Psychiatric Treatment Team

Who treats psychiatric disorders?

Mental health disorders are complex and require clinical care by a multidisciplinary treatment team. Team members may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• child and adolescent psychiatrist
  Child and adolescent psychiatrists are licensed physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Their medical and psychiatric training with children and adolescents prepares them to treat children and adolescents either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can prescribe medications, if needed.
• psychiatrist
  Psychiatrists are licensed physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. Their medical and psychiatric training prepares them to treat adults and children either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications, if needed.
• psychologist
  A psychologist is a specialist in the study of the structure and function of the brain and related behaviors or mental processes. A psychologist may provide psychological evaluation, assessment, testing, and treatment, but may not prescribe medications.
• social worker (B.A., B.S.W., M.S., M.S.W., and licensed clinical social worker, or LCSW)
  A social worker (undergraduate or graduate-prepared) often works with the family to reach the long- and short-term treatment goals, as established by your physician. A social worker may perform several forms of psychotherapy with the patient and family, as necessary.
• psychiatric nurse
  A psychiatric nurse is masters-prepared as a clinical specialist in psychiatric mental health nursing. A psychiatric nurse is educationally and clinically trained in psychopathology, individual, group, family therapy, and crisis intervention.