Can a Psychiatrist Do Therapy? What That Looks Like in Practice

Most people assume a psychiatrist only prescribes medication. It is a reasonable assumption. In the majority of psychiatric practices, that is exactly what happens. A patient comes in, symptoms are reviewed, medication is adjusted, and the appointment ends. Therapy, if it is part of the treatment plan at all, happens somewhere else with someone else.

But that is not the only model. Some psychiatrists are trained in and practice formal psychotherapy alongside medication management. At Empathy Therapy, that is exactly what Dr. Mark Chofla offers. He is a board-certified psychiatrist who provides both psychiatric medication management and formal psychotherapy for patients who need one, the other, or both.

For patients who have been bouncing between a prescriber who does not know what their therapist is working on and a therapist who does not know what their medication is doing, this integrated approach is a significant departure from what they are used to.

Empathy Therapy is a fully telehealth psychiatry practice serving adults, adolescents, and children across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida. Dr. Chofla works with patients across a wide range of challenges including anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, trauma, grief, life transitions, burnout, and the compounding effects of sustained stress. New patient intakes are 75 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes. New patients are typically seen within days, not weeks. Evening appointments are available for patients in New York and Florida.

Why Most Psychiatrists Do Not Do Therapy

Understanding why the integrated model is uncommon helps explain why it is valuable when it is available.

Psychiatric practices in the United States are largely structured around volume. Insurance reimbursement rates for medication management are low, which means providers see more patients in less time to make the economics work. A 15-minute medication check generates roughly the same reimbursement as a 45-minute therapy session in many insurance-based settings, which creates a financial disincentive to offer therapy at all.

Private-pay practices are not subject to that same pressure. Because Empathy Therapy does not accept insurance, Dr. Chofla can structure appointments around what patients actually need rather than what an insurance model supports. That is what makes the integrated model possible here and uncommon elsewhere.

New patient intakes at Empathy Therapy are 75 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes. That time exists because the practice is designed around quality of care rather than volume of patients.

What Formal Psychotherapy With a Psychiatrist Actually Looks Like

Psychotherapy with Dr. Chofla is not a casual conversation added onto a medication check. It is formal therapeutic work, structured and purposeful, aimed at addressing the psychological dimensions of what a patient is dealing with alongside the biological ones.

For patients receiving both medication management and psychotherapy, appointments are typically more frequent than for medication-only patients. That frequency builds the kind of consistency and depth that makes therapeutic work meaningful. Progress does not happen in a single session. It develops over time through a relationship that is built carefully and maintained consistently.

The content of psychotherapy varies depending on what the patient needs. For some patients it focuses on understanding and changing patterns of thought and behavior that are contributing to anxiety or depression. For others it addresses trauma, grief, or the psychological weight of a major life transition. For professionals it might involve the patterns of perfectionism, chronic self-criticism, or difficulty managing stress that medication does not address on its own.

One patient described the quality of that therapeutic relationship on Healthgrades:

"Dr. Chofla challenges me when it is needed, but it always feels respectful and grounded in a real understanding of what I am going through. If you are looking for a psychiatrist or therapist who truly takes the time to understand you, not just your symptoms, I highly recommend giving him a chance. I feel supported in a way that is steady and encouraging, and that has helped me make progress that once felt out of reach."

Who Benefits Most From the Integrated Model

Not every patient needs both medication and therapy. Many patients at Empathy Therapy receive medication management only, and that is entirely appropriate for their situation. But for certain presentations, having one provider who can do both is not just convenient. It is clinically meaningful.

Patients who tend to benefit most from the integrated model include those dealing with anxiety or depression that has both biological and psychological components, adults with ADHD who carry years of negative self-talk and compensatory patterns alongside their diagnosis, patients with trauma histories where medication stabilizes but therapy addresses the underlying experience, individuals navigating major life transitions where the psychological adjustment is as significant as any biological component, professionals dealing with burnout, perfectionism, or performance-related patterns that medication cannot touch, and children or adolescents who need both medication management and therapeutic support without the burden of multiple providers.

For all of these patients, the value of integration is the same. One provider holds the complete picture. Treatment decisions in one domain inform decisions in the other. Nothing falls through the coordination gap that typically exists between a prescriber and a separate therapist.

As one patient shared on Vitals:

"Dr. Chofla and his entire office epitomize excellence. Call Dr. Chofla and they get back to you. Ask them a question and they explain. My child seems to be getting better. I for one feel more confidence than ever."

