Treatment that treats you well

Yes! An online psychiatrist is simply a psychiatrist who chooses to see patients virtually rather than in person. Like any psychiatrist, an online psychiatrist specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating complex mental health conditions.

Online psychiatry is a great option if you’re not sure where to start. For many conditions, virtual care can be as effective as in-person care.

Talkiatry has hundreds of psychiatrists across a broad range of specialties. And all of them take insurance. We’re here to help you understand your symptoms and personalize a treatment plan that works for you.

It depends. There are a lot of factors that will determine how much you pay for your psychiatry appointments and other mental health services. This includes the rate that the psychiatrist charges, whether you’re paying with health insurance or out of pocket, your specific insurance plan, and more. The best way to find out how much your visits will cost is to ask the psychiatry service directly. If you’re paying with insurance, you will also want to reach out to your insurance company to review your health plan and give you a cost estimate.

At Talkiatry, all of our psychiatrists take insurance. While most patients pay an average of $30 per visit*, the cost will depend on the specifics of your insurance plan. For example, if you have already met your deductible you may end up paying less per visit than someone who has not hit their deductible. The best way to get an estimate of your cost per visit is to reach out to your insurance provider. You can find their contact information on the back of your insurance card.

*Includes all types of patient costs: copayment, deductible, coinsurance, and $0 payments. Excludes no-shows. Your medical visit costs can vary depending on your insurance coverage.

There is no difference between an online psychiatrist and a psychiatrist. Online psychiatrists are simply psychiatrists who choose to see patients virtually via telehealth rather than in person. And like all medical doctors, psychiatrists are required to attend medical school, receive a medical degree, and finish residency training in their area of expertise. This amounts to at least 12 years of medical school and medical training—sometimes more depending on their specialty. Because they are licensed physicians, psychiatrists can prescribe medications and diagnose mental health conditions. They are also trained to treat both the physical and mental aspects of their patients’ conditions.

There are a lot of reasons to love virtual psychiatry. Here are a few:

• It’s convenient. You can take your appointment from anywhere that’s private and quiet—like work or home.
• Easy scheduling. With no commute and no waiting room you can easily fit an appointment into a lunch break, mornings, or evenings.  
• Showing up is easy. Open your computer, log in, and you’re there.  
• You don’t have to live near your psychiatrist’s office. If you live somewhere where it’s harder to find care, virtual psychiatry can open up more options for you.

Online psychiatry is simply psychiatry conducted virtually. Instead of seeing a psychiatrist in their office, you’ll talk with them over the phone or on a video call.

Yes–– in most cases virtual care is just as effective as in-person care.   However, there are some conditions that are better treated with in-person care, such as eating disorders and schizophrenia.

 At Talkiatry, our goal is always to find you the best treatment plan. If for some reason virtual care isn’t right for you, we’ll let you know.

All three have an important role in mental health care. Here are the differences between them: 
Psychiatrists are highly trained Medical Doctors (MDs) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who are experts in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions by offering evaluations, prescribing medication, and providing therapy.

Psychologists on the other hand, are not medical doctors but mental health professionals who focus on treating mental health conditions through counseling and behavioral guidance (talk therapy).  The term therapist is more of a general term that can include a range of professionals who are trained to help people work through mental health conditions or challenges using talk therapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or another type of psychotherapy like EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) or psychoanalysis. Licensed therapists can be social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts.

Talkiatry provides real psychiatric care from real psychiatrists. They can help personalize a treatment plan and provide medication management. If they think you might also benefit from online therapy, or in-person therapy, they can also make recommendations and referrals. All your Talkiatry visits will be with the same psychiatrist—both for your initial exam and your follow-up appointments.

An online psychiatrist can treat any mental health condition that does not require in-person care.   At Talkiatry, our psychiatrists specialize in treating anxiety disorders, ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), bipolar disorder, depression, PSTD (post-traumatic stress disorder), OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and insomnia, as well as conditions that affect children and adolescents. 
 


In some cases we can also treat substance use disorder as a secondary medical condition. Take our short online assessment to find out if Talkiatry is right for you. If it is, you’ll be able to schedule your first visit (an initial consultation and exam) online.

Yes, online psychiatrists can prescribe medication. After evaluating your needs, providing a psychiatric evaluation, and reviewing your medical history, your psychiatrist let you know if they think medication could be an effective part of your treatment plan.

All psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe any medication they deem appropriate—this includes controlled substances. However, whether you can get a prescription for a controlled substance from a psychiatrist online will depend on where you live since the laws around controlled substances vary by state. Some states require patients to be seen in person for the duration of their treatment. In other states, controlled substances can be prescribed by psychiatrists online, but there may be other guidelines that need to be followed, like an initial in-person visit. Your psychiatrist will let you know about any regulations that are specific to your state. 
 


The most common controlled substances used in psychiatry are benzodiazepines (like Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, or Valium) used to treat certain kinds of anxiety and stimulants (like Adderall or Ritalin) used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In order to be prescribed any of these by a Talkiatry psychiatrist:

1. They have to believe these medications are appropriate for you after they provide an initial evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan. (If you’re interested in setting up a visit, start with our online assessment.)
2. Your state’s laws need to allow doctors to prescribe controlled substances without an in-person visit.  If you’re currently taking a controlled substance, there’s no guarantee your Talkiatry clinician will agree with your past doctors on your condition or on the treatment plan you’re currently on. As medical practitioners, our doctors must provide their own examinations to determine what they recommend for you.

It depends. Most, but not all, insurance plans will cover online psychiatric services just like they would cover in-person services. The best way to find out if your online psychiatry visits are covered by insurance is to reach out to your insurance company. They will be able to tell you the details of your specific plan.

In most cases, no, but it depends on the psychiatry service you are using as well as your insurance plan (if you are paying with insurance).  

Talkiatry does not require you to have a referral to see one of our psychiatrists.  Some psychiatry services may require a referral from your therapist, primary care doctor, or another health professional.  

If you’re paying with insurance, your insurance plan may require a referral before they agree to cover your treatment.  

The best way to find out if you need a referral is to reach out to the psychiatry service and/or your insurance plan directly.

Yes! Online psychiatrists have the same credentials and training as psychiatrists that see patients in-person and online psychiatry is as effective as in-person psychiatry.

It depends. Most mental health conditions can benefit from virtual treatment (also called telepsychiatry) but some conditions need to be treated with in-person care. If you’re not sure, online psychiatry can be a good place to start. Your psychiatric provider will let you know if they think you will benefit from in-person care.  

Take our short assessment to see if Talkiatry is a good fit for you.

Some do. Psychiatrists specialize in treating mental health conditions through medication management, but many psychiatrists are also trained in talk therapy.  

At Talkiatry, you can expect supportive therapy throughout your sessions. Supportive therapy means that in addition to treating mental health conditions with medication, our psychiatrists will take the time to talk you through and offer coping skills for any mental health challenge you’re facing.

If your psychiatrist thinks additional treatment options, like dedicated therapy services can help with your mental health and general well-being, they’ll provide a recommendation as part of your treatment plan.

Not typically. Therapists tend to focus on providing counseling, talk therapy, and other non-medication-based interventions to help people improve their mental health.  

But there are exceptions. In some states, certain types of therapists, such as psychiatric nurse practitioners or licensed clinical social workers with additional training and qualifications, may have prescribing privileges. These professionals, often referred to as "prescribing therapists" or "prescribing psychologists," undergo specialized education and training that allows them to prescribe medication as part of their practice.

If you think you might need medication as part of your mental health treatment, the first step is to find an online psychiatrist or other mental health clinician. They will ask you about your current symptoms and health history and then recommend a treatment plan, which can include medication, therapy, or both.  

At Talkiatry, you can see a psychiatrist via telemedicine, meaning your visits are virtual and you can join them from home. Take our short online assessment to see if we’re right for you.

We absolutely do. Because we believe online psychiatry services should be affordable and accessible. We partner with major insurers (like Blue Cross, Optum, Aetna, Cigna, United, and more, including some medicare plans) to help make high-quality mental health care more affordable.  

Just like any other doctor (like your primary care physician) we bill your insurance after your visit and won’t charge you until they’ve reviewed your claim.

While text messaging platforms for mental health care are popular, we don’t offer support via text message, only through live video. So we can provide the best possible care, we need to see our patients and have a conversation via telehealth. We believe that’s the best way to give our patients the care they deserve.

We want you to have the time to talk about what’s on your mind. How long your psychiatry sessions are depends on the type of visit. For adults, your first visit (which includes an initial evaluation) is typically 60 minutes. Follow-ups are typically 30 minutes. First visits for child, adolescent, and geriatric patients are typically scheduled for 75 minutes, with follow-ups being 45 minutes.

When you need care wait times for appointments can be a big factor. Typically we can see you in days.