The main difference comes down to training background and scope of practice. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who attend medical school and complete psychiatric residency training. Nurse practitioners come from a nursing background and complete advanced graduate training in psychiatric care. Both can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication, and in practical terms, we provide very similar services for most patients.

Therapists (including psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and mental health counselors) focus primarily on talk therapy and cannot prescribe medication. They’re experts in helping you process emotions, change thought patterns, and develop coping skills through various therapeutic approaches. Many of our patients see both a nurse practitioner for medication management and a therapist for ongoing counseling, which often provides the most comprehensive care.

The nursing foundation of nurse practitioners tends to emphasize collaboration, education, and treating you as a whole person rather than a collection of symptoms. We typically spend more time with patients than psychiatrists and take a more hands-on approach to coordinating your overall care.