Medication Management (Psychiatry)
COPE is one of the few outpatient psychological practices with psychiatry on staff in order to help optimize care for our patients and provide the type of holistic care often necessary to effectively treat mental health conditions. Although not all individuals necessitate medications, research suggests that for certain mental health conditions the combination of therapy and medication is more effective than either one alone.
Medication Goals
The goal of medication can vary by person and by the specific mental health condition being treated. For some individuals, it can be difficult to absorb the skills and tools discussed in therapy and medications can often provide a leg up to help individuals get the most out of their therapy experience.
Addiction Medicine
At COPE, we have a board certified General and Addiction Psychiatrist, Dr. Isabella Morton, who completed her Addiction Fellowship at UCLA. She specializes in meeting people where they are in their journey. She is able to prescribe more common medications, such as anti-depressants, as well as controlled substances for ADHD and Substance Use Disorders.
Do I ever get off of medications?
This is a common question that gets asked and a good question to ask your provider. Much like with the time course of therapy, there is no one size fits all. Depending on the mental health condition, some choose to take medications long-term and this is often necessary based on the particular condition. However, some choose to take it in the short-term to help manage a particular stressor. Talking about your goals and how they relate to what you are looking to improve is all part of the initial intake process as you begin your journey to deciding if medications are right for you.