Psychiatric consultations can help patients find treatment for many mental health conditions. Dr. Jesalva offers consultations to residents of the Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Simi Valley, Agoura Hills and Camarillo areas of east Ventura County in Southern California.
What is a Psychiatric Consultation?
The purpose of a psychiatric consultation is to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of the psychological, biological, medical and social causes of your mental health issues or problems. Psychiatrists are trained in medicine as well as mental health, which gives them a unique perspective on the interactions between the health of the body and the health of the mind. A simple psychiatric consultation usually takes two or three sessions, while a comprehensive consultation takes a minimum of four sessions.
Why Do I Need a Psychiatric Consultation?
If you have been working with your primary care doctor on behavioral or mental health issues, your doctor may refer you for a consultation. Although psychologists can provide psychotherapy, they cannot prescribe in most states, which could be another reason for a psychiatric referral. Sometimes the purpose of the consultation is to identify the best possible use or combination of medications for a particular condition, or to obtain recommendations for ongoing care. In other cases, your doctor or therapist may feel you need the more specialized services a psychiatrist can provide.
What Does the Psychiatrist Do?
Psychiatrists have expertise in both medical and mental health care management. He or she may make an assessment of your needs and recommend medications to your primary care doctor. If your problems are particularly complex or you need intensive therapy, the psychiatrist may take over your mental health care for a while. In addition, the psychiatrist will evaluate other aspects of your care that may be affecting your mental health, such as medication interactions and side effects, or undiagnosed conditions. In most cases, once your condition has stabilized, your primary care doctor will resume your medical management.
Is it Easy to See a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatry is one of several medical specialties in which shortages are present and getting worse. Part of the problem is the large group of baby boomers, who are living longer and often have chronic care needs. Mental health has only recently been included in many insurance companies' policies (which is a good thing), but the combination of expanded mental health care and universal care has greatly increased demand. Psychiatrists and primary care doctors are the two medical specialties with the greatest shortages, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges.
What is a Psychiatric Consultation?
The purpose of a psychiatric consultation is to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of the psychological, biological, medical and social causes of your mental health issues or problems. Psychiatrists are trained in medicine as well as mental health, which gives them a unique perspective on the interactions between the health of the body and the health of the mind. A simple psychiatric consultation usually takes two or three sessions, while a comprehensive consultation takes a minimum of four sessions.
Why Do I Need a Psychiatric Consultation?
If you have been working with your primary care doctor on behavioral or mental health issues, your doctor may refer you for a consultation. Although psychologists can provide psychotherapy, they cannot prescribe in most states, which could be another reason for a psychiatric referral. Sometimes the purpose of the consultation is to identify the best possible use or combination of medications for a particular condition, or to obtain recommendations for ongoing care. In other cases, your doctor or therapist may feel you need the more specialized services a psychiatrist can provide.
What Does the Psychiatrist Do?
Psychiatrists have expertise in both medical and mental health care management. He or she may make an assessment of your needs and recommend medications to your primary care doctor. If your problems are particularly complex or you need intensive therapy, the psychiatrist may take over your mental health care for a while. In addition, the psychiatrist will evaluate other aspects of your care that may be affecting your mental health, such as medication interactions and side effects, or undiagnosed conditions. In most cases, once your condition has stabilized, your primary care doctor will resume your medical management.
Is it Easy to See a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatry is one of several medical specialties in which shortages are present and getting worse. Part of the problem is the large group of baby boomers, who are living longer and often have chronic care needs. Mental health has only recently been included in many insurance companies' policies (which is a good thing), but the combination of expanded mental health care and universal care has greatly increased demand. Psychiatrists and primary care doctors are the two medical specialties with the greatest shortages, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges.