Involvement
of family members in psychiatric treatment has been found to optimize
outcomes and improve family functioning. This is especially true in the
case of family psychoeducation, which is effective for outpatient
psychiatric care (1).
Psychoeducation
allows families to become better acquainted with mental illness and its
treatments. This can help them recognize symptoms sooner, enabling them
to access psychiatric services more quickly.
Counseling
When
people think of counseling, they may picture themselves lying on a
leather couch and telling the doctor their feelings. This is one type of
counseling, but many others help with more complex issues.
Psychotherapy,
another term for counseling, can be provided by various mental health
professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social
workers and counselors. It can treat different mental health conditions,
such as anxiety, mood, and personality disorders.
Counseling can be offered in various ways, such as face-to-face, over the telephone or via the Internet. Some family psychiatrist near me
may also offer home visits, which can be especially helpful for
families with children or adolescents. Other options include
animal-assisted and creative arts therapies such as art, dance, drama
and music.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy,
or talk therapy, offers various therapeutic methods to treat mental
health conditions and emotional distress. It may be recommended by a
medical specialist or provided as an alternative to medication.
Almost
all types of psychotherapy involve developing a relationship with the
therapist and working through unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. People
come to therapy with their own goals, including reducing stress,
improving relationships, coping with major life events or overcoming
mental illness symptoms.
There
are many different styles and approaches to psychotherapy, such as
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy and systemic psychotherapy.
The latter focuses on relationships' individual and group dynamics and
includes family therapy, marriage counseling and group therapy. There
are also more specific forms of psychotherapy, such as psychodynamic and
gestalt therapy.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Psychiatric
rehabilitation, or psych rehab, helps individuals with psychiatric
conditions to increase their independence in areas of daily living. This
is accomplished through assessing functioning challenges in different
domains and developing specific interventions to address those
challenges.
Family
therapy includes cognitive-behavioral therapies that focus on changing
problematic behaviors, psychodynamic ideas that probe into the
subconscious to reduce distress and conflict, and supportive therapy,
which focuses on reducing stress and creating a healthy support system.
Psychiatric
mental health nurses (PMHN) are registered nurses with additional
training in mental illness and can prescribe medication if state law
allows. Psychiatric rehabilitation can also include services provided by
psychiatric counselors, psychiatric social workers and activity
therapists. Medical Assistance usually covers psychiatric rehabilitation
services. However, exceptions can be made for certain counties.
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation
is a form of education that offers clients and their family members the
opportunity to learn more about their mental health conditions. It also
helps them understand the treatment that is available to them.
The
research on psychoeducation suggests that it may reduce relapse rates
in schizophrenia, depression, and anorexia nervosa. It can also help
family members recognize early warning signs and manage recurrence.
This
therapy is available in both individual and group settings. Its roots
lie in behavioral therapy, but it can also include elements of
client-centered care.
Depending
on the situation, therapists can use active or passive psychoeducation.
In active psychoeducation, the therapist will present information to
patients/family members during sessions, leading to interaction and
clarification. In passive psychoeducation, the therapist will send
educational materials, such as pamphlets or audio/visual recordings, for
patients/family members to read and assimilate independently.
Medication Management
Medication
management is prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medication by a
qualified psychiatrist. Family members struggling with psychiatric
disorders can also benefit from this service by receiving counseling and
different communication techniques.
Psychiatrists
and psychiatric nurse practitioners can both prescribe medication.
Sometimes, your primary care physician, nurse practitioner or
physician's assistant may also be qualified to prescribe medication.
Other
healthcare professionals that can offer psychiatric services are
clinical nurse specialist or advanced practice registered nurse who has
specialized training in mental health issues, and state law permits them
to prescribe medications. Medication management is a component of
family psychiatric services that allows experienced providers to
evaluate your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and
supplements for desired results.