Psychiatric Medication Management in Maryland
Psychiatric medication management is care from a prescriber who evaluates your mental health, discusses whether medication has a place in your treatment, and follows how you are doing over time. Our team includes a nationally board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Call us to ask whether this service fits your situation.
Who it helps
You are in therapy and wondering whether a prescriber should also be involved
Your therapist or doctor has suggested a psychiatric evaluation
You already take a mental health medication and want a prescriber to follow it
You have questions about medication and want them answered by someone qualified
You would like your therapy and prescribing care to be in the same practice
What a psychiatric nurse practitioner does
A nurse practitioner is a nurse with graduate training. Nurse practitioners take a patient's history, order tests, diagnose and manage health conditions, and prescribe medicines. Psychiatry is one of the areas they work in, and national certification is offered by specialty, including psychiatric and mental health care.
A psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner has specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illness. What a nurse practitioner may do is set by the laws of the state where they practice.
The prescriber on our team is a nationally board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and is also a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. If the different titles in mental health care are confusing, our article on counselors, therapists, psychologists and psychiatric nurse practitioners sorts them out.
What medication management means in general
Medications can play a role in treating a number of mental health conditions, and they are often used in combination with other treatments such as psychotherapy. They can also affect people in different ways, which is why this kind of care involves follow-up and not a single visit.
In general terms, medication management has three parts. First comes an evaluation: the prescriber learns about your symptoms, your health history and what you have tried before. Next is a discussion of options, which may or may not include medication. Then, if something is prescribed, the prescriber checks in over time on how it is working for you.
This page does not give medication advice, and nothing here should be read as a reason to start, stop or change a medicine. Those decisions belong to you and your prescriber, made together with full knowledge of your health.
How therapy and medication care can fit together
Treatment for mental health conditions usually includes therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Psychotherapy can be used as an alternative to medication or alongside it, and the choice is best guided by a mental health professional who knows your situation.
The two kinds of care do different jobs. A therapist works with you in regular sessions on thoughts, feelings, behavior and relationships. A prescriber focuses on evaluation, diagnosis and medication. Neither one replaces the other.
Our practice has both therapists and a prescriber on the team. Our therapists offer individual counseling, including care for anxiety and depression. For a longer explanation of how the two can work together, see therapy and medication together.
Questions to ask when you call
Some details about this service depend on your situation and are not listed on this page. Our office staff can answer them directly. These are worth asking:
What ages do you see for medication management?
Is the prescriber accepting new patients now, and what is the process for a first visit?
Do I need to be a therapy client at the practice to see the prescriber?
How long are visits, and how often are follow-ups?
What does a visit cost, and is it covered by my insurance plan?
Are medication visits offered in person, by telehealth, or both?
How are refill requests handled between visits?
Are there medications or conditions the practice does not manage?
Preparing for a visit with a prescriber
Write down what you have noticed. Note your main concerns, when they started and how they affect sleep, work, school or relationships. It is easy to forget details once the visit begins.
List everything you take. Bring a list of your current medications, and include vitamins and supplements. A prescriber needs the whole picture.
Bring your questions. Write them down beforehand and ask them. If an answer is not clear, ask again. Understanding your own care is the point of the visit.
Consider bringing someone. A friend or relative can help you remember what was said. This is your choice.
Be honest. Your prescriber can only work with what you share, including things that feel awkward to say. What you discuss is confidential, within the limits set by law.
Insurance, privacy and urgent situations
We accept a number of insurance plans, listed on our insurance and fees page. Coverage depends on your plan, so verify your benefits and ask us about fees for medication visits when you call. A Sliding Fee Program based on household income and family size is available.
The practice has offices in Salisbury and Bethesda. To ask about medication management, call 443-978-8688 or send us a message.
If you need help right now
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, or call 911.
Our office does not provide emergency services and is not the place to seek urgent help with a medication.
For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently asked questions
Who prescribes medication at Balanced Life Counseling Services?
Our team includes a nationally board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who is also a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Our therapists, who are licensed social workers and counselors, provide counseling and do not prescribe. Each clinician's credentials are listed on our team page.
What is the difference between a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a therapist?
A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a nurse with graduate training and specialized preparation in diagnosing and treating mental and emotional illness, and can prescribe medicines. A therapist, such as a licensed clinical social worker or professional counselor, provides counseling and does not prescribe. Many people work with both, since the two roles cover different parts of care.
Do I have to be in therapy at your practice to see the prescriber?
Please ask when you call. We have not published a rule on this page because it can depend on your situation. Our staff can tell you how new medication management patients are scheduled and whether anything is needed first, such as records from a current provider.
How much does a medication management visit cost?
Fees for medication visits are not listed on this page, so please ask when you call. If you plan to use insurance, contact your plan as well and ask about benefits for psychiatric visits, your copay and your deductible, since coverage depends on the plan. A Sliding Fee Program based on household income and family size is available.
Can medication visits be done by telehealth?
The practice offers both in-person and telehealth appointments, but whether a medication visit can be held by video is something to confirm when you call. Telehealth also depends on where you are located during the session. Our staff can tell you what applies to you.
Will I be prescribed medication at my first visit?
Not necessarily. A first visit with a prescriber is an evaluation: a conversation about your symptoms, history and goals. Whether medication is recommended, and which one, is a clinical decision made with you and based on that evaluation. Some people leave with a plan that does not include a prescription at all.
Can you tell me whether I should change or stop my medication?
No, not from a website or over the phone with office staff. Questions about starting, stopping or adjusting any medicine should go to the clinician who prescribes it, who knows your health history. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
Which medications do you prescribe, and for what ages?
We do not list specific medications or age ranges here. What is appropriate is decided by the prescriber for each person. Please ask when you call, and mention the age of the person seeking care and any medication they currently take, so our staff can tell you whether the service is a fit.
Ready to talk with someone?
Call 443-978-8688 or request an appointment. We see clients in person in Salisbury and Bethesda and by telehealth across Maryland.
Sources
National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications
National Institute of Mental Health: Help for Mental Illnesses
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.
