The term “medication management” can make psychiatric care sound more transactional than it really is. You see a provider, get a prescription and come back periodically for a refill.
Good psychiatric care should involve much more than that.
At Deep Centered Mental Health, psychiatry and medication management starts with understanding what you’re experiencing, your health history and what you want help with. Medication is one treatment option your provider can consider, not a foregone conclusion.
If medication does become part of your treatment, the work continues. Your psychiatric provider will want to know how you’re responding, whether you’re experiencing side effects and what has changed since your last appointment. Those conversations help guide decisions about whether to stay with the current treatment or make an adjustment.
What Does Medication Management Actually Include?
Before recommending medication, your provider needs a clear picture of what has been going on.
That means talking about the symptoms that brought you in, how long you’ve been experiencing them and how they’re affecting your life. Your provider will also review your medical history, medications you’ve taken in the past and any current prescriptions.
This is important because two people with similar symptoms can have very different histories. A medication that worked well for someone you know isn’t automatically the right choice for you.
If you already take psychiatric medication, you don’t necessarily have to start over when you come to Deep Centered Mental Health. Your provider can review your current treatment, talk with you about how it’s working and determine what makes sense from there.
Is Medication Always Part Of Psychiatric Care?
Seeing a psychiatric provider does not automatically mean you’ll be prescribed medication. The first step is an evaluation, followed by a conversation about your options and what fits your needs.
For someone who does start medication, your provider will continue to follow how you’re doing and make changes when they’re warranted. Medication management is an ongoing part of care rather than simply writing a prescription and renewing it.
We also want you to understand the treatment you’re considering. Questions about side effects, how long a medication takes to work, what to expect when starting it or concerns based on a previous experience are all worth discussing with your provider.
What Happens At Medication Management Follow-Up Appointments?
Once you’re taking medication, follow-up appointments give you and your provider a chance to see what is actually happening between visits.
You might notice meaningful improvement but have a side effect that’s bothering you. A medication might be helping with one symptom while another hasn’t changed much. You may not notice enough of a difference yet to know whether it’s working.
Your provider uses that information to decide what comes next. Depending on your response, that could mean continuing the medication as prescribed, changing the dose, trying something different or taking another look at the overall treatment plan.
Treatment decisions should reflect how you’re actually doing, rather than continuing the same prescription simply because it was prescribed before.
Medication And Therapy Can Work Together
A psychiatric provider brings a medical perspective to treatment and can prescribe medication. A therapist works with you through conversation, helping you understand patterns, experiences, relationships and the things happening in your life.
At Deep Centered Mental Health, therapy and psychiatry are available within the same practice. If you’re working with both, your care doesn’t have to be split between completely separate organizations that know nothing about each other.
For patients who benefit from both forms of care, that connection can mean fewer handoffs and better continuity between the people involved in their treatment.
What If My Medication Isn’t Working?
If you’re taking psychiatric medication and still struggling, tell your provider what’s happening rather than assuming you just need to live with it. The same goes for side effects that are interfering with your day or making you question whether you want to continue treatment.
Your provider can look at how long you’ve been taking the medication, the dose, your response so far and other factors that could be affecting the outcome.
There are also situations where standard psychiatric medications haven’t provided enough improvement. Deep Centered Mental Health offers additional treatment options for depression, including TMS and SPRAVATO®, for appropriate patients.
Psychiatry And Medication Management Across Texas
Deep Centered Mental Health provides psychiatric care both in person and through telehealth. Our Texas locationsinclude offices throughout the Austin and Dallas areas, as well as Houston and San Antonio. Online psychiatry is available statewide.
We are also in-network with many major insurance plans. Coverage varies by plan, and our team can help you understand your benefits when you schedule.
Looking For A Psychiatric Provider In Texas?
If you’re considering medication for the first time, want another look at a treatment that isn’t working well enough, or need a provider to continue managing an existing prescription, we’re here to help.
You can schedule an appointment online or call Deep Centered Mental Health at (512) 956-6463 to get started.
