Sometimes individuals have anxiety, depression, mania, psychosis and other psychological symptoms so severe that psychotherapy alone cannot prevent severe clinical distress or significant impairment in social, academic, occupational, relational or other important areas of functioning.Psychotherapeutic medications are drugs used to reduce the principle symptoms afflicting individuals in order to reduce the intensity of symptoms, achieve mood stability, and reduce potential risks as well as the need for hospitalization.
However, extensive research indicates that these medications are only appropriately and ethically prescribed in the minimal effective dosage, and only as part of a comprehensive health and behavioral treatment plan. In other words, simply taking medication will not effectively alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, or other other mental illnesses. Instead, the research clearly indicates that medications are only effective when taken within the context of ongoing psychotherapy and/or marital and family therapy.
Unfortunately, despite the research findings, many physicians, including psychiatrists, continue to proscribe psychotrophic medications for the treatment of mental illness without also referring their patients for counseling and psychotherapy. Meanwhile, many individuals also continue to falsely believe that medications alone will bring about substantive positive changes in their lives.
Because psychopharmacological treatment is understood as an adjunct to psychotherapy at Covenant Counseling Services, we believe that it clearly not in a person's best interest to schedule a psychiatric appointment if that person is not also participating in ongoing psychotherapy.
SCHEDULING A PSYCHIATRIC APPOINTMENT
If you are presently a patient at Covenant Counseling Services you should discuss your need for psychiatric care with your therapist. After discussion with your therapist, if you conclude that psychiatric services would be beneficial for your care, please contact the Rev. Christopher Hershman, MA, STM, DMin, at 610-366-7880 or christopher@covenant-counseling.com to either schedule an appointment with our part-time psychiatrist or suggest other options for psychiatric treatment. Your therapist may also suggest some of these options to you as well.
Covenant Counseling Services specializes in Christian Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, the problems of children and adolescents, addictions and a variety of other issues. Because we are committed to providing quality patient care, over the years we became very frustrated with regard to the serious shortage of psychiatrists in the Lehigh Valley and difficulties associated with scheduling psychiatric appointments for our patients, particularly children and adolescents. For this reason, Covenant Counseling Services does, when possible, contract for psychiatric services so that psychiatric services may be accessible and effective as an adjunct treatment modality for our patients.
At the same time, it is nearly impossible to find a psychiatrist willing to provide appointment time at the offices of a small independent practice. Consequently, we are very grateful to have Dr. Heckman at Covenant Counseling Services even though the demands on his schedule now limit him to just once or twice a month. Even so, his presence is a great convenience for our patients and this has worked well for most of our patients.
When our psychotherapy patients discuss any issues or concerns within the context of ongoing psychotherapy, we have rarely had scheduling or communication problems regarding psychiatry with our own patients. Covenant Counseling Services has had numerous problems regarding scheduling, communication and refilling prescriptions when we have provided psychiatric services to individuals not currently involved in ongoing psychotherapy at Covenant Counseling Services. Consequently, Covenant Counseling Services' policy is to provide psychiatric appointments only to individuals presently involved in ongoing psychotherapy at Covenant Counseling Services.
Patients and/or their families which want or need office support or psychiatric services above and beyond what we can reasonably provide will be provided with a variety of referral options for psychatric option, including a list of Lehigh Valley area psychiatrists, in order to provide for their particular needs and expectations.
POLICIES ON PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES
1. Covenant Counseling Services specializes in Christian Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, the problems of children and adolescents, addictions and a variety of other issues. Psychopharmacological treatment is understood as an adjunct to psychotherapy.
2. Psychiatric care may be indicated for a variety of reasons and may assist in providing our patients with more effective psychotherapy.
3. When possible, Covenant Counseling Services contracts for psychiatric services for the convenience of our patients.
4. Because psychopharmacological treatment is understood as an adjunct to psychotherapy, it is contraindicated to schedule psychiatric appointments with persons not presently participating in ongoing psychotherapy.
5. Psychiatric appointments available to individuals presently involved in ongoing psychotherapy at Covenant Counseling Services.
6. Patients discuss any issues and concerns they may have within the context of ongoing psychotherapy.
7. Since Covenant Counseling Services does not provide comprehensive office support or full-time psychiatric services, patients who either want or need office support or psychiatric services above and beyond what Covenant Counseling Services provides will be referred to psychiatric practices which can satisfy their needs and expectations.
Harold Heckman, MD
Click on Dr. Heckman's photo to read more about his credentials and experience.
