Navigating a depression diagnosis without professional support can feel like you’re lost in an unfamiliar city, driving a run-down car without a map. Sure, you can ask someone for directions, but they may simply point you in the general direction, you might get lost, and you’d benefit from precise guidance. In addition, every wrong turn you make can tire your engine, reduce morale, and push you closer to the point of breaking down.
However, a psychiatrist can be the mechanic you need to tune up your car, hand you a map, and put you on the right path toward healing. If you’re battling depression, conjuring the courage to face this disorder head-on and seek help is key. Understanding the unique approach that psychiatrists take when treating depression can provide clarity as to what will work best for you and help you decipher the difference in care provided by various mental health professionals.
If you’re wondering, “What does a psychiatrist do for depression?” here’s a breakdown that can make your journey toward enhanced mental health a bit less muddy.
A Psychiatric Understanding of Depression
Depression is characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness, loneliness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed — symptoms that can feel impossible to overcome. However, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed and uncertain when trying to manage your depression, and understanding how psychiatrists view diagnosis and treatment can help paint a more clear picture of what psychiatric care will look like and when to seek psychiatric treatment.
An overview of psychiatric care
A psychiatrist is a mental health professional that can diagnose and treat various mental illnesses. The key difference that sets psychiatrists apart from a therapist or counselor is that they can prescribe antidepressants and other medications, adjust dosages, and manage medications. Psychiatrists have either earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor or Osteopathic Medicine (DO), which requires going to medical school and completing a residency in psychiatry.
How psychiatrists view depression
Psychiatrists understand and view depression as both a medical and psychological condition — a biopsychosocial approach that considers psychological processes, social circumstances, and biological factors like genetic predispositions1 . By understanding how these elements coalesce and fuel depression, psychiatrists are particularly equipped to implement appropriate treatments, and care is more personalized for efficacy.
Additionally, while any mental health professional can use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) to diagnose depression, psychiatrists primarily focus on the medical aspects of this criteria. They also use quantifiable measurements to track if depression symptoms are improving or getting worse, using tests that include standardized rating scales, biological indicators, and functional assessments. If you potentially are showing symptoms that overlap with those expressed by other co-occurring mental health disorders, psychiatrists are trained to distinguish between depression and other conditions.
How psychiatrists treat depression
When psychiatrists earn their credentials, they’ll have an intimate understanding of effective therapeutic modalities and will be adequately trained to treat complex mental health issues. This might seem like something any mental health professional can perform, but psychiatrists’ scope of care encompasses a wider range of treatment that includes medication management, specialized treatment like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for depression, and crisis intervention.
Furthermore, psychiatrists can conduct medical evaluations to identify if depression is rooted in a medical condition, and provide appropriate treatment if so. While some psychiatrists may offer depression therapy and check-ins, it tends to be more brief and can lack emotional depth and exploration — a key benefit of talk therapy.
At Neuro Wellness Spa, our team of mental health experts which include psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, therapists, counselors, and social workers will work together with you to curate a treatment plan that is unique to your symptoms and treatment goals.
The Unique Benefit of Psychiatric Depression Treatment
Different healthcare providers will approach depression from different angles, so understanding what these different mental health professionals bring to the table can help you identify which is right for you.
Depression treatment approaches: comparing mental health professionals
When seeking help for depression, you’ll encounter several types of healthcare professionals — including psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors — each with distinct expertise and approaches to care. These include:
- Psychiatrists provide medical evaluations, diagnosis, medication management, and comprehensive treatment planning. They can provide very brief talk therapy, which may not be ideal if you’re seeking prolonged time to discuss thoughts and emotions.
- Psychologists offer psychological assessment, therapeutic approaches, and behavioral interventions. Unlike a psychiatrist, they cannot prescribe medication, but they are experts in helping you identify the psychological root of your mental distress.
- Therapists can teach healthy coping strategies for stress and emotional processing skills via long-form talk therapy sessions, which is good for those who need a safe and nonjudgmental space to share their feelings. They primarily focus on the power of the therapist-client relationship and continuous emotional processing.
- Counselors emphasize life-skill building for specific challenges, but are typically limited in their scope of care.
- Primary care doctors can perform initial screening and basic medication management, as well as referring you to a specialized mental health professional.
- Psychiatric nurse practitioners have earned advanced nursing degrees and state certifications, providing them unique training to treat mental health conditions through therapy and medication management within legal boundaries.
It’s important to remember that there are different types of psychiatrists, and finding the right healthcare provider for you is not a choice of one or the other — a comprehensive treatment plan will seamlessly weave the expertise of multiple mental health professionals into the fabric of your care.
Related: What Is the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and Therapist? Comparing Mental Health Professionals
Signs that a psychiatric depression treatment is right for you
When deciding if you require psychiatric care, there’s a few indicators that will provide clarity. Consider psychiatric treatment if you resonate with one or more of the following symptoms 2 :
- Your depressive symptoms have not responded adequately to traditional treatments or therapy, otherwise known as treatment-resistant depression.
