How to Find a Therapist Who Can Prescribe Medication
Several types of clinicians are qualified to prescribe mental health meds. Here's how to connect with one quickly.
When I started therapy, I was curious about psychiatric medication, but wasn’t sure which type of provider could help me understand my options. Should I talk to my therapist about meds? See a psychiatrist? Schedule a visit with my PCP? I had plenty of experience navigating the healthcare system, but this was confusing new territory.
Whether you’re considering medication for the first time, continuing treatment and need a new provider, or are looking to get back on medication, you might also be struggling to figure out your next steps.
After learning the ins and outs of who can manage psychiatric meds and talking to experts at Alma and beyond, I’m happy to share what I’ve discovered so you can move forward with confidence.
How do I know if I can benefit from psychiatric medication?
Many people seek medication without therapy, and vice versa. But, for some conditions — most notably anxiety and depression — you’ll likely experience added benefits if you combine both therapy and medication.
According to 2020 research, patients with depression who combine medication with therapy experience a 35 percent increase in effectiveness compared to therapy or medication as a standalone treatment. A similar 2017 study also found that combined treatment is more effective at improving overall quality of life for those with anxiety.
Which providers prescribe psychiatric medication?
Providers who can prescribe and manage psychiatric medication include:
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who specialize in diagnosing mental health conditions and prescribing and managing medication. If you want weekly therapy as well, you may need to see a separate therapist — some psychiatrists also provide therapy, but not all.
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP)
PMHNPs and PMHNP-APRNs are advanced practice nurses with specialized training in mental health and psychiatric medication management. They can safely and effectively diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and manage your ongoing psychiatric care, but do not typically provide therapy.
Primary care providers (PCPs)
While they’re not mental health specialists, many types of primary care providers, including medical doctors (MDs), specially trained physician assistants (PAs), and family nurse practitioners (FNPs) can prescribe psychiatric meds for common conditions like depression and anxiety. And just like your PCP will refer you to a dermatologist or cardiologist if you need one, they can determine if your circumstances and symptoms require a psychiatric specialist.
Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists (BCPPs)
While not very common, BCPPs are clinically trained pharmacists with specialized training who can prescribe and manage psychiatric medication. They typically work directly with patients in clinics and hospitals.
Do I need a psychiatrist to manage my medication?
You don’t need to see a psychiatrist to manage medication, but it’s definitely a great option. Of all the providers listed above, psychiatrists have the most training and expertise when it comes to prescribing and managing medication for all types of mental health conditions. Psychiatrists are also qualified to provide ongoing therapy, though not all psychiatrists offer weekly sessions.
“A psychiatrist applies their years of extensive training to evaluate the root cause of your symptoms, providing a precise and accurate diagnosis upon which your treatment plan will be based. They’ll then talk through your treatment options to help you figure out a plan that best fits your unique needs and preferences,” says Betterly.
Find a medication management provider
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To find a psychiatrist who is accepting new patients and takes your insurance, you can use advanced provider search tools like the one provided by Alma. (Keep in mind that, depending on your health insurance plan, you may need a referral from your PCP to see a psychiatric specialist.) If you’re unable to find a psychiatrist, there are other highly-trained providers who can help you, including psychiatric nurses.
“Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners are also considered gold-standard providers of psychiatric care,” says Brianna Dawson, PMHNP-BC, PMH-C, a Philadelphia-based psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in helping women overcome anxiety, depression, and perinatal mood disorders. “In my opinion, PCPs should be referring to psychiatrists or psychiatric nurses whenever possible.”
Currently in therapy with a provider who doesn’t provide medication management? Consider letting them know that you’re interested in exploring this option. They may be able to refer you to a psychiatric specialist who they trust. Ideally, whoever you see about medication will collaborate closely with your therapist on your care.
When is it OK to get psychiatric meds from a PCP?
When seeing a psychiatrist is too costly or inconvenient, your PCP may be able to provide you with the care you need. “Due to access to care issues, you might seek care from a PCP in a pinch,” says Dawson. “This can be a short-term care plan, for example 1 to 3 months, for individuals who need to be seen sooner rather than later.”
