Best Primary Care Doctor in Stone Oak, Live Oak, San Antonio Texas
Anxiety and Depression Treatment
Anxiety and depression treatment starts with your Hillside Primary Care provider, no specialist referral required. We screen for both conditions, talk through what you’re experiencing, and build a treatment plan that may include medication, lifestyle changes, and ongoing monitoring. When your symptoms call for anxiety therapies or depression therapies beyond what primary care provides, such as structured psychotherapy, we refer you directly to our sister practice, Psychiatry of SA, for specialized psychiatric care.
- 40+ Providers
- 18 Texas Locations
- Most Insurance Plans Accepted
- Board-Certified
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Anxiety and Depression Treatment at a Glance
Your Hillside Primary Care provider can screen, diagnose, and start first-line treatment for anxiety and depression, often with medication, lifestyle support, and monitoring. For therapy or more specialized psychiatric care, we refer you directly to our sister practice, Psychiatry of SA.
What Are Anxiety And Depression?
Anxiety and depression are common mental health conditions that affect your mood, self-esteem, and ability to enjoy daily life. Left undiagnosed, either can interfere with work, relationships, and physical health.
Anxiety
Anxiety causes excessive fear, worry, or dread. Everyone feels anxious occasionally, but a clinical anxiety disorder often brings on these feelings in response to everyday situations, like leaving the house or meeting with friends. Anxiety therapies and, when appropriate, medication can help you manage these feelings and improve your quality of life.
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that affects how you think, feel, and act. It often brings persistent sadness or hopelessness, and can cause physical symptoms like changes in weight or headaches. Depression therapies and medication, used alone or together, are designed to manage these symptoms and support both mental and physical well-being.
Can Your Primary Care Doctor Treat Anxiety and Depression?
Yes, within a specific and well-defined scope. Primary care is often the first, and fastest, place to get help for anxiety and depression, because you don’t need a referral to get screened and start treatment. Here’s how the two levels of care work together:
| Hillside Primary Care | Psychiatry of SA (our sister practice) |
|---|---|
| Screening with validated tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7) | In-depth psychiatric evaluation for complex or treatment-resistant cases |
| Diagnosis and first-line medication management | Specialized medication management and psychiatric follow-up |
| Lifestyle counseling and ongoing monitoring | Formal psychotherapy, including CBT |
| Available at all 18 Hillside Primary Care locations | Available at 4 dedicated locations across San Antonio, New Braunfels, and El Paso |
When We Refer You to Psychiatry of SA
If your symptoms are more complex, aren’t responding to first-line treatment, or you and your provider agree that structured psychotherapy would help, we’ll refer you to Psychiatry of SA. As part of Hillside Medical Group, they’re a natural extension of your care team, not a cold referral to an unfamiliar practice.
Signs You May Benefit From an Anxiety or Depression Evaluation
Consider scheduling a screening if you’ve been experiencing:
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Unintended weight loss or gain
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Persistent fatigue
- Ongoing sadness or hopelessness
- Excessive worry or fear that’s hard to control
- Racing heart, restlessness, or muscle tension
- Headaches or unexplained physical aches
If You're Having Thoughts of Self-Harm
Crisis resource: “You don’t have to wait for an appointment.” If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7, free and confidential. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What Happens During an Anxiety and Depression Evaluation
There’s no single test for anxiety or depression. Your provider will review your medical history, ask about your symptoms, mood, sleep, and daily functioning, and rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as thyroid issues, sometimes with blood work or imaging, before making a diagnosis.
PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Screening
Hillside providers use two validated, widely used screening tools recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for adults: the PHQ-9 for depression and the GAD-7 for anxiety. Both are brief questionnaires that help your provider understand the severity of your symptoms and track how you respond to treatment over time.
Anxiety and Depression Treatment Options at Hillside
Anxiety and depression treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your evaluation, your Hillside provider may recommend medication, lifestyle changes, ongoing monitoring, or a referral for structured therapy, sometimes a combination of all four.
Medications for Anxiety and Depression
Your Hillside provider can start and manage medications for anxiety and depression directly, most commonly antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, adjusting your treatment plan as needed and monitoring how you respond over time.
Anxiety Therapies and Depression Therapies
Structured anxiety therapies and depression therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), are provided through our sister practice, Psychiatry of SA, rather than in-house at Hillside. Your provider can refer you directly if talk therapy is the right next step for you.
Alongside medication or therapy, your provider may also recommend:
- Lifestyle changes, including sleep, exercise, and diet adjustments that support mental health
- Regular follow-up visits to track your symptoms and adjust your treatment plan
Is Anxiety and Depression Treatment Covered by Insurance?
Most insurance plans, including many Texas-based plans, include coverage for behavioral health services. Coverage details vary by plan, so it’s worth confirming your specific benefits before your visit. See the insurance plans Hillside Primary Care accepts
Prefer to pay out of pocket, or don’t have coverage that includes this visit? View our self-pay pricing
Why Choose Hillside Primary Care for Anxiety and Depression Treatment
Our providers are trained to screen for and manage anxiety and depression as part of your overall primary care, so you can start treatment without waiting for a specialist referral, across all 18 of our Texas locations. Meet Our Providers
Need More Specialized Care? Meet Psychiatry of SA.
Psychiatry of SA is Hillside Medical Group’s sister practice, staffed by board-certified psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who provide in-depth evaluation, specialized medication management, and psychotherapy. Because they’re part of the same medical group, your Hillside provider can refer you directly.
Location: Castle Hills, New Braunfels, Southside, El Paso
Anxiety and Depression Screening Available at Every Hillside Primary Care Location
Every Hillside Primary Care location offers anxiety and depression screening and first-line treatment. Find the clinic nearest you and book directly from its location page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between seeing my primary care provider and a psychiatrist for anxiety or depression?
Your primary care provider can screen, diagnose, and manage first-line treatment, often medication and lifestyle changes, without a referral. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, like the team at Psychiatry of SA, is better suited for complex cases, specialized medication management, or formal psychotherapy.
Do I need a referral to see Psychiatry of SA?
Your Hillside provider can refer you directly as part of your visit. Because Psychiatry of SA is part of the same medical group, that handoff is coordinated rather than starting from scratch with a new practice.
What are the common symptoms of anxiety or depression?
Common symptoms include persistent sadness, fatigue, disturbed sleep, irritability, restlessness, loss of interest in regular activities, a racing heart, and trembling. Symptoms vary from person to person.
Does insurance cover mental health care at Hillside?
Most insurance plans include coverage for behavioral health services. Our team can help you understand your specific benefits when you book.
What if my symptoms are severe or I'm having thoughts of self-harm?
Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline right away, available 24/7. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment.
Ready to Start Your Anxiety and Depression Treatment?
Find the Hillside Primary Care location nearest you and schedule a screening.
In crisis? Call or text 988 anytime.
