Why choose a psychiatrist for psychotherapy?
Psychiatrist-led psychotherapy combines the medical expertise of psychiatry with evidence-based psychological treatment. Dr Sangeetha Makielan offers integrated psychiatric and therapeutic care across Australia — Sydney CBD, Hills District, and telehealth.
Looking for the practice-area overview of psychotherapy sessions? See the psychotherapy page — what to expect, the formats Dr Makielan offers, and how the work unfolds session by session.
Psychiatrists complete extensive medical training followed by specialist psychiatric training. That dual expertise allows for a more comprehensive understanding of mental health — considering psychological factors alongside the medical and biological ones that may be contributing.
Working with a psychiatrist for psychotherapy means patients don't have to split care across multiple providers when a presentation needs both diagnostic clarity and ongoing therapeutic work.
Four benefits of seeing a psychiatrist for psychotherapy.
Integrated care
A psychiatrist can assess whether psychological therapy alone is sufficient — or whether medication may be useful — and provide a treatment plan that addresses all aspects of mental health.
Comprehensive assessment
Medical training enables Dr Makielan to identify and rule out physical conditions that may be affecting mental wellbeing — thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, neurological conditions.
Medication when needed
When appropriate, Dr Makielan can prescribe and monitor psychiatric medication alongside psychotherapy — particularly helpful for moderate-to-severe depression, bipolar, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders.
Complex presentations
Specialist training equips Dr Makielan to work with complex cases — treatment-resistant conditions, co-occurring disorders, and presentations where multiple factors interact.
Evidence-based modalities.
Dr Makielan is trained across a range of psychotherapy modalities and matches the approach to the presenting issue. See types of psychotherapy for the full list. The main approaches:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Highly effective for anxiety, depression, PTSD and OCD.
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Psychodynamic Therapy
Explores unconscious patterns and how past experience shapes present life.
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Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)
Repairing and rebuilding a secure emotional bond between parent and child.
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Trauma-Informed Therapy
A framework that acknowledges the prevalence and impact of trauma on mental health.
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Couples Therapy
Improving communication, resolving conflicts, and strengthening relationships. Gottman Method (Level 2).
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Mentalisation-Based Therapy (MBT)
Helps people make sense of their own and others' mental states — particularly useful for children, teens and adults with personality difficulties.
Presentations where a psychiatrist can do more.
Psychotherapy from a psychologist is excellent for many people. A psychiatrist becomes the better choice when the presentation is medically complex, when medication may need to sit alongside therapy, or when previous treatment hasn't worked.
- Treatment-resistant depression — where previous medication or therapy hasn't held
- Bipolar disorder, including diagnostic clarification (see bipolar treatment)
- Severe or recurrent anxiety with medical comorbidity
- OCD where medication and CBT need to run in parallel
- PTSD and complex trauma with somatic and sleep components
- Perinatal mental health requiring safe prescribing in pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Personality difficulties with co-occurring mood or psychotic features
- Adult ADHD or autism complicated by mood, anxiety or trauma
- Eating disorders requiring medical and psychiatric oversight
One of the most cost-effective treatments available.
Psychotherapy with a psychiatrist is one of the most cost-effective treatments under the Australian Medicare system. With a valid GP referral, you may be eligible for rebates that significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Reception at each clinic will confirm the gap and rebate at the time of booking.
What to expect at your first appointment.
Your initial consultations involve:
- Comprehensive psychiatric assessment exploring current concerns and their impact on your life
- Review of medical history, family history and previous treatments
- Discussion of your goals for therapy
- Development of a collaborative treatment plan
- Discussion of options — psychotherapy approaches, and whether medication may be useful
Follow-up sessions are typically 45 to 50 minutes. Psychotherapy is available Australia-wide via telehealth; in-person sessions are available at the Sydney clinics.
Two Sydney clinics, plus telehealth Australia-wide.
Blue Fig Clinic
Level 5, 235 Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000
02 7202 7061
reception@bluefig.clinic
Dolphin Tribe
Unit 4, 1 Railway Street
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
02 7202 7747
reception@dolphintribe.com.au
Telehealth
Secure video psychotherapy across Australia. Selected psychiatric follow-ups by telehealth where appropriate.
Enquire →Ready to start psychotherapy?
Talk to your GP about a referral, then request an appointment through either clinic. New psychotherapy enquiries welcomed.
See clinic details