Medication Management

Our doctors believe that psychotropic medication can be profoundly beneficial, and that the best outcomes are usually achieved by using medication to reduce distressing symptoms while helping individuals adapt to the unique challenges in their daily lives. Our team has developed a balanced and practical approach to medication management aimed at minimizing the dosage and number of medications necessary to achieve the desired outcome. Decisions about medication should be made after a careful and collaborative discussion between you and your prescribing provider. Prescription medications can be helpful as a stand-alone treatment, or in combination with other clinical interventions.

Everyone responds to treatment in their own unique way.  In the case of psychiatric medication, recent scientific discoveries have led to a new understanding of how a person’s genes impact how their body and mind respond to medication. Pharmacogenetic analyses allow our psychiatrists to tailor treatment to the individual patient, an approach that has been shown to yield faster improvement with fewer side effects. The Clinic’s psychiatry team employs a cutting-edge, economical and seamless approach to pharmacogenetics. DNA is captured with a simple cheek swab conducted in one of our offices.  The sample is then sent for analysis and results are typically available within 1 week, allowing your provider to choose the best medication for your body.

Our team believes that, in some cases, non-pharmacological interventions can work with medication to optimize outcome.  Some of the approaches our team may recommend combining with medication are:

• Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as “talk therapy,” has been shown to be helpful for a variety of mental health issues including: depression, anxiety, stress, trauma recovery, substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and ADHD. Psychotherapy may involve specific modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The core of CBT focuses on realigning behavioral choices with what we value. Living a life that’s “in sync” with your personal values can relieve anxiety and improve a depressed mood.
• Behavioral medicine. This is an interdisciplinary approach to wellness that may include: psychotherapy, biofeedback, micro-current electric therapy, or hypnosis.