You don’t have to choose between therapy and psychiatric care. The best results often come from combining both.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a therapist, a psychiatrist, or both, you’re not alone.
Many people exploring mental health treatment aren’t sure where to start or how the different types of providers fit together.
The good news is, you don’t have to choose just one! Therapy and psychiatric care often work best when they’re combined as part of a coordinated treatment plan.
In this post, we’ll highlight the differences between therapy and psychiatric care and explore how these approaches can work together to support your health:
What’s the difference between therapy and psychiatric care?
Therapists provide talk-based support to help you understand your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This might include coping strategies, emotional processing, skill-building, and exploring patterns in your life or relationships. Therapists do not prescribe medication.
Psychiatric providers (psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) focus on diagnosis, medication management, and overall treatment planning. They can prescribe and adjust medications to help regulate mood, anxiety, attention, and more.
Both forms of care are important, and each can play a unique role in your mental health journey.
Why combining therapy and psychiatric care can be so effective
Research shows that many mental health conditions are best treated with a combination of therapy and medication. For example:
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Depression: Medication can help with energy, sleep, and mood regulation, while therapy helps address negative thought patterns and daily functioning.
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Anxiety: Medications can ease physical symptoms like racing heart or restlessness, making it easier to fully engage in therapy.
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OCD and PTSD: Exposure-based therapies like ERP or trauma-focused CBT often work best when symptoms are managed well enough to engage consistently.
Together, therapy and psychiatric care can offer more comprehensive, personalized support.
What coordinated care looks like
When your therapist and psychiatric provider work together, it creates a strong foundation for progress. Coordinated care might include:
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Shared treatment goals
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Regular communication between providers (with your consent)
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A unified plan for adjusting treatment as your needs evolve
This kind of collaboration helps reduce the risk of fragmented care and ensures that everyone on your team is working toward the same outcomes.
You don’t have to figure it out alone
At Sonder, many clients choose to work with both a therapist and a psychiatric provider. Some start with one and add the other as needed. There’s no wrong entry point—just the next right step for you. We’ll help you decide what type of care makes the most sense based on your goals, symptoms, and preferences.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply unsure what you need, that’s okay! Let’s start with a conversation.
Curious about how therapy and psychiatric care can work together?