Psychiatric Medication Management
At Every Rose Psychiatry, our primary role is prescribing and managing your psychiatric medication, but that doesn’t mean we think that medication is always the best option or can provide a solution all on it’s own. We are strong proponents of the importance of therapy, collaborating with all members of your care team, and helping you find and develop some of the skills and changes you can utilize to take back control over your symptoms.
We believe that the most important part of prescribing medication is providing the education that comes along with it. We will provide you with options and be sure to find one you feel comfortable with, give you an idea of what to expect (though everyone’s experience is unique), answer any questions you may have, and be available for support if necessary in between visits. If you decide that medication may not be for you or you don’t feel that you’re ready to give it a try, there is absolutely no pressure to do so and we will always be here if you need us.
While medication is not always the entire solution, we believe that it can play a very important role in mental health treatment and improving quality of life. We hear so many “I finally feel like myself again” and “I wish I had tried this sooner” stories, and that’s why we do what we do.
Psychiatric Evaluation (1st visit, 60 minutes)
Your initial psychiatric evaluation appointment will be about 60 minutes. Your provider will ask you LOTS of questions ranging from what has led to your decision to schedule the appointment with us, all the way back to when you first remember experiencing any challenges with your mental health. You’ll have an opportunity to discuss your personal history, family history, treatment history, social history, and occupational history as you see fit, meaning with as much or as little detail as you feel comfortable with. You will have a safe, private space to discuss the things that have been the most difficult for you, and your provider will be collecting all of the information that they need to help you feel like yourself again.
We do not tend to give an official diagnosis after the first visit – we’ve only known you for an hour, and we feel more confident giving a diagnosis after we’ve worked with you on your good days, your bad days, and all of the stuff in between. However, we are happy to discuss our “diagnostic impression” of the symptoms you’ve shared with us, and provide a “working diagnosis” that we are using to guide our treatment plan. We will provide you with several medication alternatives and explain the risks and benefits of each. We will make sure that all of your questions have been answered. If you do decide that you would like to begin (or continue) medication, we will send your prescription electronically at the end of the visit. If you think of questions or concerns later on that you forgot to mention during your appointment, or you run into any questions regarding side effects as you proceed, you will be able to email your provider, however medication changes will only be made at follow up visits.
Follow Up Medication Management (30 minutes)
Your follow up medication management visit will be about 30 minutes. You’ll be able to discuss how helpful (or not) the medication has been since your last visit. You’ll discuss any side effects you may be experiencing, and you’ll determine with your provider whether a dose adjustment or a medication change could be helpful. You’ll also have time to share what’s going on in your life – helping us understand you and your life helps give us a fuller picture, which makes it easier for us to treat you. We care, and we would love to hear how things are going at home, at work, at school, or socially. We would love for you to share how you’ve been coping with anything stressful in your life and when necessary, brainstorm better ways to do so. We are here to support you in your journey and love nothing more than celebrating your wins together. Follow up visits are typically monthly, but can be up to 2 or 3 months apart if everything has been stable and you and your provider are both comfortable meeting less frequently. We try to make sure we never go more than 3 months without meeting, because so much can change within that time frame and we want to keep in touch.
In Office Visits
We offer in person visits are happy to welcome you into our space. Meeting in person can provide us with an opportunity to more accurately observe body language and non-verbal cues which can be a helpful part of our assessment. Some things are just hard to say, but luckily words are not the only way we can communicate. Additionally, in person visits allow good old fashioned face to face interaction and can also help to minimize distractions.
When you arrive, the front door opens directly into the waiting room. You can feel free to have a seat and your provider will come and walk you back to their office with them as soon as possible.
Telehealth Visits
One of the greatest benefits of telehealth is that it can make healthcare more accessible and convenient. It allows you to receive care from the comfort of your own home, eliminating the need for travel and taking less time out of your day. It also gives us the opportunity to provide care to those who are not close enough to make the drive. It provides flexibility in scheduling appointments and makes seeking help for mental health challenges more comfortable for someone who is experiencing high anxiety or doesn’t feel comfortable coming in to the office.
Accessing your telehealth appointment is as simple as logging back into the TherapyNotes portal where you completed your new patient intake forms and clicking a button to begin your session. If you ever have any difficulty with accessing your portal, you can always call or text and we will be happy to assist.