Psychiatric Medication Management

Integrative Psychiatric Services

Medication Management Services at Ellie

Sometimes our mental health stressors involve biological changes that contribute to our pain and struggle. These may be best addressed with a combination of therapy and medication. Our psychiatric prescribers take a holistic and integrative approach to mental health and work in collaboration with your therapist to ensure that you are receiving the best care possible.

Find My Ellie

How Psychiatric Medication Can Help You Heal

Medications may be used to treat a variety of conditions, across the spectrum, from depression and anxiety to grief and trauma. The use of medications can contribute to healing by initiating biological changes in the brain, which can help make therapy more elective and provide more rapid relief for you to work through the challenges you face.

Our Medication Management Process

Initial Assessment

First visits are typically 60-90 minutes in length.

We will get to know each other and address your symptoms, supports, and stressors. We know it’s a pain, but you may be asked to fill out a few additional forms so that we can get a fuller picture of your mental health. At the end of your assessment we will discuss your diagnosis and our treatment recommendations. Recommendations may include a combination of medication, therapy, and additional supports. If you choose to take a medication you will receive a prescription and follow-up recommendations.

Follow-Up Visit

Follow-ups are typically 15-30 minutes in length.

Follow-ups are regular check-ins with your Psychiatrist, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant to see how things are going. We’ll review your progress, check in on your symptoms, make sure you aren’t having any side effects, and work together in developing a course of action to get you where you want to be with your mental health. Follow-up visits can vary in frequency from every two weeks to up to six months based on your progress in your treatment.

In-Person Visit

Come to one of our Ellie Mental Health locations! When you arrive, simply check in at the kiosk and relax in our supremely cozy waiting rooms. A Medication Management Assistant will come by shortly, say, “Hey,” take your vitals, ask a few screening questions, and then bring you to your Psychiatrist, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant’s office for your visit.

Telehealth

Have your visit with us from the comfort of your home! Telehealth visits are completed over the internet via an interactive audio-video platform. A good internet connection, a device with quality audio and video capabilities, and a confidential location are required. You will receive instructions on how to access your visit a few days before your appointment. Don’t be late! If technical difficulties do present themselves just reach out to us and we’ll work with you to resolve the problem.

What We Treat

Depression

A fog has rolled into your mind, and won’t leave. Life has lost its flavor. You can’t sleep. And worse yet – you think it’s your fault. Everything keeps building up and you’re getting to the point that you feel like you can’t take it anymore! Overwhelmed and uninspired, doing anything sounds utterly unappealing. Does this ring a bell?

Possible Medication Options:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)—Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Viibryd (vilazodone)

SNRI—Effexor (venlafaxine), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), Fetzima (levomilnacipran) Other: Wellbutrin (bupropion), Remeron (mirtazapine), BuSpar (buspirone)

Goals of Medication Treatment
Get you out of your funk. Put a spring back into your step. Lift that fog so you can get back to enjoying things. Be active and interested in your future. We aim to enhance the effects of psychotherapy, specifically behavioral activation.

Anxiety

Your brain is a flood of thoughts that won’t stop: What is happening? What is going to happen? Am I okay? Why am I nervous? Should I be? It’s got you up at night staring at the ceiling and all this overwhelming uncertainty has you on edge.

Possible Medication Options: ‍

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)—Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Viibryd (vilazodone)

SNRI—Effexor (venlafaxine), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), Fetzima (levomilnacipran)

Goals of Medication Treatment

Stop the flood. Take the edge off. Get you able and willing to participate in things. Enhance the effects of psychotherapy, specifically behavioral activation.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

You find yourself checking things over and over (and over) again. Your thoughts keep butting in when you don’t want them to. You keep washing your hands. All these unwanted impulses are occupying an inordinate amount of your time and thoughts.

Typical Medication Options‍

SSRI – Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Luvox (fluvoxamine)

Goals of Medication treatment

Work to keep the impulses at bay. Reduce your obsessions and compulsions. Allow you to engage in psychotherapy, specifically exposure therapy.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

You’ve experienced something harrowing and it is haunting you. You can’t keep it away. You dream it. Relive it. This event has attached itself to you and it’s shaping your life.

Typical Medication Options‍

SSRI—Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) Other : Prazosin

Goals of Medication treatment‍

Help take the load off. Improve your focus and concentration. Help reduce your distractibility and hyperactivity.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

What’s that you said? Oh, man, I’m late for a meeting. Hey, that story looks interesting. I’m hungry. Did I already eat? When is lunch? Great, I missed that meeting. Why am I on my phone?

Possible Medication Options

Stimulants: Adderall (amphetamine), Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), Concerta (methylphenidate), Ritalin (methylphenidate), Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)

Non stimulants: Strattera (atomoxetine), Intuniv (guanfacine ER), Kapvay (clonidine ER)

Goals of Medication Treatment

To slow your motor down and get that squirrel out your head. To help get you thinking flexibly, have emotional and impulse control, and keep you organized. To check off the lists, follow through on the alarms, and keep you on schedule.

Additional Diagnosis

At Ellie Mental Health we strive to treat a wide spectrum of illness. We help clients a variety of afflictions and will work with you to identify your specific goals. Additional diagnosis may include social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism, as well as those with co-occurring substance use disorders or eating disorders.