In the contemporary healthcare system, the initial steps in psychiatric care are often handled by primary care physicians. It’s definitely the case in low-population, remote locations like Soldotna, Alaska.
Dr. Gladys Bailon and the team at South Central Family Practice Clinic are here for you when you need to address your mental health. Conveniently located near Central Peninsula Hospital, we partner with the outpatient psychiatry department if you need additional care.
As family medicine specialists, your family’s mental health is a key part of our concern for your overall wellness. This month’s blog serves as an introduction to psychiatry. It’s a closer look at what psychiatrists do and how they can help improve your quality of life.
There are several levels of practitioner providing mental health care that you can encounter, typically defined by the level of education.
Therapists have master’s degrees in fields related to mental health. These include psychology, counseling psychology, and family therapy specializations. Using techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy and talk therapy, therapists can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, but they can’t prescribe medications.
Psychologists usually have PhD degrees in clinical psychology, often specializing in clinical practice or research. Like therapists, psychologists specialize in behavioral and talk therapies. Psychologists can’t prescribe medications.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor as well as a mental health professional. They can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, and they can prescribe medications as part of treatment.
Family physicians, like Dr. Bailon, often diagnose and treat mental health conditions, particularly the most common, including:
Generally, family physicians treat mild and moderate mental health conditions, referring complex and treatment-resistant conditions to specialist psychiatrists. Your family care provider is often well-placed to recognize behavioral changes caused by mental health conditions, as well as knowing how physical conditions may impact on your mental health.
Dr. Bailon, like other family physicians, can prescribe medications to help your mental health conditions as well as providing counseling.
Perhaps the main advantage of using our clinic as your mental health contact point is the ease of access. The stigma of mental healthcare can also be relieved when you have an existing relationship with the practitioner with whom you share.
We can integrate mental and physical health more naturally, and coordinating your care starts with us. Your continuity of care is best served with Dr. Bailon as your primary point of contact.
Choose South Central Family Practice Clinic as your starting line for psychiatric care. Call or click to book an appointment with us today.
