Complicated Mental Health Cases Require Expertise
My clinical psychopharmacology services are designed to support physicians, particularly family and general practitioners. A recent study showed that from 2006 to 2018, the proportion of primary care visits addressing mental health concerns increased by nearly 50%. Approximately 1 in 6 primary care patients now has mental health concerns requiring treatment. While many cases can be managed directly by the physician or through psychotherapy referral, the waitlist to see a psychiatrist or other psychopharmacology specialists remains lengthy—even for other physicians.
I bring a comprehensive background in psychopharmacology and the medical model. My training includes experience in emergency rooms, state hospitals, community behavioral health clinics, and addiction services, and I hold a post-doctoral Master’s degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP). Through my work, I have gained in-depth knowledge of the mental health management needs in medical settings.
I provide online consultation services to assist physicians in managing more complex mental health cases. When a patient with mental health needs is identified, I offer the following consultative services:
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Diagnostic Clarity – I conduct thorough assessments to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans. This is crucial for managing adult stimulant prescriptions, treatment-resistant depression, and bipolar or mood disorders.
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Medication Recommendations – While many general practitioners feel comfortable prescribing SSRIs or stimulants, more complex cases—such as mood disorders, treatment-resistant depression, psychosis, and other serious mental illnesses—can be challenging without specialized training. I provide informed recommendations, allowing you to prescribe with confidence. From there, I manage the patient’s ongoing mental health care and coordinate follow-up.
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Medication Monitoring – Certain medications require laboratory tests and careful monitoring. I recommend necessary labs, review the results, and manage the patient’s mental health medications.
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Deprescribing Support – Discontinuing medications is as important as starting them, especially for benzodiazepines and other psychoactive medications. I offer expertise in safe and effective deprescribing, including mindfulness approaches and evidence-based tapering protocols for a wide range of psychotropic medications.
With my support, physicians can better meet the growing mental health needs of their patients and manage complex cases with confidence and clarity.
What Coordination Looks Like
My integrated model is designed to respond promptly to physicians' needs.
The process begins when a physician identifies a patient with mental health concerns that require more intensive management. The physician’s office contacts mine, and we schedule a secure video mental health assessment for the patient. This assessment includes a comprehensive diagnosis and a recommended treatment plan. Treatment recommendations may involve psychopharmacological agents, therapy, case management, or other interventions. The physician receives this report promptly, allowing them to review and adjust the plan as needed, including writing prescriptions, ordering labs, or other actions. From there, I manage the patient’s ongoing mental health and psychopharmacology needs, providing regular reports to the referring physician.
The patient gains the benefit of a highly qualified mental health professional attending closely to their needs, and interacting efficiently with their physician. Such integrated care has been shown to improve client outcomes, and is also experienced as a positive by patients.
The physician gains the benefit of expert behavioral health and medication monitoring. Research shows that physicians benefit from integrated care models, where mental health professionals help manage a clients mental health needs.