Quick Overview: Therapy and medication management describe different forms of mental-health care. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, as treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes medication management as involving prescribed medicines. NIMH states that psychotherapy can be used as an alternative to or alongside medication and other treatment options. These general descriptions do not determine what fits a particular person.
What Is Therapy?
NIMH uses the term psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, for a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. SAMHSA describes therapy and counseling as care that can involve developing healthy coping skills and understanding patterns in thoughts and behaviors.
NIMH identifies psychotherapy and medication as common forms of mental-health treatment. It also explains that psychotherapy may be used as an alternative to or alongside medication and other treatment options. Whether a particular approach is appropriate depends on a person’s individual needs and medical situation and should occur under the guidance of a mental-health professional.
Elements That May Be Part of Psychotherapy
NIMH describes several elements that may be part of psychotherapy. These include becoming aware of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful, examining how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, and changing self-defeating behavior patterns.
Other elements may include identifying ways to cope with stress, developing problem-solving strategies, examining interactions with others, and learning social and communication skills. NIMH also includes mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises, tracking emotions and behaviors, and supportive counseling to explore troubling issues and receive emotional support.
These examples are part of NIMH’s overview of psychotherapy. NIMH states that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training and experience, the concern being addressed, and the needs of the person receiving care.
Therapy and Counseling in SAMHSA’s Description
SAMHSA describes therapy and counseling as focused on developing healthy skills to cope, such as handling the loss of a loved one, drug or alcohol use, or a relationship problem. Its description also states that therapy and counseling can help a person better understand the core cause of thoughts and behaviors in order to change unhealthy patterns.
SAMHSA lists several names a person may encounter, including family and marriage therapy, motivational therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. NIMH likewise describes psychotherapy as a broad category with many types.
What Is Medication Management?
SAMHSA describes medication management as care involving prescribed medicines. NIMH identifies medication as another common form of mental-health care.
SAMHSA states that, for some mental-health, drug, or alcohol disorders, medications can help improve symptoms. It states that these medicines must be prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.
This description does not answer whether medication is relevant for a particular person or what medicine should be considered. NIMH states that treatment planning is based on individual needs and medical situation and should occur under the guidance of a mental-health professional.
Questions About Medication and Other Care
NIMH states that psychotherapy can be used as an alternative to or alongside medication and other treatment options. This is a general description of possible care arrangements, not a determination about an individual person’s needs.
If medication management is a topic you want to understand, a useful question may be: “What does medication management involve?” If you are considering psychotherapy, you might ask: “What approach will be used, and what is the rationale for it?” NIMH includes these kinds of questions among topics for a preliminary conversation with a possible therapist.
Therapy and Medication Management: The Central Difference
In the cited materials, psychotherapy or talk therapy and medication management are described differently.
| Term | General description in the cited materials |
|---|---|
| Psychotherapy or talk therapy | A variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. |
| Therapy and counseling | Care that can involve developing coping skills and understanding patterns in thoughts and behaviors. |
| Medication management | Care involving prescribed medicines. |
The table provides general descriptions from NIMH and SAMHSA. It does not rank these forms of care, predict results, or determine what is appropriate for a particular person.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Example
NIMH describes cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, as an approach that can involve recognizing automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful, questioning those thoughts, understanding how thoughts affect emotions and behavior, and changing self-defeating behavior patterns.
NIMH also describes exposure therapy as a type of CBT for anxiety disorders. In its description, a person spends brief periods in a supportive environment learning to tolerate distress connected with certain items, ideas, or imagined scenes. NIMH presents this as one example within its overview of psychotherapies.
Reflection Questions for Considering Next Steps
Use these questions to prepare for a conversation about therapy and counseling, medication management, or individual therapy options.
| Reflection question | Your notes |
|---|---|
| What do I want to understand about psychotherapy or talk therapy? | |
| What do I want to understand about therapy and counseling? | |
| What questions do I have about prescribed medicines and medication management? | |
| What approach would I like a therapist to explain? | |
| What would help me consider fit in a preliminary conversation? |
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy is the practice of Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW. The practice lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. Rooted Integrative Therapy offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo, with virtual therapy across Utah.
The practice’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as a first step. The consultation call is described as an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- How do you describe the service I am asking about?
- What approach or approaches do you use?
- What is the rationale for the approach you use?
- What are the goals of therapy?
- How will progress be assessed?
FAQs
Is therapy the same as medication management?
NIMH describes psychotherapy as talk therapy focused on troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. SAMHSA describes medication management as care involving prescribed medicines.
Can psychotherapy and medication both be part of mental-health care?
NIMH states that psychotherapy can be used as an alternative to or alongside medication and other treatment options. This general statement does not determine what fits a particular person.
Does psychotherapy always use one approach?
NIMH states that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training and experience, the concern being addressed, and the needs of the person receiving care.
What does Rooted Integrative Therapy say about a consultation?
The practice describes a consultation call as a first step and an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Types Of Treatment
A Grounded Next Step
Rooted Integrative Therapy invites inquiries and appointment requests through its Connect page. Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.
This article is for general education only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for individualized mental-health care. A qualified mental-health professional can help you consider what fits your circumstances.