered version of yourself.

Therapists primarily focus on thoughts and feelings and how those affect your daily life and way of living. They can help treat mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and substance abuse.

You can find a local NJ therapist by searching for a ‘therapist near me.’ From there, you can do your research and look for a therapist that specializes in treating your specific issue(s).

What is the difference between counseling and therapy?

Sometimes you may hear counseling and therapy used interchangeably, but in fact, they are two different things. Counseling can help you focus on and work through a specific issue such as stress or marriage problems. It is usually only done for a limited amount of time too, and ends once the problem has been sufficiently addressed or worked on.

Therapy focuses on you as an individual and is a more long-term process. In some instances, therapy can include counseling if specific issues arise and need to be a primary focus.

Mental health treatment with Harmony Bay Wellness

Harmony Bay Wellness has a variety of NJ therapists and psychiatrists to choose from. We are dedicated to helping you achieve happiness which is why we offer both psychiatry and therapy services. Our goal is to provide holistic mental health treatments to heal the mind, body, and spirit. For more information on our services and treatments, contact us today at [Direct].