If you're a therapist, primary care provider, or other clinician who has a patient who may benefit from psychiatric evaluation or medication management, knowing how to make a smooth, effective referral matters — both for your patient's care and for maintaining a good working relationship with the psychiatric provider you're referring to.
This guide walks through when to refer, what information to include, and what to expect from a collaborative referral relationship with Victory Village Mental Health & Wellness.
When to Refer
Consider referring a patient for a psychiatric evaluation when:
- Their symptoms may benefit from medication in addition to, or instead of, talk therapy
- You've reached the limits of your scope of practice (for example, a PCP identifying symptoms that need specialized psychiatric assessment)
- A patient's symptoms are complex, persistent, or not improving with your current approach
- A patient is already on psychiatric medication and needs ongoing prescribing and monitoring
- A patient specifically requests or would benefit from a psychiatric diagnosis
Referring a patient doesn't mean stepping away from their care — for many patients, a referral is the start of a collaborative relationship where you continue playing an important role (such as ongoing therapy) alongside the psychiatric provider.
What Information to Include
A clear, complete referral helps the psychiatric provider prepare and can shorten the time to an accurate assessment. Useful information to include:
- Current symptoms and presenting concern, in your own clinical language
- Treatment history — what's been tried so far, and how the patient has responded
- Current medications, including any psychiatric medications already prescribed by another provider
- Relevant medical history that could be contributing to symptoms
- Insurance information, if known, to help streamline scheduling
- Level of urgency — whether this is a routine referral or one that needs prompt attention
A common misconception among referring providers is that a referral only needs a patient's name and contact information. In practice, the more clinical context you can share (with appropriate consent), the more efficient and accurate the receiving provider's evaluation can be.
How to Make the Referral
- Confirm the patient's willingness to pursue a psychiatric evaluation and discuss what to expect.
- Gather the relevant clinical information outlined above.
- Send the referral through your preferred method — this may be a direct phone call, secure fax, referral portal, or email, depending on the receiving practice's process. (Victory Village's specific preferred referral method — phone, fax, portal, or email — should be confirmed and added here.)
- Confirm receipt of the referral and expected timeline for the patient to be contacted.
- Stay available for any follow-up questions from the psychiatric provider as the evaluation moves forward.
What Happens After the Referral
Once a referral is received, Victory Village will typically:
- Reach out to the patient to schedule an initial telehealth evaluation
- Conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation (see our guide, "What Happens at a Psychiatric Evaluation?", for a full walkthrough)
- Develop a treatment plan, which may include medication management, supportive therapy, or both
- Communicate relevant updates back to the referring provider, with the patient's consent, to keep care coordinated
Referring providers are welcome to stay involved in a patient's ongoing care — many patients continue seeing their therapist for talk therapy while Victory Village manages medication, in a collaborative care model.
Collaborative Care Options
Collaborative care means the psychiatric provider and other members of a patient's care team — therapists, PCPs, or care coordinators — work together, rather than operating in isolation. In practice, this can look like:
- A therapist continuing weekly talk therapy sessions while Victory Village manages medication
- A PCP staying informed about a patient's psychiatric treatment while continuing to manage their overall health
- Periodic, consent-based communication between providers to keep everyone aligned on the patient's progress
This model tends to work well because it combines each provider's strengths — ongoing therapeutic relationship-building on one side, and specialized diagnosis and medication management on the other — around a shared patient.
Common Misconceptions
"Once I refer, I'm no longer part of the patient's care."
Not necessarily. Many referring providers remain actively involved — especially therapists continuing talk therapy — while the psychiatric provider manages medication.
"The psychiatric provider will handle everything without my input."
In a collaborative care relationship, communication goes both ways. Your clinical observations and ongoing relationship with the patient are valuable, and staying in touch (with the patient's consent) helps keep care aligned.
"All psychiatric practices handle referrals the same way."
Referral processes vary by practice — some require detailed intake paperwork, others accept a simple phone call. It's worth confirming a practice's specific process before referring, which is part of why Victory Village aims to make its referral process clear and accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my patient needs a psychiatrist?
Consider a referral if your patient's symptoms may benefit from medication, if their needs are outside your scope of practice, or if their symptoms are complex or not improving with your current approach. If you're unsure, a conversation with the referring practice can help clarify fit.
Can I stay involved in my patient's care after referring them?
Yes. Many referring providers, especially therapists, continue an active role in a patient's care — Victory Village aims to communicate and collaborate with referring providers throughout treatment, with the patient's consent.
How do you communicate with referring providers?
(Victory Village's specific communication protocol — frequency of updates, preferred method, etc. — should be confirmed and added here, as the research report does not document this practice's internal workflow.)
What if my patient needs urgent psychiatric care?
If a patient is in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, direct them to call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room. For non-emergency but time-sensitive referrals, note the urgency clearly when making the referral so it can be prioritized appropriately.
Have a Patient Who Needs Psychiatric Care?
Victory Village Mental Health & Wellness welcomes referrals from therapists, PCPs, and other providers throughout Delaware and Maryland. Our telehealth-first model means patients can often be seen without long travel or scheduling barriers, and we aim to keep referring providers informed as part of a collaborative care team.
Have a patient who needs psychiatric care? Contact us to discuss referral options.