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What to Expect
We believe all people of capable of growth and change — mental health does not define anyone. Our Medication Management team, made up of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, will assist you in determining if medication will help with your mental health symptoms. Together, you, your provider, and other members of your healthcare team will come up with a plan that is best for you.
The first step in the process to access care is to schedule your first appointment. We do this over the phone. You can expect the call to take about 30 minutes to gather the information that your provider will need. This ensures we are able to connect you with the provider who is best equipped to meet your needs. You can easily schedule a time for this call that is convenient for you here.
Before your first appointment, please be sure to complete all forms that have been sent to you via our Patient Portal. These forms include important information about your medical history and releases of information that your provider will need in order to provide you with the best possible care.
Your first visit with us will be an hour long. We want to give you time to share your health needs and goals. When people are experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems it is important to take the time to go over your history and symptoms. This helps us figure out what you need BEFORE prescribing medications. Each person is unique — including you — and we want to ensure your care is personalized for your needs.
Follow up visits with your nurse practitioner will each be 30 minutes long. Again, we want to ensure there is enough time to talk through your symptoms. And, if your provider has started or changed a medication, time to talk through how it is working and make adjustments as needed.
Common Questions
If you need medicine to help with your mental health, it is important that your medication is monitored. This means an ongoing conversation with your nurse practitioner.
Our clinicians are certified psychiatric nurse practitioners. Like all psychiatry providers, they specialize in treating individuals with acute and chronic mental health needs. They are fully qualified to diagnose and treat mental health problems. Your provider will work with you to create a treatment plan specific to your needs. They may also collaborate with with other members of your healthcare team including your primary provider, specialists, and therapist.
Your provider will help you to create medication plans. The goal of both is to identify and/or adjust your mental health medications to alleviate your symptoms. Part of your plan includes working with you to evaluate how you are reacting to your medication(s). With this information and collaboration with your care team, they can make adjustments as needed.
In short, no. The goal of mental health medication is to alleviate your symptoms, not to change what makes you who you are. This is why your nurse practitioner will work WITH you to determine the medication(s) to best help you.
Lots of things can impact how our bodies respond to medications — including our DNA. If you have struggled to find a medication treatment that alleviates your symptoms, your provider may recommend GeneSight testing. This service, provided at Covenant Family Solutions, is a non-invasive test that may provide insight into how your body reacts to medications. If you have failed many medications due to side effects or have been ineffective, ask your provider if they believe this would be the right fit for you.
You may see your provider weekly, every two weeks, monthly, or every three months depending on your treatment plan. Your provider may request to see you more often at first as they work with you to determine the best treatment plan for you. Once your treatment is stabilized, you’ll see you provider less often, but as frequent as needed to ensure you are able to continue to unleash your potential. For some medications, more frequent visits may be required to ensure your health and safety.
If you need medicine to help with your mental health, it is important that your medication is monitored. This means an ongoing conversation with your nurse practitioner. You and your body change over time. It may be necessary to periodically change your medication if your symptoms increase or decrease.
When you arrive to your first appointment, please be prepared to discuss any past medications or treatments. Making a list of these before your visit can be a helpful way to remember. To each appointment, bring any needed school/work note requests or other documents. At your visit, we may ask you to sign a release of information for any healthcare providers or family members that you would like involved in your care.
It is always best to schedule an appointment with your provider to be able to have plenty of time to discuss questions. However, if you have an urgent question that cannot wait, please call the direct number for the clinic where your provider is located. Our support team will then correspond with your provider to relay your request and determine if an appointment is needed. Things that will require a appointment include questions about your treatment plan, requests to change medications, wanting to discuss side effects of medications, and needing a specific form or letter filled out by your provider.
If you are needing a refill on a prescription that your nurse practitioner has ordered, please contact your pharmacy. The only exception would be for controlled substances. For those refill requests, please contact our office directly. It is important that you are consistent with your medication. So, be sure to not wait until your prescription runs out to request a refill.
Our Providers
Selecting a mental health provider is a very personal decision. Learn a bit more about our dedicated psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.
Request an Appointment
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Congratulations on taking this first step in achieving your goals. If you have never been seen by our office before, please complete the form below to schedule a time to set up your first appointment. If you are a current or past client, please send us a message or call 1-888-336-9661.
