Different types of doctors have different requirements when it comes to referrals to seek treatment through them. With a psychiatrist, a referral is required to seek medical care, whether through the patient’s family doctor or some other medical professional who feels that the patient needs the specialized treatment a psychiatrist can provide. A patient can also be referred to a psychiatrist by another mental health professional such as a psychologist or a counselor if the patient requires medication that they aren’t able to prescribe or if the mental health condition is causing other physical symptoms.