You can sort of see my answer in what I posted above, but yes, they spend about 15-20 minutes with you a session, charge a large fee (larger than a T's fee most often, although if you have insurance, at least in my case, I pay a copayment like I would any medical dr.), and prescribe medication for you.

They sometimes consult with your T and the Ts I have had, the past two, think they always should, and I agree. Ts are the ones who spend time getting to know you. An appt of 20 minutes like every 3 weeks or so (although I do think my first one was longer) is really to monitor your medication.

As I mentioned, some psychiatrists do therapy as well (few and far between). I know my ex-husband was seeing one long term who he was getting therapy and medication from. But the demand (and money) is in having short appts. where prescriptions are handed out. You can see a lot of patients in a day scheduling 20-minute appts!