My therapist was also a psychologist (a doctoral degree rather than a master's degree where she did supervised internships and research) so I had the impression she could diagnose but could not prescribe.

All my meds were prescribed by a psychiatrist due to a diagnosis of anxiety, panic disorder and depression. I was very naive until my attempt and just took what they prescribed without questioning it (I have never asked for a particular medication--only to have dosages lowered) or understanding that any of it was habit forming or would be dangerous to stop. I now look at the warning lablels and side effects more closely whenever I am prescribed anything. I also have a diagnosis of bipolar 2 currently in full remission--I have never seen where a psychiatrist said in my records that I have active bipolar 2 , which seems a little weird.

Can't say that I fully understand what has gone on with me even though I have seen 4 psychiatrists who have all given me an anxiety and depression diagnosis. My fourth psychiatrist who I trust the most because she actually takes the time to talk to me (all the previous psychiatrists had 10 minute appointments where they just prescibed based on what they decided during my very first appointment with them where I answered a set of standard questions about my history). She added to the diagnoses panic disorder and bipolar 2 in remission. She adjusted some of the medications I was given and added one so that they seem to be helping more. The Bupropion dose I had been put on by all my previous psychiatrists was doing more harm than good. Perhaps it caused me to have a temporary case of Bipolar 2 then when I had to stop it cold turkey--it once again caused more harm than good? Based on my experiences with psychiatrists, I have trouble feeling like diagnoses are always accurate. How can they know if they never spend any time talking to you? I guess we just feel differently about some of this yet agree on other things. I do think that psych meds are helpful but also sometimes cause harm because it is harder to know what is going on in our brains than with some of the physical conditions where there are definitive tests.