Quick-Reference Guide
Who should I see?
Use this table as a starting point when you are not sure which door to knock on first.
If your situation is... | A good first step | Why |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing stress, grief, or a rough patch in life | Counsellor, psychologist, or your family doctor | Talk-based support is often enough |
Worry, fear, or panic that is hard to control | Family doctor, then a psychologist or therapist | CBT and similar therapies work well for anxiety |
Low mood for more than two weeks | Family doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist | Therapy, medicine, or both may help |
Hearing voices, seeing things, or strong unusual beliefs | Psychiatrist or urgent medical assessment | Needs a medical evaluation and often medicine |
Mood swings with periods of very high energy | Psychiatrist | Bipolar disorder usually needs medical treatment |
Trouble paying attention or sitting still since childhood | Psychologist, pediatrician, or psychiatrist | A full assessment is needed for ADHD |
Memory loss or confusion in an older person | Family doctor, then a neurologist or geriatric specialist | Many causes, some of them reversible |
Problems with alcohol or drugs | Family doctor, addiction service, or psychiatrist | Withdrawal can be dangerous without supervision |
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm | Emergency services or the nearest hospital | Immediate safety comes first |
You are unsure | Your family doctor | A safe, easy place to start |
The professionals at a glance
Titles and training differ between countries, but these are the usual roles.
Professional | Medical doctor? | Can prescribe? | Typical focus |
|---|---|---|---|
Psychiatrist | Yes | Yes | Diagnosis, medicine, severe or complex illness |
Clinical psychologist | No | Usually no | Assessment, psychological testing, therapy |
Counselling psychologist | No | No | Emotional, work, and relationship issues |
Psychotherapist | Varies | No | Longer-term talk therapy |
Counsellor | No | No | Guidance and support for life problems |
Psychiatric nurse | No | Sometimes | Ongoing care, medicine monitoring, support |
Social worker | No | No | Practical help, family and community resources |
Occupational therapist | No | No | Daily living, work, and coping skills |
Neurologist | Yes | Yes | Diseases of the brain and nerves |
Peer support worker | No | No | Sharing lived experience and hope |
Common conditions at a glance
Each condition below is described in more detail in Volume 2.
Condition | Core experience | Usual first treatments |
|---|---|---|
Generalised anxiety | Constant, hard-to-control worry with tension | CBT, relaxation skills, sometimes medicine |
Panic disorder | Sudden waves of intense fear with body symptoms | CBT, breathing skills, sometimes medicine |
Social anxiety | Fear of being judged in social situations | CBT with gradual exposure, sometimes medicine |
Phobia | Intense fear of a specific object or situation | Exposure therapy |
OCD | Unwanted thoughts and repeated rituals | CBT with exposure and response prevention, medicine |
PTSD | Re-experiencing, avoidance, and alertness after trauma | Trauma-focused therapy, sometimes medicine |
Depression | Low mood or lost interest with changes in sleep and energy | Therapy, medicine, or both, plus activity and support |
Bipolar disorder | Episodes of depression and of elevated or irritable mood | Mood stabilisers and other medicines, therapy |
ADHD | Ongoing inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity | Education, skills coaching, sometimes medicine |
Autism | Differences in communication, social interaction, and sensory experience | Support, adjustments, and skills-based help |
Schizophrenia | Psychosis plus changes in motivation and thinking | Antipsychotic medicine, therapy, family and community support |
Eating disorders | Harmful patterns around food, weight, and body image | Specialist therapy and medical monitoring |
Substance use disorder | Continued use despite harm and difficulty stopping | Medical support, therapy, mutual-help groups |
Insomnia | Ongoing trouble sleeping with daytime effects | CBT for insomnia, sleep habits, medical review |
Therapies at a glance
Many therapies overlap, and a good therapist often blends several of them.
Therapy | Main idea | Often used for |
|---|---|---|
CBT | Change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours | Anxiety, depression, OCD, insomnia |
Behavioural activation | Rebuild rewarding, meaningful activities | Depression |
ACT | Accept difficult feelings and act on values | Anxiety, depression, chronic pain |
DBT | Skills for emotions, distress, and relationships | Intense emotions, self-harm urges |
Psychodynamic | Explore past experiences and hidden patterns | Long-standing relationship and identity issues |
Interpersonal therapy | Improve relationships and role changes | Depression |
EMDR and trauma-focused CBT | Process traumatic memories safely | PTSD and trauma |
Family therapy | Improve communication and support at home | Youth problems, psychosis, relationship conflict |
Group therapy | Learn and heal with others who share an experience | Many conditions |
Mindfulness-based programmes | Train attention and acceptance | Recurrent depression, stress |
Medicine groups at a glance
This table describes groups of medicines in general terms. It does not list doses and does not replace a prescriber’s advice.
Group | Used mainly for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
Antidepressants | Depression, anxiety, OCD | Often take several weeks to work; do not stop suddenly |
Anti-anxiety medicines | Short-term relief of severe anxiety | Some can cause dependence and are used with care |
Mood stabilisers | Bipolar disorder | May need regular blood tests |
Antipsychotics | Psychosis, bipolar disorder, severe agitation | Side effects such as weight gain and drowsiness need monitoring |
Stimulant and non-stimulant ADHD medicines | ADHD | Require careful prescribing and review |
Sleep medicines | Short-term sleep problems | Not a long-term answer; sleep habits matter more |
Medicines for addiction | Alcohol, opioid, and nicotine dependence | Work best alongside counselling and support |
Warning signs at a glance
Contact a professional soon if you notice any of these for more than about two weeks, or sooner if they are severe:
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or irritability
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Big changes in sleep or appetite
- Constant worry, fear, or panic
- Withdrawing from friends, family, work, or school
- Feeling worthless, guilty, or hopeless
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope
- Strange experiences, such as hearing voices or feeling watched
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others
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