Medication Management

Are You Curious How A Therapist Can Help Manage Your Medication? 

a girl taking meds

Do you have a mental health issue that disrupts your daily life?

Has anxiety or depression left you wishing for a time when you had energy and enthusiasm again? 

Has school or work become problematic because of difficulty with concentration?

There could be so many reasons you decide to reach out for mental health treatment, and whether or not your journey involves talk therapy as well as prescription medicine is an important consideration. In addition to talk therapy, Integral Psychological Services can accurately diagnose and prescribe psychiatric medication and provide compassionate management of your prescription.

Maybe Your Current Plan Needs An Adjustment

Perhaps you’ve received psychiatric care before and have been diagnosed with a disorder like anxiety or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—and maybe you’ve also taken medication to provide relief. But if your treatment methods aren’t working like you thought they would, you probably wonder if another psychiatrist might understand you better.

You might be brand new to the idea of taking medicine for your mental health and need a prescriber who will help you consider your choices, better understand your condition or disorder, and give you the confidence to know you are in good hands.

The combination of medication and therapy may be new for you as well, as this is often a more comprehensive treatment for the management of your mental health than a prescription alone.

At Integral Psychological Services, we aim to support you in your mental health journey by providing you with services to help you properly manage your diagnosis.

You’re not alone, and with the proper guidance, we’ll work together to get you back on the right track.

Mental Health Issues Are Common And Should Not Be Ignored

somebody holding water and pills

Anxiety, Depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia are all typically treated with a combination of medicine and talk therapy. These issues are considered common, with ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder being the most prevalent, each with over 3 million cases diagnosed every year.

The stigma surrounding seeking mental health treatment is declining, thanks surprisingly to cultural shifts like social media use, where more and more people are proudly sharing their mental health struggles in an effort to normalize them. Parents are also seeking care for their children more often today than ever before as well. While it might seem scary to potentially treat their child with medication, they later realize how much it helps them to thrive and function.

Getting An Accurate Assessment Of Symptoms Is Not Always Easy

a man looking at his meds

A lot of providers, both primary health care doctors and some mental health professionals, don’t get to know their patients as well as they should, and misdiagnosis is common. Too often, a provider will check off a list of symptoms without asking questions to get to the root of the issues. A provider should be able to engage the patient, so they feel comfortable sharing the truth of their mental health symptoms and behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.

It’s common for people to tell us they’ve seen so many doctors for their issues but haven’t truly felt heard. At Integral Psychological Services, your first appointment will involve highly detailed questions and give you a chance to talk about what you’ve been going through. We make it a point to listen and involve you in the process so that we can tailor an accurate and compassionate management plan for your medicine and talk therapy that best suits your needs.

a girl looking at a pill

We Can Help Identify How Your Lifestyle Choices Contribute To Your Treatment

When you begin therapy, you’ll have the chance to talk about your options, which means you don’t have to start taking medicine immediately. We might review your other options based on your symptoms and lifestyle and go from there. We highly recommend talk therapy in addition to a prescription if you are prescribed one.

What you can expect if and when you begin medication is a discussion about how your current self-care habits and coping methods may or may not support your mental health. For example, you may have turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms over time, like overeating, drinking, or ignoring your self-care needs. Taking your prescription, attending talk therapy, and improving your lifestyle could vastly improve your situation and make life more manageable.

Our Medication Management Plans Are Tailored To Your Goals

No matter your previous challenges, it is possible to live a life with decreased anxiety, lessened or alleviated depression, the ability to focus on your tasks, and ultimately, a sense of calmness and joy. At Integral Psychological Services, we will take the time to find out your goals and concerns about treatment, which we’ll tailor to your ideals, values, and beliefs. Furthermore, we aim to address any biological factors for your mental health issues, so sometimes, we take lab work into consideration to make sure we aren’t treating symptoms of another condition.

somebody holding meds and water

While Medication May Be The Right Choice Now, That Doesn’t Mean You Will Take It Forever

If you are prescribed medication, in most cases, it shouldn’t be considered a lifelong situation. However, one of the benefits of taking the proper dosage of prescribed medication is that it can help you make choices to live a healthier life. Over time, these healthy habits can help you live sustainably, which could also indicate that you no longer need the help of your medication to find balance and cope.

While you may be struggling now, reaching out for help is a courageous step. We are here to listen to your story, understand where you are coming from, and formulate a treatment plan specific to your needs so you can start having hope for the future.

Integral Psychological Services Is Now Offering GeneSight Testing

If you have struggled to find an effective medication for your mental health needs, GeneSight testing can help. Your at home test will provide you and your clinician answers about how your genetics could affect the outcomes of over 60 medications commonly prescribed to treat ADHD, depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.

You Might Still Have Concerns About Medication Management…

  • Families are always welcome in sessions with their children. As part of your treatment plan, we will make sure you understand all of the choices available to you, both prescription and therapy-based. We hope that this will give you a sense of agency for your care, and not feel as though you are simply being told what to do.

    In most cases, there is usually more than one medicine you can use, so if one does not agree with you, there are other options that we can try. Side effects may be a factor, but for millions of people, the benefits of their medication outweigh the minor side effects they may experience.

  • The amount of time it takes to feel the effects of medication depends on your diagnosis. Some medications work within the first week for certain conditions, while others may take longer to kick in and provide relief. For instance, SSRI medications for anxiety and depression typically take 4 to 6 weeks to take effect. This is why counseling sessions and follow-up appointments are important in the early stages of medication treatment. 

  • We accept a variety of insurance plans that can help cover the cost of services. Please visit our Finance page to learn more.

Reach Out To Integral Psychological Services

Medication management and talk therapy are great opportunities to resolve your mental health issues, and we are ready to help you on your journey. Please get in touch with us through our contact page or by calling (616) 600-2845 to set up a consultation.

3333 Evergreen Dr NE #210, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

640 3 Mile Rd NW A, Grand Rapids, MI 49544

8 E Bridge St NE #C2, Rockford, MI 49341

1843 R W Berends Drive Southwest, Wyoming, MI 49519