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What is Integrated Psychiatry?

Integrated Psychiatry at Peak Vista embeds a psychiatric provider (mental health provider who prescribes medications) into your home primary care clinic, so you and your primary care provider have faster and easier access to psychiatric support.

  • Mental and physical health in one place
  • Team includes your doctor, pstychiatric provider, and therapist
  • Care plans made together
  • Easier communication among providers
  • Treats you as a whole person
  • Providers familiar with your history

Integrated Psychiatry means you get help for your mental health right where you see your regular doctor. Your physical and mental health care are done together by a team that works closely with you. This makes it easier to get the care you need in one place.

Benefits to Integrated Psychiatry

Integrated Psychiatry helps you get the support you need—comfortably and in one place.

  • Fewer trips and less waiting, because care happens when you already go
  • Providers coordinate to make your care smooth and clear
  • Appointments scheduled to fit your life
  • Early support for mental health concerns before they grow
  • Access to both therapy and medication options in one setting
  • Personalized care plan focused on your goals
  • A comfortable, familiar environment for all your needs

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How This is Different From Behavioral Health

Integrated Psychiatry at Peak Vista brings medication-based mental health care in your primary care clinic, making mental health support easier and more coordinated.

Key differences:

  • Psychology: talk therapy, no medicine
  • Psychiatry: medical care, may include prescriptions
  • Integrated Psychiatry: psychiatry and your primary care provider working together in the same place
  • Care happens in the same place you already see your doctor
  • Your providers talk with each other, so your care is connected and less confusing

Learn more about Peak Vista's Behavioral Health Services.

You Are Not Alone

It’s common to have questions or concerns about mental health. Many people feel unsure, stressed, or overwhelmed at times—and it’s okay to talk about it. Mental health affects your mood, energy, relationships, and how you handle everyday challenges, so getting support early can make a big difference.

At Peak Vista, we understand that your mental and emotional well-being are just as important as your physical health. You don’t have to figure it out on your own, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Our health care providers are here to list, guide, and support you with respect and compassion. They work with you to find the right care, whether that’s therapy, medication, or both, and they coordinate with your regular provide so your care fits your life.

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Everything You Need to Know About Integrated Psychiatry

Integrated psychiatry means you can get help for your mental health right where you see your regular doctor. Many people don’t know where to start when they need help for their mental health. Often, they have to wait a long time to see a specialist.

To fix this, Peak Vista brought psychiatric providers into your regular health center. This means you can get help faster and more easily. These providers work closely with your regular doctor to support your care where you already come for health needs. This helps avoid delays and makes getting mental health care less stressful.

At Peak Vista, psychiatry and therapy are part of your regular care, so your mind and body are supported in the same place. This Integrated Psychiatry approach is different from regular behavioral health care, because it’s built into your primary care clinic.

Peak Vista offers both psychiatry and therapy as part of your care:

  • Therapists and counselors help by talking and teaching ways to handle feelings, stress, and problems. They do not give medicine.
  • Psychiatric providers are doctors, physician assistants or nurse practitioners who specialize in the treatment of mental health and can prescribe medicine to treat your mental health symptoms.

At Peak Vista, your mental and physical health care work hand in hand. With both psychiatry and therapy available in the same place that you get your primary care, your therapist and psychiatric provider can coordinate closely with your regular doctor to give you complete, connected care.

Explore Peak Vista's Provider Care Directory.

No. Getting care at many places can be hard, especially if you have other health problems or little time. That’s why Peak Vista offers psychiatric care right at your regular health center.

Most of the time, you don’t have to go anywhere else. Your psychiatric provider works at your health center and works closely with your regular doctor. If you need to see the psychiatric provider, your doctor will help you make an appointment. You can get care quickly and easily.

Learn about our Care Coordination Services to help find the right care.

Psychiatric providers can help with many kinds of mental health problems, especially those that may need medicine as part of the treatment. This is different from Behavioral Health, though both services often work together to support you.

