Which Is Best? Telepsychiatry Or A Psychiatrist “Near Me”

As a psychiatrist in Thousand Oaks, I meet, in person, with patients throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County. However, if you need to find a psychiatrist, you don’t necessarily have to opt for that “psychiatrist near me.” Telepsychiatry can be another option to consider.

What Is Telepsychiatry?
With telepsychiatry, you simply meet using your phone, tablet or computer using a secure connection. A virtual psychiatrist will have the same training as an in-person psychiatrist. Both types of psychiatrists are medical doctors as well as mental health professionals, which means they can prescribe medications as well as diagnose many mental health conditions and create a treatment plan.

Advantages Of Telepsychiatry
These days, more and more medical visits are being handled either by phone or video visits. This, of course, became more common during the pandemic, but it’s likely to continue for several reasons, including:

1. Convenience & Flexibility
With telepsychiatry, you can meet with your doctor in the comfort of your own home or anywhere you have an internet connection. Even if you are on vacation or away for business or another reason, you can still receive quality care from your psychiatrist.

2. Easier Access To Care
For patients with disabilities or mobility issues, telepsychiatry can be a much easier option than in-person visits. There’s no need to arrange transportation or deal with the typical hassles of finding parking spaces, navigating through medical buildings, etc.

Additionally, for patients with anxiety, being able to receive care at home can reduce the stress related to driving in traffic. For patients with depression that might have a tough time getting out of the house to receive care, meeting with an online psychiatrist can be a great option to consider.

4. Reduced Costs
Let’s face it, these days, gasoline prices are exorbitant and if you can avoid driving back and forth from the psychiatrist’s office, you can save a decent amount of money. Likewise, telepsychiatry may eliminate the need to pay for childcare expenses. However, it can be wise to have someone watch your children during a session so that you can focus entirely on the doctor's visit. Still, without having to drive, you can reduce child-care expenses, which is always a positive.

5. Save Time
Our time is precious, and spending it driving to and from appointments can be difficult. You could save an hour or more of your time by simply meeting with your psychiatrist virtually. Additionally, wait times are reduced, as well, because no one is ever late to an appointment due to traffic or other issues. Telepsychiatry can streamline the entire doctor visit process, saving both you and your psychiatrist some much-needed time.

6. Reduce The Stigma
Too often people avoid getting mental health care because they are ashamed of asking for help or ashamed of their condition. Let’s be clear – mental illness is not a weakness, it’s simply a medical condition that usually can be treated. Still, I know that many people are reluctant to seek help or feel as though asking for psychiatric services makes them “weak.”

While this isn’t true at all, that’s the stigma and while we are beginning to break through that stigma, it is still there for some patients. Being able to meet in the privacy of your home can feel like an easier, safer option. You won’t risk being seen by friends or co-workers leaving the doctor’s office, etc. If this level of privacy pushes you toward seeking help, then by all means, opt for telepsychiatry and telepsychology services. We can help you reduce your symptoms and live a happier, healthier life.

Advantages of Using A Psychiatrist “Near Me”
Of course, not everyone prefers to meet online with their psychiatrist or therapist, and that’s perfectly fine. I am always happy to meet in person with my patients, and some people truly need that one-on-one, face-to-face connection rather than a video visit.

In some cases, such as with severe disorders such as schizophrenia, it can be better to meet in person as these individuals can be at higher risk of self-harm and suicide. Of course, there are certain types of therapy, such as EMDR and ketamine treatments that must be handled in person.

We also can opt for a hybrid approach, where we meet in person initially and eventually move toward virtual visits once a treatment plan is in place. With my practice, I try to be as flexible as possible to meet the needs of a diverse group of patients. Every person is unique, so it’s important to curate a situation that is best for the individual.
How To Find A Psychiatrist
With virtual psychiatry, you can move beyond your immediate locality and search for professionals that seem to be a good match for your personality and your mental health needs. In some cases, you might need to find doctors that fit within your insurance plan, but, if possible, it can be good to extend your search to private practices as well, to find a good fit for your unique needs.

I recommend looking at everything from the doctor’s philosophy to searching for reviews and asking for recommendations from other physicians that you trust. Additionally, you will want to select a psychiatrist who specializes in helping patients with your specific mental health issues.

In my practice, I offer services as a bipolar disorder psychiatrist, an ADHD psychiatrist, and a psychiatrist for anxiety and depression. Additionally, I can help treat patients with substance use disorders as well as treat people with co-occurring disorders, which is extremely common.

My goal is to spend time truly getting to know a patient and understanding their issues and symptoms. This helps me create a thorough diagnosis that addresses all of the issues a patient is facing. As both a medical doctor and mental health professional, I can assess whether or not any physical conditions are impacting your mental health and I can help with medication management.

Of course, it is also important to seek the services of a psychologist or therapist. These professionals cannot prescribe medications, but they do provide talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and other types of therapy that can improve your life significantly. Medication can be extremely helpful, but we achieve the best, long-term results with an approach that also includes therapy. ​

Call Dr. Jesalva Today
Whether you want to find a psychiatrist “near me” or you would like to try telepsychiatry, I am always here to help. Don’t suffer another day with mental health conditions. Treatment can be effective, and you deserve to live a happier, healthier life. It might take us some time to achieve these goals, but we will get there together.