General Questions
While both disciplines share the goal of improving client daily functioning and outcomes, psychotherapy is centered on talk therapy and behavioral interventions to help ease emotional difficulties. Psychiatric providers are trained to examine biological factors along with social and emotional elements and can help to determine if psychiatric medication may be an appropriate treatment option, and if so, which medications are indicated along with the proper dosage.
While medication consultation and ongoing medication management are generally the two main psychiatry services, some providers may incorporate talk therapy and counseling into their treatment sessions as well, or they may refer clients to a therapist for concurrent psychotherapy sessions as part of the overall treatment plan.
Each person is unique. Many psychological and emotional difficulties can be resolved with psychotherapy. However, there is research indicating that for some conditions, a combination of psychotherapy and psychiatric medication may be the most effective treatment. Your provider will help you make the best choice for your unique circumstance.
Amavi is in-network with most major insurance carriers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Optum (United Healthcare), Medicare, Medicare replacement plans, and Beacon Health Plans. As a courtesy to our patients, we will do our best to verify your insurance benefits prior to your appointment and we will bill your insurance directly at the time of your visit. We also encourage patients to call their insurance companies directly to confirm coverage. Any fees that are not covered by your insurance (copays, deductible, and coinsurance) are due at the time of service.
Keep in mind that you can pay for your appointment with a Health Savings Account or Flex Spending Account if you do not wish to pay out of pocket or if we are not in network with your insurance. It is also possible to submit an invoice for your treatment to your insurance company for reimbursement. We are happy to provide an invoice with appropriate CPT codes for your insurance company, upon request.
When you’re coming for assessment, it’s often helpful to see a psychiatric provider in the first place to have a full diagnostic assessment. And then you can develop a treatment plan together, which might well include a combination of psychiatric treatment, including medication, and psychological treatment, which could be a talking treatment delivered by a therapist in the clinic.
Our providers have extensive experience in treating older adult patients, including those with dementias and behavioral concerns. It is helpful for have a mental health provider that specializes in the treatment of older adults patients, particularly the safe prescribing of medications in the elderly.
Medication Management
No. The purpose of a psychiatric evaluation is to look closely at all the factors that may be contributing to the difficulty you are experiencing. Once the biological, social, and psychological factors involved and how they are interacting is determined, we can make treatment recommendations. Treatment plans including medication may or may not be indicated. The psychiatry team works collaboratively with patients to hear their concerns, questions, and to agree upon treatment goals.
Amavi specializes in treating mental health disorders in adult and geriatric patients, and as such we do not treat children or adolescents.
Emergency Treatment
No. Our providers evaluate and treat individuals with a wide range of difficulties. This is true for those who seek out treatment themselves and those who are referred by others.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening condition or medical emergency, please call 911. If you are experiencing an urgent/crisis situation that is notimmediately life-threatening, call the crisis hotline at 303-443-8500.
We are currently offering telepsychiatry services! Virtual visits are just like in-office appointments, but they are conducted via a secure videoconferencing system. This may be ideal for those who may have difficulty traveling to our office locations.
Depression Treatment
Depression is a disorder of people’s mood where they develop both very low mood which is what you think of with depression, but also there are a range of other symptoms that go along with it. For example, feeling hopeless, sometimes feeling suicidal, and also having biological symptoms, such as loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and the loss of libido.
It’s very important to seek treatment for depression if somebody has a sustained period of low mood and they’re not feeling able to manage it in a normal day-to-day way that we do.
Depression is a condition which can come back repeatedly through people’s lives and, left untreated, can have serious consequences. Untreated depression can make it challenging to develop new relationships or maintain existing ones. Depression also poses a threat to your physical health, and the risk is higher the longer your condition goes untreated. There is plenty of evidence that demonstrates that patients with untreated long-term depression are more prone to sleep disruptions, heart disease, weight gain or loss, weakened immune system, and physical pain. The good news is that depression is a highly treatable condition.
Antidepressants are medications that can help relieve symptoms of depression, social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders, seasonal affective disorder, and dysthymia, or mild chronic depression, as well as other conditions.
They aim to correct chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain that are believed to be responsible for changes in mood and behavior.
Bipolar Disorders
Bipolar disorder is a relatively common disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. Manic episodes may include symptoms such as high energy, reduced need for sleep, irritability, and sometimes loss of touch with reality. Depressive episodes may include symptoms such as low energy, low motivation, and loss of interest in daily activities. Mood episodes last days to months at a time and may also be associated with suicidal thoughts.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder isn’t known, but a combination of genetics, environment, and altered brain structure and chemistry may play a role. Treatment is usually lifelong and often involves a combination of medications and psychotherapy
Beyond the treatment you get from your psychiatrist or therapist, there are many things you can do for yourself to reduce your symptoms and stay on track.
Living well with bipolar disorder requires certain adjustments. Like diabetics who take insulin or recovering alcoholics who avoid drinking, if you have bipolar disorder, it’s important to make healthy choices for yourself. Making these healthy choices will help you keep your symptoms under control, minimize mood episodes, and take control of your life. These include regular exercise, consistent sleep habits, and monitoring and tracking your moods and symptoms.
Treatment is best guided by a psychiatric provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions who is skilled in treating bipolar and related disorders. It is usually helpful to also work with a therapist who can help you develop skills and tools to manage your symptoms. Medications used to treat bipolar illness may include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotics, sleep medications, and antianxiety medications. Finding the right medication or medications for you may take some trial and error. If one doesn’t work well for you, there are several others to try.
ADD & ADHD Treatment
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental disorders affecting children and adults. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focused), hyperactivity, and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought). Some adults have ADHD but have never been diagnosed. Symptoms may look different at older ages, for example, hyperactivity may appear as extreme restlessness or risk-taking behaviors.
ADHD tends to improve over time through adult life, but for some it can become more severe when the demands of adulthood increase. The symptoms can cause difficulty at work, at home, or with relationships.
Often people will have had their ADHD diagnosed in childhood, but sometimes that’s not the case. Many adults with ADHD do not realize they have the disorder. A comprehensive evaluation typically includes a review of past and current symptoms, a medical exam and history, and use of adult rating scales or checklists. Adults with ADHD are treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination. Behavior management strategies, such as ways to minimize distractions and increase structure and organization, and involving immediate family members can also be helpful.