Mental health providers in Integrated Psychiatry can help with:

  • Depression: Feeling sad or down, losing interest in things you enjoy, or feeling tired most of the time.
  • Anxiety: Feeling nervous, worried, or scared, even without a clear reason.
  • PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): Stress and bad memories after a scary or dangerous event.
  • ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder): Trouble focusing, sitting still or controlling impulses.
  • OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder): Unwanted thoughts that make you feel like you must repeat certain actions.
  • Bipolar Disorder: Excessive energy, decreased need for sleep, increased risk-taking behaviors that last for 4 days in a row or more.
  • Schizophrenia: Experiencing hallucinations, paranoia, and having difficulty keeping thoughts organized.
  • Insomnia: Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling rested.
  • Other Mental Health Concerns: Stress, grief, and other emotional challenges that may also benefit from psychiatry.

Psychiatric providers check your symptoms, and work with you and/or your primary care provider to determine if you need a medication, and if so which one(s). Your regular doctor and psychiatric provider work together to help you feel better.

Yes! Your regular doctor wants to help you with mental health too. Some people wonder if it’s okay to talk about feelings or mental health at their doctor’s office. It is not just okay—it’s a good idea.

You can say things like:

  • "I've been feeling really down lately?"
  • "I can't sleep well anymore."
  • "I'm always nervous and I don't know why."

Your doctor can treat many mental health problems. If you need more help, your doctor can connect you to the psychiatric provider or therapist on your care team.

Yes. You make the final decisions about your mental health care.

It’s important for you to stay in control of your mental health care. Your care team will give you advice and options, but you always decide what care you want. You are part of every choice. In rare cases, if someone is in danger, doctors may need to take extra steps to keep them safe.

Knowing the steps to see a psychiatric provider can help you feel more comfortable asking for help. First, talk with your regular doctor about how you feel. Together, you will decide if seeing a psychiatric provider could help.

If seeing one would help, your doctor can help you make an appointment or get advice from the psychiatric provider. You will see the psychiatric provider at your health center, often soon after your discussion. You will continue to see your regular doctor, and both providers will work together with you to support your care.

Helpful Resources & FAQs

Integrated Psychiatry is available at these three Peak Vista health centers:

If you are not receiving primary care at one of these locations, you may still be able to access psychiatric care through the PMHNP Fellowship Clinic. This clinic provides psychiatry services to Peak Vista patients in a more traditional setting, similar to visiting a cardiology or specialty clinic.

  1. Do I need a referral?
    You usually do not need a referral to see the psychiatric provider. Talk to your regular provider first, and they can help decide if you need extra care.

  2. Can I still see my regular provider?
    Yes! You will keep seeing your regular provider for your care. The psychiatric provider works with them to help you.

  3. Can I get medication from my primary care provider?
    Sometimes your regular doctor can prescribe medicine for mental health. If you need more help, they might ask the psychiatric provider to help with medicines.

  4. How long is an appointment?
    Your first appointment will usually take longer so the provider can get to know you and your needs. After that, appointment lengths can vary. We tailor the time to what each patient needs, so some visits may be shorter and others may be longer.

  5. How often will I see the psychiatric provider?
    It depends on what you need. Some people see them once, others more often. Your care team will decide with you what’s best.

  6. What about cost?
    Insurance is different for everyone. If you have questions, ask your care team — they can explain your options. You can also talk to your provider by phone for follow-ups or questions. This can save time and travel. Call the Customer Service Center or ask your health center about the Patient Assistance Program if you need help paying for medications. For information about appointment copays, ask about our Sliding Fee Scale program.

  7. Is my mental health care private?
    Yes. Your health information is private and only shared with your care team to help you.

  8. What if I don't want to take medicine?
    You can always say no to medicine. Your care team will help find other ways to support you.

  9. What is therapy?
    Therapy is when you talk with a trained person about your feelings or problems. It helps you learn new ways to cope and feel better without medicine.