- Your symptoms are having severe impacts on daily functioning.
- Your mental health condition has a complex manifestation with various symptoms that may be rooted in other psychological disorders.
- You have active or passive suicidal ideation, thoughts of harming yourself or others, or other severe symptoms of depression that require specialized care.
- You’re already seeing a therapist but require intensive more care, such as medication management per your therapist’s suggestion.
- You need medication expertise that your primary care doctor cannot provide in regards to your mental health condition.
Making the choice to see a psychiatrist can be a difficult one due to the stigma that surrounds it, but it’s important to remember that seeking help and advocating for yourself is a significant act of courage and bravery.
Psychiatric Depression Treatment Timeline
Starting something new can be scary, but knowing what to expect from a psychiatrist can help you enter your initial assessment with confidence.
Finding treatment
The first step of your journey will start with finding a psychiatry office, for which there are several resources available. For one, you can ask your primary care physician for any trusted and notable psychiatrists within your doctor’s network. If you’re seeing a therapist, they likely have a list of referrals that they can pass along to you. Additionally, insurance providers, local mental health clinics, and hospitals will extend you the same favor, and directories can point you towards quality online psychiatrists.
At Neuro Wellness Spa, we offer a range of psychiatry and therapy options that serve as a one-stop-shop for your mental health needs, including in-person and online psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry, psychiatric medication management, and therapy for depression. Our consultations process acknowledges the often urgent needs of depression, and can help you schedule an appointment in a timely manner.
The first appointment: a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis
The first appointment with a psychiatrist will consist of paperwork, physical health examinations, psychiatric evaluations, and initial thoughts on diagnosis. Paperwork that you’ll be asked to fill out include medical history forms, insurance details, questionnaires detailing your symptoms of depression, and various consent documents. Clinical examinations will give the psychiatrist insight into your current psychological state, and you’ll be asked to divulge any history with substance abuse or alcoholism, family history of mood disorders and major depression, and more informal questions — such as the effect your depressive symptoms have had on your life, when they began, and if you’ve been treated.
After the first appointment, you are able to move forward on your journey with ample support from your psychiatrist. Be sure to ask questions along the way, remain honest, and always be vigilant about advocating for yourself.
Creating a medication treatment plan
The authority to prescribe medication for depression is what sets a psychiatrist apart from other mental health professionals, but with so many antidepressants available, you may not fully understand your options.
There are many different types of antidepressants, including 3,4 :
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI): This type of medication works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, and includes Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI): This antidepressant increases serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which can reduce stress and increase mood regulation and focus. Examples include Cymbalta, Effexor, and Pristiq.
- Atypical antidepressants: While SSRIs and SNRIs work by increasing serotonin or norepinephrine levels, atypical antidepressants block neurotransmitters such as histamine and melatonin. These include Wellbutrin, Trintellix and Mirtazapine.
When a psychiatrist is working with you to find the best medication, your mental health becomes a team effort. Maintain openness and honesty about potential side effects of antidepressants and if your depression medication isn’t working to help you find the right one for you.
Ongoing support and adjusting medications
While questionnaires, assessments, and examinations will give psychiatrists some insight into what medication will be most effective, finding the right antidepressant for you is an inexact science. Some antidepressants may come with side effects, or maybe your current dosage isn’t working in the way you’d like. Medication management can assist you with these concerns, as psychiatrists can adjust dosages or introduce new antidepressants for optimal effects.
Additionally, medication works best with ongoing therapy that can help you untangle the knot of psychological distress that exacerbates depressive symptoms. Psychiatrists will have trusted therapists within their network that can provide prolonged time and a safe space to discuss your thoughts, emotions, and struggles with depression.
Coordinating comprehensive care for maintaining progress
Mental health and depression is a complex issue that requires comprehensive support. Navigating the world of depression treatment options is not a matter of choosing a single mental health specialist that’s right for you. Rather, effective care approaches recognize the multifaceted layers of depression and call upon the expertise of different healthcare providers to collaborate and provide the most effective care for you.
Related: How To Find the Right Therapist for You
How Neuro Wellness Spa Can Support Psychiatric Depression Treatment
At Neuro Wellness Spa, we have a care team that consists of knowledgeable and compassionate psychiatrists and therapists, who welcome the opportunity to support your mental health. Our admissions team can promptly set you up with treatment, and our care recognizes the importance of integrative and personalized approaches.
If a certain medication isn’t working, our medication management services can help find effective options for you, as well as alternatives — such as talk therapy and TMS therapy. Our therapists, psychiatrists, and TMS technicians will all work together in harmony as part of your depression treatment team. Neuro Wellness Spa warmly invites you to begin your journey toward better mental health and elevated mood, so call us today to get started.
References
- Professional, C. C. M. (2025, March 19). Psychiatrist. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22702-psychiatrist
- What is depression? (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
- Depression. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
- The type of antidepressant prescribed most often. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825[6] Professional, C. C. M. (2025b, March 27). SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24797-snri