The Coordination Problem Integration Solves

When medication management and therapy are handled by separate providers, coordination becomes the patient's responsibility. The patient carries information between appointments, summarizes what one provider said to the other, and hopes the two approaches are compatible and complementary.

In practice, this coordination often breaks down. A therapist working on trauma processing may not know that a patient's medication was recently changed and that what looks like an emotional response to therapy is actually a side effect. A prescriber adjusting medication may not know that a patient is in the middle of a particularly difficult phase of therapeutic work and that this is not the right moment for a significant medication change.

When one provider manages both, those gaps close. The clinical picture stays whole. Every decision is made with full information.

One patient reflected on that quality of integrated, attentive care on Healthgrades:

"He was kind, professional, and really listened. Even online, I felt supported and understood. He explained things clearly and made treatment easy to follow. I would recommend him to anyone looking for good care from home."

Therapy Without Medication: Is That an Option?

Yes. Not every patient who comes to Empathy Therapy needs or wants medication. For patients whose concerns are primarily psychological, or who want to begin with therapy before considering medication, formal psychotherapy is available as a standalone service.

Dr. Chofla will discuss what level of care fits a patient's situation during the 75-minute intake appointment. That conversation is informed by a comprehensive evaluation, not a default protocol. Some patients leave that appointment with a medication plan. Some leave with a therapy plan. Some leave with both. The recommendation is based on what the patient actually needs.

Telehealth Therapy: Does It Work as Well as In Person?

Research consistently shows that telehealth therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person therapy for most patients and most conditions. For many patients, the convenience and comfort of connecting from home actually improves engagement and consistency, which are among the most important predictors of therapeutic progress.

At Empathy Therapy, all appointments including psychotherapy sessions are conducted via secure telehealth platform. Patients connect from home or any private space. The quality of the therapeutic relationship does not depend on physical proximity.

One patient described their experience with Dr. Chofla via telehealth on Vitals:

"Within minutes you certainly do forget that there is technology and miles in between you. Dr. Chofla can do this, and for this, I am grateful."

What to Expect as a New Patient

The process begins with a 75-minute intake appointment. Dr. Chofla uses that time to conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, understand a patient's history and goals, and determine what level of care is the right fit. Whether that means medication management only, psychotherapy only, or an integrated approach combining both, the recommendation comes from that evaluation rather than a preset template.

Empathy Therapy is a private-pay, fee-for-service practice. Insurance is not accepted. This allows Dr. Chofla to maintain a practice built around quality and continuity rather than volume, with longer appointments, consistent access, and care that is genuinely tailored to each patient.

New patients are typically seen within days, not weeks. Scheduling is structured to minimize wait times because getting the right care should not require months on a waitlist.

As one patient put it on Vitals:

"Dr. Chofla is one of the best medical professionals I have been to. I have progressed under his care and expect to continue to do so. He sincerely cares about his patients' well-being."

To get started, visit www.empathytherapy.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a psychiatrist do therapy? Yes, though not all psychiatrists offer therapy. Dr. Mark Chofla at Empathy Therapy is a board-certified psychiatrist who provides both formal psychotherapy and psychiatric medication management. Patients can receive one or both depending on their needs.

What is the difference between seeing a psychiatrist for therapy versus seeing a therapist? A psychiatrist who provides therapy offers the same therapeutic work as a therapist, with the added ability to evaluate for and manage psychiatric medication. For patients who may need both, seeing a psychiatrist who does therapy means one provider handles the complete picture rather than two separate providers who may not communicate closely.

Do I have to take medication if I see a psychiatrist? No. Medication is not required. Dr. Chofla will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and discuss what level of care fits your situation. Some patients receive therapy only, some receive medication only, and some receive both.

What conditions does Dr. Chofla treat? Dr. Chofla works with adults, adolescents, and children experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, trauma, grief, life transitions, burnout, and a wide range of other mental health challenges.

How long are appointments? New patient intakes are 75 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes.

How soon can I be seen? New patients are typically seen within days, not weeks.

Does Empathy Therapy accept insurance? No. Empathy Therapy is a private-pay, fee-for-service practice.

Are evening appointments available? Evening appointments are available for patients in New York and Florida.

Which states does Empathy Therapy serve? Empathy Therapy serves adults, adolescents, and children across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida via telehealth.

How do I get started? Visit www.empathytherapy.com to schedule a new patient intake. New patients are typically seen within days.