Sometimes, probably at the beginning of treatment, the suffering is intolerable. The symptoms are too disruptive. Medication can reduce the severity of the interfering symptoms, so that there is room for thought and psychotherapy. I am fluent in the use of medication for the usual psychiatric conditions that affect mood and thinking. If you prefer medication, I can advise you on their use and prescribe them for you. Depending on your preference and need, I can combine medication with psychotherapy. It can provide the best chance for improvement. First, medication helps reduce the amount of suffering, so that you can carry on your life more tolerably in the short term. Second, psychotherapy helps you create better ways to respond to life’s painful realities. With sufficient psychotherapy, I believe that people often will gain enough emotional strength to reduce, if not eliminate, the need for chronic medication.
