Establish care & Consultation
In a perfect world, everyone could see a psychiatrists every few weeks for professional feedback and advice.
What to know when establishing care:
What is the different between a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specialty training in psychiatry , psychiatric treatment, and mental health services as a whole. They complete 4 years of medical school and 4 more years of residency training. Psychiatrists are trained in both psychotherapy and psychiatric medications so they are able to provide both services. Other providers (like a psychologist, a social worker, or a licensed counselor) can provide psychotherapy services but they cannot prescribe medications. Click here to learn more about CARE + MEDICATIONS.
Will the psychiatrist try to make me take Psychiatric medications even if I don’t want to?
No ! When you talk with your doctor you will discuss all treatment options including medication and non-medication treatments. If your doctor recommends a medication, you will discuss the risks and benefits of the medication carefully and you will decide whether or not you think it is a good choice for you. In many cases, your doctor may recommend that you stop taking medications that are not necessary or helpful for you.
Will I have to talk about my past?
You may find it difficult or even painful to talk about your past. When you consult with your doctor they will want to know some information about your past but you do not need to go into painful details unless you want to. If you have a history of trauma or abuse, you can tell your doctor that you have a history of these problems but would rather not discuss the details at this time.
How Long will IT Take to See signs of improvement?
Duration of time before improvement will depend on the treatment plan among other variables. In another words, key variable include how long the symptoms have been going on before establishing care, whether or not you will be taking medications, participating in therapy, or some combination of the two. However, most patients report noticeable signs of symptom relieve within 2 weeks of the initial appointment, but it is not uncommon for this to take up to 6+ weeks.
What Happens after the initial appointment?
The typical approach regarding timeline of follow up care is as follow:
Initial Establish Care Appointment ⇾
Followed by 10 - 14 days before a follow up appointment ⇾
Followed by a 4 - 6 week follow up appointment ⇾
Further follow up assessed thereafter.
Of course, there can be much variation here, but this is the most common follow up approach after the establish care appointment.
How Long will I have to wait until I can get my first appointment?
To date, all patients have been able to establish care and acquire their first appointment within 2 weeks. Availability of the upcoming month is released and updated in the BOOKING PAGE on the last day of the preceding month. Patients do need a referral from their primary care doctor, as all appointments are booked online, by the patient through the website.
medication management
If the doctor is helping me with medications, what can I expect at the initial psychiatry appointment?
At the consultation visit you will discuss the risks and benefits of medications with your doctor. In many cases, your doctor can give you a prescription at the time of your consultation visit. In some cases, your doctor may ask you to gather additional information and schedule a follow-up visit to pick the best medication for you.
What if I have more than 1 Doctor, How will I know who will be prescribing what medications ?
The answer here can be more thoroughly discussed in the initial appointment. However, if you are like most patients, and you wish to continue care with Carolina Psychiatry after the initial appointment it is recommend that your Physician Psychiatrist, take over the prescribing responsibilities of all of the psychotropic medications. More simply put, is that any medications that address psychiatric symptoms ( i.e. anxiety, depression, insomnia) are preferably to be managed by the doctor at Carolina Psychiatry moving forward.
What are the most common symptoms/conditions the doctors treat?
Generally speaking, some of the most common symptoms that cause patients to seek psychiatric care are #1 Depression #2 General Anxiety and #3 Insomnia or inability to sleep. However, some less common conditions/symptoms that we also treat are memory loss, ADHD and problems with attention, bipolar disorder, mania, anger issues, and psychosis.
What can I expect at the Psychiatric Evaluation and follow-up appointments?
At your follow-up visit you and your doctor will talk for about 20 minutes about your experiences with your medications, possible side effects, and adjust your treatment plan accordingly. Your doctor may also talk with you about other non-medication issues depending on your situation.
If I am doing well with my medications, will my doctor give me refills or do I need to come every month?
It will be up to you and your doctor to determine when your next follow-up visit will be, this is highly variable for different people and different situations. The maximum time between appointments is 3 months, so the maximum medication prescribed at an appointment would be a 90 day supply.
What happens if I have questions about medication outside of appointments?
You can contact your doctor directly with any questions about your medications. If it is a non-urgent issue, you can leave a confidential voicemail which your doctor checks during business hours. If it is an urgent issue, you can reach your doctor on their urgent phone line anytime. If you have extensive questions about medication, your doctor may recommend that you schedule an office appointment to discuss further.
What happens if I have side effects from a medication?
If you think you are having side effects from a medication, you can contact your doctor directly. If it is a non-urgent issue, you can leave a confidential voicemail which your doctor checks during business hours. If it is an urgent issue, you can reach your doctor on their urgent phone line anytime. If you are having severe symptoms which could be life-threatening, please call 911 or go to your closest emergency room. The emergency room doctor can call your doctor directly to get more information.