What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my outpatient mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per visit?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a patient and Psychiatrist. Successful treatment requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the Psychiatrist's office. Every Psychiatrist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss during visits will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your Psychiatrist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Therapist, Attorney), but by law your Psychiatrist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require Psychiatrists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders requires Psychiatrists to report to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the Psychiatrist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
Do you perform psychological testing and assessments?
No. Associates In Psychiatry (AIP) does not perform psychological testing and assessments. It is the policy of AIP physicians to require psychological testing and assessments for individuals requesting treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) with stimulant medication. These reports along with the psychiatric evaluation performed by AIP physician will help ensure treatment plans are tailored to the individual.
Please contact your insurance for a referral to an in-network specialist and verify benefit coverage.
Do you perform psychiatric evaluations related to The Extreme Risk Protection Order Act “red flag laws”?
No. Associates In Psychiatry (AIP) does not perform psychiatric evaluations related to the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, also known as “red flag” laws. Please contact the State of Michigan or legal counsel for additional assistance.
