Medical Management
The mental health field has seen great strides in the development of effective psychiatric medications. Pharmacotherapy is often integral in facilitating the healing process. At Via Clinic we believe in well rounded and comprehensive medical management that goes well beyond “just the meds.”
Via Clinic’s philosophy on medication management
At Via Clinic we may practice combined medical management and psychotherapy, or we may co-manage alongside a primary therapist in the community. These medical management sessions are 25 minutes in length.
- We believe in minimizing the number of medications managed via careful selection and monitoring, as well as thorough discussions of risks and benefits.
- We believe in using conservative and evidence-based practices.
- Patients should be on the lowest dose needed to achieve the primary goal.
- Use of multiple medications should not be attempted until achieving a complete trial of one medication at a therapeutic dose.
- When multiple medications are used, pharmacologic mechanisms should complement, not duplicate, each other.
- Neuroleptic medications (“anti-psychotics”) should be selected and monitored carefully.
- Powerful anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines (i.e., Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, etc.) should be used sparingly and in a time-limited fashion.