Psychotherapy and Medication Management for Better Mental Health

There are many different mental health conditions that can severely affect all areas of a person’s life. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments to deal with many different kinds of mental health conditions. Often the two most effective treatments for many mental health conditions are Psychotherapy, also known as “Talk Therapy” and Psychiatric Medication Management. We at Pima Behavioral Health have found that for many different kinds of mental health conditions that the best results are obtained when the patient is prescribed appropriate medication(s) and receives effective psychotherapy.

Pima Behavioral Health approaches each client with a unique plan to best treat their particular condition and symptoms. In many cases, this means incorporating a combination of medication and psychotherapy into a treatment plan in order to develop the most effective means of obtaining long term relief.

Understanding Psychotherapy and Medication

Psychotherapy: Also referred to as talk therapy, working with a licensed mental health clinician to identify and treat issues with emotions, behaviors and psychological problems. The most common forms of psychotherapy are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or DBT, Interpersonal Psychotherapy or IP, and Supportive Counseling.

Once a patient has been stabilized on medication, he or she can begin to focus on the psychological component of their illness. By treating the biological cause of a patient’s illness, the patient is able to focus on psychological issues that are related to the symptoms of their condition. For example, individuals with depression often are unable to participate in therapy because of symptoms of depression, such as a lack of energy, and a decrease in motivation. However, once a patient has begun to feel better because of a medication, they are then able to work with a therapist to learn the skills that will allow the patient to manage the symptoms of their illness in the long term.

Since both forms of treatment target the same symptoms of mental health disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety), it is logical that the two can work well together. Psychotherapy helps patients learn new ways of coping and change their thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to have better mental health. Since medications treat biological symptoms of mental health disorders, they can allow patients to reach their full potential in learning and using therapeutic techniques.

Improved Symptom Relief

In combination, these two therapies can improve symptoms in many ways. For one, they can help alleviate the root cause of many different psychiatric disorders. This is because many disorders have both biological and psychological roots. As a result, for example, someone suffering from severe depression may benefit from medication that can ease their symptoms of depressed mood, loss of motivation, and decreased energy, in order to be able to participate more fully in psychotherapy. This allows the individual to apply the new skills learned in sessions to their life outside of the sessions.

For example, a person suffering from severe depression typically will not have enough motivation to go to a therapist’s office or enough energy to participate fully in sessions. However, after a few weeks of taking an appropriate antidepressant, the person’s motivation and energy levels can be restored, allowing the individual to go to sessions and learn ways to apply what is learned in sessions to everyday life.

Better Long-Term Outcomes

While medication can treat symptoms of a mental health condition, it does not necessarily treat the causes of that condition. The causes of a mental health condition can be deeply rooted within a person’s thought processes, and how they behave in their daily life. Through psychotherapy, individuals can learn to manage their stress and develop the skills that are necessary to deal with situations that may previously have caused them difficulty. These are just a few examples of how individuals can be empowered by learning how to cope with challenges of life. With both treatments, patients receive tools to help them deal with future stressors. Thus, they are able to sustain improvements made with the aid of both treatments.

Enhanced Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

A combined treatment approach is most effective for patients with anxiety disorders. While medication can alleviate symptoms of excessive worry, panic attacks, and physical symptoms of anxiety, in addition to helping a patient to function better, talk therapy can help a patient to identify situations that cause him or her the most amount of anxious feelings and learn ways to deal with those thoughts and feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is especially effective for patients with anxiety disorders. CBT is often combined with appropriate medication to help a patient’s condition to improve more quickly.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or “CBT” is a form of psychotherapy which has been proven in studies to be effective in treating people with anxiety disorders. The key to treating anxiety disorders is to develop techniques to manage anxious feelings and learn how to cope with triggers of anxious thoughts and feelings. Combining these techniques with medication, under the guidance of a psychiatrist, can help people with anxiety disorders to start to feel better sooner, and to return to their normal activities more quickly.

More Effective Management of Depression

Mental health issues such as Major Depressive Disorder or Persistent Depressive Disorder are one of the most common psychiatric disorders treated in the outpatient setting of a psychiatry practice. By treating the symptoms of the depressive disorder with appropriate medication in conjunction with psychotherapy that teaches the patient and/or family ways to alter negative thought patterns and to deal with emotions in a healthy way, individuals with moderate to severe depression have found superior results from the treatment of their symptoms when they have received a combination of both therapeutic approaches rather than either therapeutic approach alone.
These strategies and more can be addressed in conjunction with the depression medication in order to develop coping strategies and process difficult emotions in a healthy manner. Ultimately, the powerful combination of depression medication and individual psychotherapy can lead to the most effective long-term solution for individuals with depression.

Comprehensive Care for ADHD

As was mentioned earlier, medication can help individuals with ADHD improve their ability to focus, attend, and control impulses. In addition to these improvements, individuals with ADHD can also struggle with organization, time management, completing school work or tasks, and managing self-esteem. In addition to symptoms of ADHD, individuals with this disorder may also have difficulty with interpersonal relationships and academic or work performance.

Our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners can help individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by developing a treatment plan that includes medication as well as individual or group psychotherapy. In psychotherapy, the patient learns how to use practical tools to handle daily responsibilities. In addition, the patient is able to overcome challenges that interfere with his/her academic, occupational or social functioning.

Addressing Co-Occurring Challenges

Most individuals who are seeking mental health treatment have more than one issue that they are dealing with such as: anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues and various other life stressors. While the individual’s medication can help to stabilize their symptoms, the therapy can help the individual to process through their various personal issues and experiences that have affected their life. This form of treatment addresses the whole person, as opposed to treating only the individual’s symptoms.

A combination of treatments can help address different challenges a person is experiencing with mental health. While there are some individuals that may only need one of these treatment options, there are others that will benefit greatly from receiving both medication and psychotherapy to tackle their various mental health challenges in a more complete manner. By addressing the total person, individuals are often able to leave treatment with confidence in their ability to deal with stress and various situations that may arise.

Personalized Treatment Matters

No two people are alike. As such, no single treatment plan will be effective for every patient. Some people may find that they are able to treat their mental health concerns through means of therapy alone. Others will find that they are able to effectively manage their symptoms through the use of prescribed medications. Still, others will find that a combination of both therapies and medications is the most effective route to mental health for them.

At Pima Behavioral Health, our experienced Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners can work with you to create a personalized psychiatric treatment plan that addresses your specific mental health needs. We are dedicated to helping our patients find the most effective combination of treatment to promote long-term mental wellness.

Schedule an Evaluation

We are here to help individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, PTSD and other mental health issues. Our team of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners provide an evaluation, work up a treatment plan and manage any medications prescribed. We work with each individual to help them achieve the best mental health possible.

Contact Pima Behavioral Health today to schedule an evaluation for a combination of effective medication and helpful psychotherapy that can bring you the best mental health care and most fulfilling life possible.

How Combining Psychotherapy With Medication Management Can Provide The Greatest Results To Patients With A Variety Of Psychiatric Disorders.