Seeing a psychiatric specialist may be ideal, but research shows that getting mental health care from your PCP can have advantages, including:
- It’s typically quicker and easier to schedule a visit with your PCP
- Insurance co-pays for PCP visits are often cheaper than specialist visits
- You may have an established and trusting relationship with your PCP
- Your PCP knows your physical health history, so can take a holistic approach
- You can avoid any stigma associated with seeking psychiatric help
The bottom line is that if anything is stopping you from seeing a psychiatric specialist, it’s much better to talk to your primary care provider about your mental health symptoms than it is to wait months to get help or to skip care altogether.
What can I expect from medication-focused sessions?
Once you’ve found a provider who can prescribe medication, you’ll have an initial intake session. You may be asked to fill out forms, such as questionnaires about your symptoms, before the appointment begins. Your first session will likely consist of a thorough mental health evaluation, so your provider can better understand your unique situation and assess what medication options might be a good fit for you.
After your initial intake and evaluation, a provider may suggest following up weekly or monthly. Some factors that may influence the frequency of provider visits:
- Symptom severity: More frequent appointments may be necessary if symptoms are severe or disruptive.
- Medication type: Certain prescriptions, such as controlled substances, require more frequent monitoring than others.
- Risk of side effects: Initial visits may be more frequent to monitor medication effectiveness and side effects. Conversely, if you have already been on a specific medication that works for you, you may require less frequent meetings with a provider.
- Crisis situations: If you’re experiencing a crisis, you may need to see your provider more often.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all process when it comes to prescribing mental health medication. Individual providers might have their own process. Some providers might expect appointments to be shorter and less frequent while others may want more time with you more frequently.
As a patient, you can also express your preferences on appointment length and frequency—and it’s important for your provider to attune to your needs and expectations. If you feel a provider isn’t a good fit, you can always try out another provider.
Are medication-focused sessions more expensive?
Typically, seeing a psychiatric specialist for medication will be more expensive than seeing a primary care provider. However, the cost of visits of individual providers will vary. If you have insurance, choosing a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse who is in-network with your insurance plan is likely to cost you less in co-pays. Note that with some plans, you may have a deductible that you need to meet before your mental health benefits will kick-in.
Without insurance, initial evaluations can range from $300 to $500, while follow-up sessions can range from $100 to $200 per session. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to submit claims from out-of-network providers for potential reimbursement. Even if you’ve already met your main deductible, you may have an additional out-of-network deductible that you have to meet before you can use out-of-network benefits.
How to find a therapist who can provide medication
Finding the right provider to talk to about mental health medication depends on your needs and preferences. Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners provide the highest level of care in terms of medication prescription and management, but can be harder to access. Some primary care providers and pharmacists are also qualified to manage medication but most are not mental health specialists.
If you already have a therapist, asking them for a referral to a provider who can prescribe medication is likely to lead you to a specialist who is well suited to your needs.
Take action:
Explore medication management options
Curious about how medication might help you?
Book a free consultation with one or more psychiatrists or psychiatric nurses on Alma. You can explain your symptoms, ask questions, and learn about their specific approach to care. There’s no obligation to book a first visit, so it’s a great opportunity to explore your options.
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FAQs
Several different types of providers are qualified to prescribe psychiatric medication, but their training and areas of speciality can vary.
Psychiatrists have the deepest expertise. They're medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing mental health conditions and managing psychiatric medication across a wide range of presentations, from common anxiety and depression to more complex conditions. Some psychiatrists also provide therapy, though not all do.
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are another strong option — advanced practice nurses with specialized training in mental health and psychiatric medication management, considered gold-standard providers of psychiatric care alongside psychiatrists.
Primary care providers, including MDs, specially trained physician assistants, and family nurse practitioners, can prescribe psychiatric medications for common conditions like depression and anxiety. They're often more accessible and less expensive than specialists, though they'll generally refer you to one if your situation is more complex.
Board-certified psychiatric pharmacists (BCPPs) round out the list. Less common, they're clinically trained to prescribe and manage psychiatric medication, typically working within clinics or hospital settings. Whatever type of provider you're considering, checking that they're accepting new patients and in-network with your insurance before booking will save you a lot of time.
