Virtual and In Person Psychiatric Care in Troy, Michigan and online throughout Michigan.
All psychiatric care is not the same.
Are You Looking for a Different Kind of Psychiatric Care?
Are you looking for psychiatric care but encountering one difficulty after another? First– you may have symptoms and difficulties where you need treatment NOW, but find that so many places have waiting lists that are months long. When you finally get an appointment, are you disappointed to find your psychiatric evaluation is too brief to really get into what is going on? Prescriptions are given and diagnoses are often not even discussed. It seems the plan is always a medication-or two-or three and then you are told to follow up in a month with an even shorter appointment to just refill your meds. Therapy and medication are often provided by two different people who don’t even communicate with each other. And this is repeated one month after another. Mental health care has become just piecemeal and sound bites. Too quick to do much good. There is a shortage of mental health providers and the financial part of the picture pushes providers to see too many patients too quickly. It’s a system that hurts alot of people—and you—the patient —most of all.
Psychiatric illness is difficult. The symptoms are pervasive, impacting everything. Does any of this sound familiar?
You have to force yourself out of bed in the morning, pushing to have a productive life, when your motivation is at an all time low.
You’re eating and sleeping too little or too much.
You're irritable with the people you love most.
Your inner dialog and thoughts are stuck on negative and overthinking.
Your emotions are flat or maybe you are crying alot.
Your relationships and work are suffering.
Your mind races.
Your anxiety is through the roof.
Your symptoms are impacting EVERYTHING. But you have an illness that is invisible and people just don’t understand. You're tired of hearing ‘snap out of it’ as if you could just will yourself to another state of mind. If you could have done that, you would have— a long, long time ago. The stigma is real. So many think that all of this is within your control. You may have given up on trying to explain it to others when they only misunderstand and judge you. It’s easier to deal with the misery of the symptoms alone than share them and have others make it worse. Life is not easy with a mental illness.
It can be incredibly painful and hard just living one day at a time…
Do you wish psychiatric care was different?
My approach is designed to get you feeling better as soon as possible and manage illness or symptoms so they don’t dominate your life. You have a vision for how you want your life to be. I want to support your mental health so you get there!
Here’s the differences you will find at Growing Wellness, LLC:
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I try to book initial appointments within a week or two so you are not waiting and dealing with alot of difficult symptoms.
I take time to listen. You won’t feel rushed through your appointment. You will have time to share your symptoms and struggles and how they impact your life, and what you want to accomplish in treatment.
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I don’t rush to make a diagnosis. People are complex. You deserve a thoughtful period of time to be known and understood. Diagnoses can change as treatment progresses and patients are better understood. An accurate diagnosis is important because it guides treatment. If the diagnosis is wrong, the treatment is likely to be ineffective.
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Medicine is a constantly changing field and I work hard to stay up on the studies to select effective treatments for my patients. It is important to note that when studies are done, people are enrolled based on their diagnosis. Then treatments are found to be effective (or not) for that specific diagnosis. This reinforces again why diagnosis is important. Treatment is selected because it is effective for your particular diagnosis.
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I value my patients and their unique humanity. You are so much more than just your symptoms. I want to know you on a deeper level. It helps me know how to best treat your symptoms and help you feel better.
I value your goals. Your goals and desires will be a part of the treatment plan. You are likely walking in with your focus on a specific concern. I won’t lose that focus.
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Stigma, shame, and judgment have no place in my practice. You can safely be your authentic self.
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YOU are an essential part of your treatment team because you are the best expert on you. We will collaborate on your treatment plan to make sure it fits what you want and need. I don’t minimize your input on how things are working (or not working!). I also value communicating with your therapist so that we are all on the same page, and if things are not improving, I don’t hesitate to reach out and consult with other professionals.
Personal, Confidential, & Caring Psychiatric Care Will–
Decrease symptoms & manage illness
Increase wellness, quality of life, and joy
Your mental health is the foundation to achieving all you want your life to be.
Together, we can make that foundation stronger.
Questions?
FAQs about Psych Services
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When I do a psychiatric evaluation it takes 60-90 minutes. We discuss why you wanted the psych evaluation and what your current concerns are, your medical and psychiatric history, your symptoms, how your symptoms affect your life, past events that may contribute to your symptoms, your family history, your substance use– past and present, your background including childhood, education, work, and current stressors. It helps to be totally honest and transparent in this space that is free of judgment. Sometimes it takes more than one visit to get all the information.
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A diagnosis is like a photograph. It is a snapshot of the symptoms discussed in your psychiatric evaluation. As time goes on, symptoms may come and go. Sometimes patients say more as they get more comfortable. So, the picture can change and a diagnosis can change. Sometimes symptoms disappear for a time and the illness is in remission. Other times, symptoms go away and do not return. Then you just have a history of the illness. Some psychiatric illnesses are constant and life long, but others are episodic where they come and go. Your mental health doesn’t define you and it is not a label you wear. It is just a starting point to figure out where treatment should begin.
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No. There are many approaches to mental health and many types of therapies that are effective. Medication is just one approach. It is important to consider that ALL medications have risks and side effects. So, if symptoms are mild to moderate, I always encourage lifestyle changes that will improve your overall health and mental health. If symptoms persist, then medication might be a good next step. I do prescribe medications as initial therapy if the patient is currently on medication, if symptoms are moderate to severe, or if safety is an issue. For more information on non-medication treatment approaches, click here.