Finding an Online Psychiatrist for Trauma: Questions and Checks

Know who you are looking for

The National Center for PTSD says psychiatrists have either an MD or a DO degree plus specialized training in diagnosing and treating mental health problems, and that they can prescribe medicine. Primary care physicians, physician assistants and some nurses can also usually prescribe for PTSD. It adds that working with a specialist who commonly sees patients with PTSD is ideal.

Your insurance may allow you to see only certain types of mental health professionals, so check your policy. Also check that the person is licensed in the state where you will physically be during your visits, because online care does not remove that question.

How to check a license

A license check is free and takes little time. It is reasonable to do this for anyone, including us.

• Pennsylvania: the Department of State has a page called Verify a Professional or Occupational License on pa.gov, which lets you search for a professional's license and links to professional licensing disciplinary actions.
• New York: the State Education Department's Office of the Professions has an online verification search for physicians. Its FAQ also points to the Department of Health's Office of Professional Medical Conduct for board actions and complaints.
• Other states: look for the state's own licensing board site, rather than relying on a directory listing or an ad.

Questions to ask before your first visit

You are choosing someone to trust with sensitive parts of your life, so it makes sense to ask. These questions fit an email, a call or a first conversation.

• Do you often see people with PTSD, and how would you describe your approach?
• Will I need to talk about what happened, or can I decide how much to share?
• How do you make decisions about medicine with patients, and how do you handle off-label use?
• How will we check whether treatment is working, and how often will we meet?
• What happens between visits if I have side effects, and what should I do in an emergency?
• Are there any medicines you do not manage by video?
• How do you work with a therapist, and what do you need from me for that?
• What are your fees, and how does insurance work with you?

Signs of good care to look for

The National Center for PTSD lists four signs of quality care that can guide you, and says they do not all have to be present. You are involved in your care, with your provider discussing both talk therapy and medicine options. You follow a proven treatment. Your progress is measured, perhaps through a brief questionnaire from time to time. And you are improving, by your own sense of how you are doing.

A prescriber who knows PTSD guidance should be comfortable talking about benzodiazepines and about FDA-approved medications for PTSD. The point is not that they should agree with everything you read, but that they should explain their reasoning clearly and listen to your goals.

Coordinating with a therapist

The National Center for PTSD says some mental health providers offer talk therapy, others prescribe, and some do both. Many people end up with two people on their team. NIMH says discussions with a provider are private and cannot be shared without your expressed permission, so coordination runs through you.

Give each clinician the other's name, say what you are comfortable sharing, and keep one current list of your medicines. If you already have a therapist, ask them whether they have worked with a prescriber they would suggest. Their view can be a helpful starting point, and the choice stays yours.

Considering our team

A licensed psychiatrist on our team, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with more than three decades of practice, treats anxiety, depression and trauma by secure video. You must be physically located in Pennsylvania or New York during each visit. See online trauma treatment, or our pages for Pennsylvania and New York. Ask us whether our psychiatrist can help through our medication care contact form, and ask about fees, insurance for psychiatry and ages seen.

Our therapists do not prescribe. Trauma therapy with our team is available in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Arizona and Colorado, not New York. With your permission, a psychiatrist and therapist here can coordinate care. Our trauma and PTSD therapy page has more detail. If you are in crisis while you look for care, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services. The right fit is worth looking for, and many people find it with a little persistence.