Understanding the difference between psychiatry and psychology can help you choose the right type of mental health care. While both play essential roles in treating mental health conditions, they use different approaches, different training backgrounds, and different treatment methods. Here’s a clear breakdown of what each service offers.

Psychiatry

Psychiatry focuses on the medical and biological aspects of mental health. As a psychiatric provider serving Illinois, Idaho, and Washington, I offer:

Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluations

Thorough assessments to accurately diagnose conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and perinatal/postpartum mood disorders.

Medical Expertise & Symptom Analysis

Understanding how hormones, sleep, stress, and medical conditions interact with mental health—especially important for women and mothers navigating complex changes.

Medication Management

As a licensed prescriber, I provide safe, personalized psychiatric medication management for adults. This includes antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and other evidence-based treatments.

A Holistic, Mind–Body Approach

My care is rooted in understanding the full picture—your medical history, lifestyle, and daily functioning—to help you achieve long-term stability and emotional balance.

Psychology Services

Psychology focuses on therapy, counseling, and emotional processing. Psychologists and therapists provide:

• Talk therapy
• Behavioral strategies
• Coping skills
• Emotional support
• Psychological assessments

They do not prescribe medication but play a key role in supporting emotional healing.

A Combined Approach Works Best

Many clients benefit from using both psychiatry and psychology together. Medication support combined with therapy often creates the most balanced, holistic improvement—helping you feel grounded, stable, and supported from every angle.