Choosing a Therapist Most people with depression can be treated in an office setting by a psychiatrist or other therapist. Infrequently, the level of dysfunction may be serious enough to warrant hospitalization in order to provide protection from further deterioration or self-harm. Mental Health Professionals . Some psychiatric nurse clinicians. Although other mental health professionals cannot prescribe drugs, most therapists have arrangements with a psychiatrist for providing medications to their patients.
Psychologists have graduate-level training, including an internship in a mental healthcare facility.
A clinical social worker has a master's degree and two years of supervised experience in mental health and human services. Advanced-practice psychiatric nurses have a master's degree and can provide therapeutic services. The patient should describe problems briefly but specifically over the phone to any prospective therapist to get a sense of whether he or she will suit the patient's needs. An advanced degree does not necessarily guarantee quality therapy. The patient's belief in his or her health provider may be the most important component in recovery, as indicated by studies reporting that placebos relieve depression in about half of patients and in some cases actually work better than psychotherapy.