Our Providers
Gladstone Providers are MDs, NPs, and Therapists
Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness has qualified and efficient providers that consistently provide quality care.
What’s the difference between a psychiatrist (MD) and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)?
A psychiatrist (MD) is a physician who is specialized in the field of psychiatry to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. A psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who is board certified. A PMHNP has full prescriptive authority to diagnose, treat and prescribe medication to individuals.
Should I schedule my appointment with a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner?
Whether you schedule your appointment with a psychiatrist or a nurse practitioner, you can rest assured that you’ll be in good hands. Our group of qualified and dedicated providers will tailor your treatment to meet your needs.
Can nurse practitioners prescribe medication?
Yes! Nurse practitioners are advanced practice psychiatric nurses who have undergone extensive training and hold licensure allowing them to see individuals without physician supervision. Psychiatric nurse practitioners can provide all behavioral health medications and services psychiatrists can on an outpatient basis.
Who can benefit from seeing a nurse practitioner?
Generally, everyone who needs a thorough evaluation for any psychiatric condition, including problems with mood, anxiety, addiction, eating, trauma as well as other conditions can benefit from seeing a nurse practitioner. Our nurse practitioners review complex clinical situations with other providers who have extra training and experience in those areas.
Specifically, nurse practitioners have access to board certified clinical experts in:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Eating disorders
- Women’s health
- Trauma and PTSD
- Addiction and recovery
- Borderline personality disorder
- Self-harming behaviors
- Mood and anxiety disorders
Additionally, some medical situations such as menopause or sleep apnea are known to be associated with treatable mood and anxiety symptoms. Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat these behavioral health conditions, though the underlying medical conditions would usually be treated by one’s primary care provider.
Who can benefit from seeing a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are doctorate level providers who have had extensive training in all aspects of medicine over 8 or more years. As medical doctors, psychiatrists have no limits on their scope of practice or licensure, though their training and practice is generally more focused on psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
Everyone who needs a complete psychiatric evaluation for any psychiatric condition can benefit from seeing a psychiatrist. Just as with nurse practitioners, our psychiatrists also have access to our in-house clinical experts for consultation.
Because psychiatrists also have considerable training in general medicine as well as psychiatry, those who have medical conditions closely intertwined with psychiatric illness, such as depression after a significant stroke or organ transplant may especially benefit from this expertise.
Please note, Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness does not employ physician assistants.
*Physician assistants have a limited training and scope of practice that requires ongoing and close supervision of a physician. We believe people require care from providers who are licensed and trained to treat individuals without onerous supervision requirements.