MCMC is partnering with Integrative Health Centers (IHC) to provide telemed psychotherapy, medication assessments, and medication management services, beginning in January 2023. Read on for some answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding this new service offering:
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. It can help eliminate or provide tools to assist a person's mental function and increase well-being. Psychotherapy can be an effective part of treatment for problems such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Bipolar disorder and other mood disorders
Coping with daily life
Impact of trauma and PTSD
Anger
Grief
ADHD
Therapy is often used in combination with medication to treat mental health conditions.
What can I expect for my first psychotherapy meeting?
Your initial meeting with your therapist is a time for you to get to know each other. You can tell the therapist what you see as the difficulties you are experiencing and the type of help you are seeking. The therapist will complete necessary clinical assessments to determine treatment goals.
After the first meeting, will I meet with the therapist again?
Typically, the answer is yes. Your therapist will work on a treatment plan that best suits your needs. Psychotherapy can be short term (a few appointments), dealing with immediate issues, or long term, dealing with longstanding and/or complex issues.
Medication Assessments and Medication Management
According to research, medication treatment combined with psychotherapy often enhances clinical outcomes. Medication is frequently used alone or in conjunction with other services like psychotherapy to stabilize and/or eliminate the symptoms that accompany psychiatric disorders. Though not all patients and not all psychiatric conditions require medication, there are many instances where medicines are the best way to relieve symptoms for the patient. Medication can be an effective part of treatment for conditions such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Bipolar disorder and other mood disorders
Panic
Sleep problems
ADHD
A psychiatric nurse practitioner can prescribe, discontinue, or adjust medications. It is important to collaborate during treatment by discussing symptom changes, side effects, or by asking questions that will lead to safe and effective utilization of medication.
What will an initial assessment with a psychiatric nurse practitioner include?
A thorough psychiatric assessment will use all relevant clinical tools to identify psychiatric conditions. It will include an overview of your symptoms and collections of your medical history. A determination will then be made whether medication is a clinical necessity for treatment.
What will a medication management follow-up visit include?
During follow-up visits, the psychiatric nurse practitioner will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and if the treatment is meeting the patient's goals.
Will I have regular visits?
Yes. Regular visits are critical to monitor medications, their side effects, and their possible interaction with other medications.
Will the psychiatric nurse practitioner collaborate with my therapist regarding treatment?
Yes. As authorized by the patient.
The first day of this new partnership with IHC is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Telemed provider Tiffany Green (MSW, LCSW), has more than 17 years of clinical therapy and social work experience. Her areas of focus include: cognitive behavioral therapy, holistic care and wellness intervention, trauma, and at-risk individuals.
Learn more about Tiffany, MCMC's new telemed outreach psychiatry services, and schedule an appointment today! Call (507) 836-6153.