Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner vs. Psychiatrist: What’s the Difference?

They both prescribe mental health medication, but understanding who does what can help you find the right fit.

If you’ve ever tried to navigate mental health medication, you’ve probably seen a few titles: psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, prescriber. They all play a role in helping people heal, but their training and approach are different.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who went through medical school and residency with a focus on psychiatry. Their care is grounded in the medical model: diagnosing conditions and managing medication. Psychiatrists are often the go-to professionals for complex cases or hospital-based care. In private practice, their visits tend to be shorter and medication-focused.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is a licensed advanced practice nurse with graduate-level training in psychiatry and mental health. Like psychiatrists, NPs can diagnose and prescribe. But because their background is in nursing, their care often includes more focus on the person as a whole — their stress, sleep, hormones, relationships, and environment, alongside their symptoms.

At Honey, we intentionally partner with psychiatric nurse practitioners because their approach reflects our philosophy: warm, collaborative, and grounded in the whole person. Our NPs take time to understand your story and your body before adjusting medication. They work closely with our therapy team to ensure your emotional and physical health are aligned, not separated.

We also believe in collaboration, not isolation. Our NPs consult regularly with a psychiatrist to ensure comprehensive, high-quality care, combining the best of both worlds: the medical precision of psychiatry and the relational depth of nursing.

Together, this model gives clients the clarity and connection they deserve: care that honors both the science of the brain and the story of the person living in it.