It is important to distinguish between psychology, psychotherapy and psychiatry. Psychology and psychotherapy attempt to address mental health issues through “talk” therapy, which takes place in a session room typically on a weekly or more frequent basis.  A psychologist is one type of psychotherapist.  Counselors and social workers are also trained to provide psychotherapy.  A psychiatrist is a medically trained physician who emphasizes biological treatment.  Psychiatry also uses the power of talk to help patients, but currently psychiatry’s primary means of treatment is through medication. Many mental health diagnoses can be helped with medication including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and ADHD, just to name a few. Most studies indicate long-term success in mental health is accomplished most successfully if medication is an adjunct to psychotherapy and not used instead of it.

Depending on the diagnosis or treatment issue, the patient may be referred to their medical doctor or a psychiatrist for medication, if that were a treatment route of interest to that client. If you have a Primary Care Physician, we can coordinate care by sharing your information through a release of information form. This will provide your doctor with a deeper understanding of your psychological health needs. The information that will be shared may include biological and social data, as well as psychological. Your doctor may require further assessment in his or her office and prescribe medication when he or she deems it appropriate.

In sum, medication can be an important adjunct to psychotherapy. At Sollars, we endorse the use of psychotherapy and if necessary medication simultaneously to increase the probability of a successful out come to treatment. If you feel you would like or need medication in addition to psychotherapy, please call Sollars and Associates Grand Rapids for help….