The most efficient starting point is a therapist directory that lets you filter specifically for medication management. Platforms like Alma allow you to search for psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who are accepting new patients and accept your insurance, removing much of the usual trial and error.
If you're already working with a therapist, asking them for a referral is often the fastest route to finding a prescriber who is well-matched to your needs and who your therapist trusts to collaborate with. Your primary care provider is another good starting point — PCPs routinely make referrals to psychiatric specialists and may have specific providers in mind based on your health history.
A few practical things to check before booking anywhere: whether the provider is in-network with your insurance, whether your plan requires a PCP referral before seeing a specialist, and how long the wait is for a first appointment. Wait times for psychiatrists can be significant, which is one reason psychiatric nurse practitioners can be a great option. If access is the main barrier, your PCP may be able to bridge the gap with short-term medication management while you wait to see a specialist.
For many people, the answer is yes, and the combination tends to produce meaningfully better results than either approach alone. Research has found that for depression, patients who combine medication with therapy see about a 35% increase in effectiveness compared to either treatment by itself. Similar findings hold for anxiety, where combined treatment has been shown to improve overall quality of life more than either approach on its own.
If you're currently in therapy and curious about medication, raising it with your therapist is a natural starting point. They're often well-positioned to refer you to a prescriber they trust, which can make the transition to dual care feel less like starting from scratch.
Therapy, in its many forms, is a process of working through thoughts, emotions, patterns of behavior, and the underlying experiences that shape how you move through the world. It typically involves weekly sessions with a licensed therapist. Therapists in most states cannot prescribe medication.
Medication management is a medically focused service provided by a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or in some cases a primary care provider. The initial appointment involves a thorough mental health evaluation, a review of symptoms, and a conversation about what medication options might fit your situation. Follow-up appointments focus on monitoring how the medication is working, adjusting doses, watching for side effects, and checking in on overall mental health.
Medication management sessions tend to be shorter and more clinically focused than therapy sessions. They're not typically a space for processing emotions or working through life experiences, though some psychiatrists do also offer talk therapy. Many people find that the two types of care work best in combination, with each reinforcing the other in ways that neither could achieve alone.
In most cases, no. The vast majority of licensed therapists, including licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists, are not authorized to prescribe medication. Their training and licensure equip them to provide talk therapy and other psychosocial interventions, not to manage medications.
There is a narrow exception. In a small number of states, specially trained psychologists who have completed a postdoctoral psychopharmacology program and obtained a prescriptive authority license are permitted to prescribe psychiatric medications. If you're looking for this kind of provider, you'd need to confirm that your state allows it and that the psychologist holds the appropriate credentials.
For most people seeking both therapy and medication, the practical path is to work with two providers: a therapist for the ongoing clinical work and a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or primary care provider for medication management.
Yes, and ideally they should. When your therapist and prescriber are in communication with each other, your care tends to be more cohesive and more effective. Each provider has a different vantage point on how you're doing, and sharing that information helps both make better decisions about your treatment.
In practice, coordination can look like your therapist and psychiatrist exchanging notes after major changes in your care, checking in if your medication seems to be affecting how you're showing up in therapy, or collaborating on the overall direction of your treatment plan. You'll typically need to sign a release of information form giving both providers permission to share details about your care.
The level of coordination varies. Some therapists and prescribers have established working relationships and communicate regularly. In other cases, the coordination may be more limited and may require you to pass information between them, at least at first. If coordination is important to you, ask about it when you're first meeting with a new provider.
Going into your first appointment prepared with questions makes a real difference. Some things to consider asking:
- What their diagnostic process is like
- What their experience is treating your specific condition/concern
- What your treatment options are
- The pros and cons of each treatment option
- How you'll know when you're feeling better
- What to do if your symptoms worsen
- When and how you can reach them between visits
- What to do if you run out of medication
- How long it takes for medication to start working
- What side effects you should look out for
- What to do if you notice a severe side effect
- If they’ll coordinate with your therapist and/or primary care provider
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Apr 29, 2025
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