The Role of a Psychiatrist in Online Mental Health Care
Discover how psychiatrists provide consultation and oversight in virtual care, ensuring safe, collaborative, and effective online mental health support.
It is no secret that the mental health care system in Canada needs work. Patients and providers across Canada continue to advocate for improved service capacity, quality, inequity and efficiency (Wang et al., 2024). At Cognito, our team takes an integrated approach to virtual mental health care with the goal of filling the gaps of accessibility, affordability and efficiency.
One of the ways we do this is through having a psychiatrist to oversee client care, delivered by our medical and therapeutic providers. I recently took some time to connect with Cognito’s consulting psychiatrist, Dr. Kent Comeau, to provide readers with a comprehensive outline of how online psychiatry consultation enhances integrated, virtual mental health care at Cognito.
Q&A With Dr. Comeau, Consulting Psychiatrist for Cognito Health
Author: Can you share what role you play in Cognito Health's integrated service model?
Dr. Comeau: My role as a consulting psychiatrist is to provide clinical expertise and support to our team of Nurse Practitioners and CBT Care Providers. This includes offering direct case consultation, supervision and guidance for navigating complex client situations, and education and professional development for the team. I also provide online CBT group therapy that enhances the work our providers are doing with clients 1:1.
Author: Although our CBT Care Provider team are certified CBT practitioners with a high educational background of psychology and counselling, we are not Registered Clinical Counsellors. How does your expertise enhance the quality of our therapeutic care?
Dr. Comeau: For CBT providers, my focus is on professional development, building confidence, and applying tools effectively, with the assurance of psychiatric oversight. This is supported through training seminars, 1:1 consultation and clinical rounds where we can address complex cases from a team-based approach.
Author: While our Nurse Practitioners are mental health specialists with focused training in conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, how does your role support their work with clients?
Dr. Comeau: I support our NPs with diagnostic clarification, medication management, and other treatment interventions. The goal is to ensure care is guideline-based and evidence-base.
Author: Can you share more about the group therapy you offer through Cognito?
Dr. Comeau: My involvement in group therapy maximizes my clinical impact by supporting multiple individuals at a time. It also serves as a valuable learning experience for co-facilitating CBT providers, enhancing their one-on-one practice. Group therapy provides a powerful sense of universality and shared experience, which can reduce the burden of individual struggle and instill hope amongst our clients. It is a great way to integrate the expertise of my knowledge from a more medical perspective, and the therapeutic guidance I can offer to clients and CBT Care providers.
Author: Why are you passionate about the integrated, team-based approach to virtual mental health care and how does it benefit our patients , versus seeing a psychiatrist 1:1?
Dr. Comeau: The integrated model addresses the scarcity of psychiatric resources. There just aren't enough psychiatrists in Canada to meet the demand. My impact enhances efficiency by consulting with a team who serves many clients, rather than focusing solely on individual consultations. This approach is effective for common conditions like ADHD, insomnia, depression and anxiety that do not require specialist intervention unless treatment resistance or complexity arises. In this way, we can serve more people at a primary level of care, with psychiatry oversight to ensure quality, and those who need more complex care can be supported through my consultation as needed.
Author: Oftentimes, we hear from clients that they have been referred by their primary care physician to see a psychiatrist for diagnostic care. However, long wait times and inaccessibility make that a real challenge. What would you say to someone who thought 1:1 psychiatry care was the only option?
Dr. Comeau: For clients concerned about not seeing a psychiatrist directly, I would assure them that our model provides thorough, comprehensive assessments overseen by psychiatrists. Nurse practitioners within our model often have more time with clients than in a typical primary care setting and my involvement in developing the intake process ensures a high standard of care. Complex or treatment-resistant cases are escalated for direct psychiatric input, but otherwise, you’re more likely to be seen and get answers sooner through an integrated model like Cognito Health.
Author: Virtual mental health care is somewhat new and developing still. How does online psychiatry care hold up against traditional in-person care?
Dr. Comeau: Virtual care is well-suited for psychiatry. While some in-person body language may be missed, the care can still meet the requirements and virtual settings offer a view into the client's natural environment, which can help reduce the impact of having to leave one’s safe space to access care. And while this modality may not be suitable for everyone, it can be beneficial to many people by enhancing accessibility and efficiency overall.
Explore how virtual therapy can enhance your wellbeing by reading this short article: Virtual Therapy - A Convenient and Effective Way to Get Mental Health Support
Bringing It All Together
Cognito’s integrated care model brings together the strengths of psychiatrist expertise, skilled nurse practitioners, and highly trained CBT providers to create a comprehensive, efficient, and accessible mental health system. Through Dr. Comeau’s oversight–ranging from diagnostic clarification and medication consultations to group therapy and provider training–clients receive evidence-based, guideline-driven care without the lengthy delays typical of traditional psychiatry.
This collaborative approach not only enhances the quality of therapeutic support but also expands access to timely assessments and treatment for common conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. By combining medical insight with strong therapeutic practice in a virtual setting, Cognito offers a modern, scalable model of care that supports both clients and clinicians, ensuring more people get the help they need, when they need it.
If you’re interested in learning more about how our integrated, psychiatrist-led diagnostic and therapeutic services can support your mental health, check out the FAQ section of our website or learn more about our programs through our other blog articles.
If you’re a practitioner looking to better support your clients, consider connecting with us to explore how Cognito's integrated services can complement your care and improve client outcomes.
References:
Wang, J., Pasyk, S. P., Slavin-Stewart, C., & Olagunju, A. T. (2024). Barriers to mental health care in Canada identified by healthcare providers: A scoping review. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 51(5), 826-838.
