Psychiatry and Medication Management to Help Manage Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
Addiction is very often accompanied by mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. At Turnbridge, we believe in an integrated approach to treating co-occurring disorders. For many people, a combination of psychotherapy and psychiatry can successfully address mental health conditions. While psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is typically provided by psychologists, medical assessment, ordering lab work, prescriptions, and medication management are provided by psychiatrists.
Psychiatric evaluations, consultations, and medication management services are provided to Turnbridge clients by an experienced team of psychiatric providers who specialize in working with clients who have substance use disorders. Turnbridge believes that medication can be a powerful aid in the recovery process if provided in conjunction with counseling and psychotherapy.
The Turnbridge psychiatric team consists of a Staff Psychiatrist and two advanced-practice psychiatric nurse practitioners, who are deeply committed to educating and empowering clients to become better self-advocates and consumers of mental healthcare.
We will typically work with clients to decrease their reliance on medication over time as they learn to manage symptoms through healthy lifestyle changes. Optimizing medications and dosages is important to maximizing the therapeutic benefit while minimizing side-effects and dependency risk.
Psychiatric Medication Management
Psychiatric medication management services offered at Turnbridge focus on treating addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders with medications while educating clients about addiction, mental illness, and the side effects of medications.
What To Expect From Medication Management Services at Turnbridge
- The initial appointment will include completing paperwork that helps us obtain a basic medical history related to substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.
- Next, the individual will meet with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who will review all treatment history and current symptoms.
- The psychiatrist will discuss different medications based on their clinical experience and judgment. They will take into account other concerns including, current medical conditions, other medications being prescribed and whether or not the individual is currently using drugs or alcohol.
- The psychiatrist may request psychological or laboratory testing before starting or continuing certain types of medications.
- Followup appointments with the psychiatrist will be shorter in length, typically 15 to 20 minutes.
- It is critical the individual is actively involved in their own care and makes informed decisions about medications. Prescribing instructions for controlled medications should always be carefully reviewed.
Getting Started with Psychiatry & Medication Management
Turnbridge is equipped to facilitate assessment, treatment planning, and clinical recommendations. To learn more about Turnbridge or to find out whether psychiatry and medication management is right for you or a family member, call us today.
