How do we decide about therapy and medication?

Begin with the problem you want help with

A useful conversation starts with your experience: what has changed, what is difficult, and what you want to be able to do differently. Previous treatment, relevant health information, and your preferences also belong in that discussion.

In this practice, psychotherapy is central. Medication is considered individually when it may have a useful role, and the recommendation is discussed within the broader treatment plan.

Make the purpose specific

If medication is proposed, ask what it is intended to address. A clear target makes it easier to discuss expectations and to review the experience later. It also gives you a starting point for questions about benefits, disadvantages, and alternatives.

The same clarity helps in psychotherapy. What are we hoping to understand or change? Which parts of your daily life would tell us something is shifting? The answers may evolve, but they are worth discussing from the beginning.

Your concerns are part of the decision

You may have had a difficult experience with a medication, feel uncertain about relying on treatment, or worry about how it will affect you. You may also feel eager for relief and want to understand the options. These are all appropriate subjects for the consultation.

Bring a list of what you have tried and what you noticed. Rather than deciding from a general description online, use the appointment to understand how the options apply to your situation.

Keep the conversation open

Treatment decisions are followed by further conversations. Questions about response, tolerability, progress, or a change in priorities can be revisited in sessions. Contact your treating clinician before changing a prescribed medication.