Why See a Psychiatrist To Improve Your Mental Health (and not a primary care, NP or PA)

If you are struggling with your mental health, you have many options available to seek the help that you need. You can see your primary care doctor, you should meet with a therapist, you could find a nurse practitioner or physician assistant with mental health experience.

However, we strongly believe that a psychiatrist has the most education and training to help a patient achieve an accurate mental health diagnosis(es) and individualized treatment plan.

At Mental Health and Wellness Associates, we have put together a group of the top psychiatrists in California. We were founded in Santa Monica and offer care and support to all parts of the state of California by telepsychiatry.

Our team is comprised of doctors who have a minimum of four years of undergraduate education and four years of medical school education before they receive four years of psychiatry residency training. Many of our psychiatrist also have received additional fellowship training.

This extensive education and training are what sets our psychiatrists apart from other mental health care providers:

Undergraduate Education

To become a psychiatrist, one must first complete an undergraduate degree, typically in a field related to science or healthcare. However, some medical schools may accept students with non-science backgrounds as well. During their undergraduate years, aspiring psychiatrists should focus on taking courses that are relevant to their future field, such as psychology, biology, neuroscience, and statistics.

Medical School

After completing an undergraduate degree, aspiring psychiatrists must attend medical school. Medical school typically takes four years to complete and involves a combination of classroom learning, laboratory work, and clinical experience. During the first two years of medical school, students learn the basic sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology. In the last two years, they focus on clinical rotations, which involve working with patients in various medical specialties, including psychiatry.

Psychiatry Residency

After completing medical school, aspiring psychiatrists must complete a residency in psychiatry, which typically takes four years to complete. During this time, residents receive specialized training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental illnesses. They work under the supervision of experienced psychiatrists and gain hands-on experience treating patients with a wide range of mental health conditions.

Psychiatry Fellowships

After completing a psychiatry residency, some psychiatrists may choose to pursue additional training in a subspecialty area through a fellowship program. Fellowship programs typically last one to two years and offer specialized training in areas such as addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and psychosomatic medicine.

Continuing Education

Once psychiatrists have completed their education and training, they are required to participate in continuing education activities to maintain their licensure and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field. Continuing education requirements vary by state and specialty board, but they typically involve attending conferences, workshops, and other educational programs. Psychiatrists are mental health specalists. So they are 100% focused on keeping up to date with mental health updates and new cutting edge treatments. 

It is easy to see that becoming a psychiatrist requires a significant amount of education and training. Psychiatrists must complete an undergraduate degree, medical school, a psychiatry residency, and possibly a fellowship program. In addition, they must participate in continuing education activities throughout their careers. This extensive training prepares psychiatrists to provide expert care to patients with mental illnesses and to make a positive impact in their communities. They are true mental health specialists and have the most specific and most substaintial mental health related education and training to provide you with an accurate mental health diagnosis and individualized treatment recommendations. 

If you are interested in becoming a new patient, please schedule a time to speak with our practice manager (using the "book online" button above) or call our office today.