What type of mental health professional can prescribe medication

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A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with extra training in mental health who can choose to prescribe medications. Some use psychotherapy (‘talk therapies’) approaches like cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat mental health problems. Many psychiatrists work at hospitals, clinics, or health centres, and some have a private office. As they are specialist doctors, you will almost always need another doctor’s referral to see a psychiatrist, and fees are covered by MSP. If you have a valid BC Services or CareCard, you do not need to pay to see a psychiatrist.

A registered psychologist focuses on different talk therapy or counselling approaches to treatments, but they don’t prescribe medication. They have graduate degrees in psychology. There are two different ways to access registered psychologists: the public system and the private system. Registered psychologists in the public system work in some hospitals or schools. You may need a doctor’s referral to access the program, and costs are usually covered by MSP. However, most people need to access registered psychologists through the private system. To do this, you can contact the psychologist yourself—you do not need a referral. Costs are not covered by MSP, but they may be covered by employee health plans. A registered psychologist’s fees charged by hour vary, and some offer lower fees to people with lower incomes.

You’ve probably noticed that a lot of the differences come down to how you pay for different services and how these professionals are educated. The practical differences in how they work are not always so clear. When it comes to your treatment and care, the most important part is finding a professional who supports your own goals. Are you really focused on fine-tuning medications? Are you looking for a particular therapy approach? Does the professional’s philosophy of care make sense to you? Do you like the professional you’re talking to and do you feel safe sharing your experiences? Ultimately, your relationship with the professional is what matters. Instead of focusing on designation, look for a professional who meets your needs and your expectations.

How can I find a psychiatrist or a registered psychologist?

Talk to your family doctor and ask for their recommendations
Ask local mental health organizations for help. You can find local branches through the provincial organizations behind HeretoHelp
Ask a community health centre, outpatient psychiatry program, or mental health team for suggestions
For a list of psychiatrists near you, search under ‘Specialist’ in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia’s Find a Physician Tool but remember that you will first need a referral from a doctor (like your family doctor)
For a list of psychologists near you, search in the British Columbia Psychological Association’s Find a Registered Psychologist tool and you can also learn more about finding a psychologist from the College of Psychologists of British Columbia

Where can I learn more?

Learn more about different mental health professionals in our Working With Your Doctor for Mental Illnesses info sheet
Learn more about accessing free or low-cost mental health services
Learn more about the different places to find help in the article The Right Path for You: Finding your way to and through services in BC

About the author

The Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing a mental illness through public education, community-based research, advocacy, and direct services. Visit www.cmha.bc.ca.

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For some people, psychotropic medication may be a necessary component of their mental health treatment. However, in some cases medication and its side effects can cause serious harm to an individual. To ensure your safety, you should only take prescribed medication under the guidance of a qualified clinician. But what type of clinicians can prescribe medication?

There are many different types of mental health practitioners with varying degrees of academic training and medical responsibilities/privileges. These therapists help make sense of the details and explain which among them are permitted to prescribe psychotropic medication:

Norma Lee, MA, MD, LMFT: There are a variety of practitioners that work in mental/behavioral health. A psychiatrist is a physician (MD) who, after medical school, has completed additional training in psychiatry. An advanced practice or psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner (ARNP or PMHNP) is a nurse who has completed additional training in psychiatry. A psychologist is someone who has received a PhD in psychology, and may be called “Dr.” Psychologists are able to administer a variety of tests. Master’s level clinicians include social workers (LICSW, MSW), mental health counselors (LMHC), licensed professional counselors (LPC), and marriage and family therapists (LMFT).

All of the above can provide therapy but most psychiatrists do not. Psychiatrists and nurse practitioners are licensed to prescribe psychotropic medication in every state. With additional training, psychologists in New Mexico and Louisiana are also allowed to prescribe psychotropic medication. Often, a psychologist or a master’s level clinician will provide therapy to a person and work jointly with a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner who will prescribe and manage their medication. Not everyone in therapy needs medication. Sometimes, for very straightforward issues, diagnosis and medication management may be done by a person’s primary care physician.

Cynthia W. Lubow, MS, MFT: There are several kinds of psychotherapists, such as clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. Traditionally, the only psychotherapists who have been allowed to prescribe medication have been psychiatrists.

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Psychiatrists are medical doctors who, after medical school, specialize in treating mental health issues. They get post medical school training in psychotherapy, psychological theory, and psychotropic prescribing. After training and certification, psychiatrists may or may not do psychotherapy. Some just prescribe medication, some just do psychotherapy, and some do both.

Psychologists have been fighting for years to be able to prescribe as well, and New Mexico and Louisiana have granted specially trained psychologists that right. Also, some advanced psychiatric nurses have limited prescribing privileges.

Psychotherapists in private practice who are not permitted to prescribe medication often have a relationship with a psychiatrist they trust, so that they can refer someone to the psychiatrist for diagnosis, medication evaluation, and prescribing medication when needed. In that case, the person in treatment will see the psychiatrist much less frequently than their psychotherapist, who will provide the therapy.

John Sovec, LMFT: A therapist with just a master’s degree cannot prescribe psychotropic medication, as this is not within their scope of training or practice. Any doctor can prescribe medication, including your general MD, but it is best left to psychiatrists who have a medical degree and specialize in dispensing appropriate medication to people dealing with psychological issues.

In working closely with a reputable psychiatrist, you will be able to find the best match of medication for your needs, and a psychiatrist will be able to monitor your experience making sure that your body is reacting appropriately to the prescription.

A therapist can assist in the process of finding a psychiatrist who will be a good match for your needs, as well as provide a therapeutic environment in which to process the questions and feelings that arise from starting medication for a psychological issue. Many therapists work closely with psychiatrists in their community and are a valuable addition to your team of healthcare professionals.

For many people, starting medication is a big step and having the support of your therapist during this process can make it a safer, less-challenging experience.

The preceding article was solely written by the author named above. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the preceding article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment below.