Medication Management

Empowering your mental health journey through personalized medication management.

Alternative Treatment Options:

While medication can be an effective treatment option for mental health conditions, it is not the only option. Alternative treatments, such as therapy, mindfulness practices, and exercise, can also be effective in managing symptoms. At Brighstarz Health Services, we work with our patients to develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate alternative treatments that may be beneficial for their specific needs. 

Monitoring:

Proper monitoring is crucial for ensuring that psychiatric medications are working effectively and that side effects are managed appropriately. At Brighstarz, our team of medical professionals regularly monitors our patients’ medication regimens to ensure that they are experiencing optimal benefits and minimal side effects. We also work with our patients to track their symptoms and make any necessary adjustments to their treatment plan. 

Collaboration:

At Brighstarz, we believe that collaboration between medical professionals and patients is essential for effective psychiatric medication management. We work closely with our patients to ensure that they are fully informed about their treatment options, including the benefits and potential risks associated with medication. We also encourage our patients to actively participate in their treatment plan and provide feedback on how their medication is affecting them. 

Psychiatric medication management is an important aspect of mental health treatment. At Brighstarz Health Services, we believe in incorporating alternative treatment options, monitoring, and collaboration with our patients to ensure optimal outcomes. By working together, we can develop a treatment plan that meets our patients’ unique needs and provides them with the tools and support they need to manage their mental health conditions effectively.

Care Coordinators

Care coordination for mental illness is similar to what is used for physical healthcare. The process involves bringing mental health provider networks together to create an integrated, comprehensive plan to help people manage their mental health needs. The overall goal is to provide timely access to the right services and support at the right time for each individual’s unique situation. Its focus is on communication and collaboration between mental health professionals and members of the mental health team. This can include mental health providers, primary care providers, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and working with a community mental health center.

Accountable care organizations work to ensure that behavioral health services are coordinated through their healthcare provider network of public or private hospitals to meet all of the individual’s mental illness needs effectively and efficiently, using such services as medication management, therapy and counseling, mental health education, and support groups. 

Health Literacy, Counselling, & Psychoeducation

Mental health literacy has been defined as the knowledge and beliefs people have about mental health conditions, which helps in their recognition, management, or prevention. It is important because it influences when and how people seek help and mental health outcomes.

Psychoeducation involves:

• Briefing the patients about their illness.

• Problem-solving training.

• Communication training.

·         Self-assertiveness training

Crisis Treatment

Crisis/Emergency is a face-to-face or telephone immediate response to an emergency situation involving an Individual with mental illness or emotional disturbance that is available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. Crisis/Emergency services are provided to Individuals involved in an active mental health crisis and consist of immediate response to evaluate and screen the presenting situation, assist in immediate crisis stabilization and resolution and ensure the Individual ’s access to care at the appropriate level. Crisis/Emergency services may be delivered in natural settings and the Crisis/Emergency provider shall adjust its staffing to meet the requirements for immediate response. Each Crisis/Emergency provider shall obtain consultation, locate other services and resources, and provide written and oral information to assist the Individual  in obtaining follow-up services.

Treatment Planning

A good treatment plan is only as good as the assessment. The nuts and bolts of the plan include setting recovery goals and a vision for the future, identifying barriers as well as strengths to draw on, creating smart objectives that help to overcome barriers, describing interventions and activities reflecting a range of evidence-based and emerging best practices. Generally, the clinician who does the assessment also completes the treatment plan.

Peer Recovery Support Services

Peer support involves people or groups supporting one another based on shared experiences of mental health challenges. Intentionally and safely sharing stories can promote mental health recovery and increase hope and connection.

Core competencies are the capacity to easily perform a role or function. They are often described as clusters of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a person needs to have to successfully perform a role or job. Training, mentoring, and supervision can help people develop core competencies.

Peer workers and peer recovery support services have become increasingly central to people’s ability to live with or recover from mental and/or substance use disorders. Community-based organizations led by peer workers also play a growing role in helping people find recovery. Both mental health consumers and people in recovery from substance use disorders have recognized the need for core competencies, and both communities actively participated in developing these core competencies for peer support workers.

Peer Support Role:

• Advocating for people in recovery.
• Sharing resources and building skills.
• Building community and relationships.
• Leading recovery groups.
• Mentoring and setting goals.

Occupational Therapy

The motto of occupational therapy is “Living life to its fullest.” In order to help their clients do that, occupational therapists (OTs) are dedicated to helping people do the things they want and need to do in their daily lives and across their entire lifespan. 

Whether the client is unable to participate in their favorite activities because of a physical or mental illness, OTs use a holistic approach to adapt the environment or task to fit that person’s abilities. A client-centered approach is an integral part of the occupational therapy process—and that often includes gaining insight into a client’s mental health as well.

Psychological Assessment/Testing

Each individual receives an initial Psychological Assessment/Testing performed by a LMHP. Assessments identify the presenting problem, that is what the person’s issues are that brought them to treatment, inherent risks and safety issues, diagnosis as described by their symptoms and the resulting functional impairments. Our person-centered assessments also incorporate individual strengths, stage of change and cultural factors that impact treatment. The assessment also includes discharge/transition summary.

The data collected during the assessment is then interpreted by a clinician. The interpretive summary sets the stage for prioritizing needs and goals, suggesting solutions to barriers and challenges that have led the individual to seek help and leads to specific recommendations for treatment and levels of care. Assessments are ongoing and updated as the client’s mental health changes.