Psychiatry in Nashville, Tennessee
Medically Reviewed
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Thompson
Last Updated on:
May 9, 2025
Begin Mental Health Treatment in Nashville
At Arbor Wellness, our residential treatment programs offer Nashville psychiatry, staffed by extensively trained psychiatric professionals and other therapists.
Our programs provide compassionate, expert care that allows you to grow and become more confident in managing your mental health.
Call us now at 629-217-2658 or verify your insurance now to learn about our mental health treatment programs in Nashville.
What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on treating mental health disorders. This includes diagnosing any existing mental illnesses, treating them, and preventing the development of additional ones.
Psychiatrists must be licensed in order to practice. Many years of education must take place before a person can begin practicing psychiatry.
This includes obtaining a bachelor’s degree, attending medical school, and completing a multi-year residency program. Some psychiatrists receive additional training depending on their fields of expertise.
Psychiatrists obtain either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
Psychiatrists can assess a person’s mental and physical health. Additionally, they are qualified to prescribe medications to their patients. Some focus mainly on providing assessments and monitoring the medications their patients take. Others also spend a great deal of their work time providing talk therapy.
You are not alone. You deserve to get help.
Arbor Wellness is an industry leader in mental health treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual. Call us today, we’re available 24/7.
How does Psychiatry in Nashville Work?
A few variables are in play when it comes to defining how psychiatry works at our Nashville mental health programs.
The initial intake session allows the psychiatrist to discuss the issues each individual encounters that caused them to seek help. Our Nashville psychiatry services begin with a full assessment to understand what mental health disorders are present.
This helps the person understand their unique situation and all mental health diagnoses. From there, the psychiatrist can help create a treatment plan that helps empower the person so they participate in improving their mental health.
At Arbor Wellness, our psychiatrists utilize Genesight pharmacogenomic testing to help guide medication decisions based on your unique genetic profile. This advanced testing analyzes how your genes may affect your response to medications commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions.
How Genesight Testing Works in Conjunction With Psychiatry
Genesight testing requires a simple, non-invasive cheek swab that collects DNA samples. The test examines specific genes that influence how your body processes certain medications.
Within days, your psychiatrist receives a comprehensive report categorizing medications into three groups:
- Medications that are likely to work as intended
- Medications that may require dose adjustments
- Medications that may cause problems or be less effective
When Your Psychiatrist May Recommend Genesight Testing
At Arbor Wellness, our psychiatrists may recommend Genesight testing if:
- You’ve tried multiple medications without finding adequate relief
- You’ve experienced significant side effects from medications
- You prefer a more personalized approach to medication selection
- You’re starting medication treatment and want to optimize your initial prescription
Our Nashville Mental Health Programs That Offer Psychiatry
At Arbor Wellness, we recognize the critical role that comprehensive psychiatric care plays in mental health treatment. Our psychiatry services are integral to our primary mental health programs, ensuring that each patient receives personalized, evidence-based care tailored to their unique needs. Our psychiatrists are highly experienced and work closely with each individual to develop effective treatment plans that address mental health symptoms and underlying issues.
We utilize Psychiatry in our programs that include:
Residential Treatment
Our Residential Treatment program provides a structured, supportive environment where individuals can focus entirely on their recovery. Patients reside at our facility and participate in a full schedule of therapeutic activities designed to promote healing and growth.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The Partial Hospitalization Program at Arbor Wellness offers a step down from residential treatment while still providing comprehensive care. Patients in PHP attend treatment sessions during the day and return home in the evenings. This program includes psychiatric services, individual and group therapy, and various therapeutic activities.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Our Intensive Outpatient Program is designed for individuals who need structured support while maintaining their daily responsibilities. IOP offers flexible scheduling with sessions held multiple times a week. This level of care includes psychiatric consultations, therapy sessions, and skill-building workshops. IOP is perfect for those transitioning from higher levels of care or those who require consistent, ongoing support for their mental health.
By providing psychiatry exclusively within our primary mental health program, Arbor Wellness ensures that each client receives specialized, attentive psychiatric care tailored to their specific needs.
How can Psychiatry Help My Mental Health?
Under the guidance of a psychiatrist, a person can learn to manage and minimize symptoms of poor mental health. In many cases, such as with depression or anxiety disorders, the person can overcome them altogether.
For lifelong illnesses, like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, the person can learn to anticipate and handle the symptoms that occur.
Many mental health disorders respond positively to the use of prescription medications. Because psychiatrists have medical degrees, they have the expertise to choose the right medications and monitor how they affect their patients. Choices for FDA-approved medications include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, sedatives, antipsychotics, and hypnotic medications.
How Do I Know I Need to See a Psychiatrist?
A person who wonders if they may need to see a psychiatrist may not know how to recognize that particular need. They can ask themselves a series of questions to help understand if Nashville psychiatry or a mental health program may be a good avenue to explore. These questions include:
- Am I experiencing symptoms like anxiety, depression, or moodiness?
- Do I have difficulty regulating my emotions?
- Do I feel a sense of hopelessness I can’t seem to escape?
- Have I experienced trauma in the past or currently?
- Do I withdraw from my family and friends and isolate a lot?
- Have I lost interest in hobbies and pastimes?
- Has my work or school life suffered because of emotional or mental health symptoms?
- Do I sometimes abuse alcohol or drugs to try to self-medicate?
- Have I experienced a change in my appetite or weight?
- Do I sleep too little or too much?
- Do I sometimes have feelings or thoughts of suicide?
Someone who answers “yes” to two or more of these questions may benefit from attending psychiatry sessions to help improve their mental health.
Meet Dr. Seth Thompson, MD
Dr. Seth Thompson is a board-certified psychiatrist with an expertise in Mood Disorders, Bipolar Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and Addictive Medicine. He completed his medical residency training at East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine where he had the opportunity to train with a diverse population of both providers and patients.
Dr. Thompson believes that when humans beings experience trauma or severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to unravel and become unmanageable. His passion is bringing healing to those who have been through traumatic and stressful experience, those struggling with mental health disorders, and those struggling with addiction.
What is the Difference Between Psychiatry and Psychology?
The main difference between psychiatry and psychology has to do with the ability to prescribe medications. Psychiatrists have medical degrees; therefore, they can write prescriptions for medications. Psychologists do not have medical degrees and cannot prescribe meds. They may have a doctorate degree, but it is not a medical degree.
Psychiatrists often focus more on diagnoses of mental health disorders and managing their treatment. Psychologists focus more on providing a variety of types of talk therapy as their form of treatment.
Other Services Offered In Conjunction With Psychiatry in Nashville
Our Nashville psychiatry program offers world-class, intensive treatment for mental health. In addition to traditional psychiatry sessions, we also provide multiple choices for evidence-based services to help improve the symptoms of mental health disorders. These options include:
If You are in need of immediate assistance...
Don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. In the case of a medical emergency please contact 911 or visit your local emergency department.
Find Effective Psychiatry in Nashville
Arbor Wellness in Nashville understands the vital difference the right psychiatry program can provide.
Our Nashville psychiatry services can help you get to the root of your issues. From there, we help you understand how to overcome them and enjoy improved mental health.
If you would like to get more information about our psychiatry program, please visit our admissions page now. The help you deserve is just around the corner.
We Work With Most Major Insurance
Did you know most major health insurance plans with out-of-network benefits can help cover most of the costs associated with our program? Click below to find out your coverage and treatment options right now.
