At Mind’s Eye we believe mental health care should be part of a basic preventative health care plan, and that everyone should see a psychiatrist for annual check-ups even if they feel fine. Unfortunately, people generally see a psychiatrist for the first time after they are already experiencing acute mental illness. This is unfortunate because early intervention can dramatically reduce the severity of many mental illnesses, cure some forms of mental illness, and even prevent the activation of mental illness in some cases. That said, even if you or someone you care about is already experiencing mental illness, it’s never too late to redirect course and rebuild your health. But time is of the essence.
Do you need to see a psychiatrist?
Mental Health America has developed a very useful, 3-minute quiz you can take by clicking here, to determine whether you are suffering from symptoms of a mood disorder that should be evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Of course, if you are currently feeling suicidal, or feeling the urge to physically hurt others, skip the quiz and go directly to your local emergency room or call 911. Please note that we are NOT an emergency health care facility. All treatment at Mind’s Eye is by appointment only.
A psychiatrist is also the best place to start when you are ready to work on developing more self-awareness and gaining a better understanding of your issues. Mental health professionals often refer to preventative therapy as “mental floss,” because, similar to dental floss, therapy helps prevent issues from developing into illnesses.
Diagnosis of Mental Illness
Mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. There are three “causes” of mental illness: Biological, Social, and Emotional. Since our mission at Mind’s Eye is to provide the most comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for mental illness, all initial evaluations of prospective patients are conducted by a psychiatrist, rather than a psychologist or mental health nurse practitioner.
Although psychologists can administer psychological testing that may be relevant to the doctor evaluating you at Mind’s Eye, psychologists do not have training in the BIOLOGICAL causes of mental illness and therefore are not qualified to perform a comprehensive diagnosis. Similarly, nurse practitioners do not have training in the SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL causes of mental illness, and are therefore unqualified in rule out such causes. Only psychiatrists are doctors (M.D.s or D.O.s) who graduated from medical school and have years of additional training in how to diagnose and treat ALL THREE causes of mental illness.
Depending on the outcome of your initial evaluation, your doctor may render a diagnosis immediately, or he/she may recommend additional testing, such as blood work, sleep testing, psychological evaluation or other things. When the patient is a child, doctors often find is useful to consult with school personnel to develop a complete picture of the child’s symptoms. Once your doctor is satisfied that he/she has all the information necessary to render a comprehensive diagnosis, your doctor will explain his/her findings and conclusions and recommend a treatment course.
Treatment of Mental Illness
If you are diagnosed with a mental illness the treatment recommended to you may include a combination of medication, education, classes, individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. Your doctor may or may not recommend that you undergo treatment at Mind’s Eye. If our team cannot provide you with optimal treatment, we will try to assist you to find a provider who can.
Dr. Cody Evans at Mind’s Eye is an expert in treating the following mental illnesses in children, adolescents, and adults:
- Depression
- Anxiety Disorders, including PTSD and OCD
- Schizophrenia and Psychosis
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- ADHD
Medication
In the last 15 years we have seen amazing advances in medicine for the treatment of mental illness. Many psychotropic medications work so well that patients believe they are cured from the medication alone. At Mind’s Eye we use the most current evidence-based practices when prescribing medication. Although we believe that medication can be an essential component in the treatment of many mental illnesses, we never recommend medication as the only form of treatment.
Education
In the early stages of treatment you (and your family/support persons) will spend a good deal of time talking with your doctor about the signs and symptoms of your illness, your prognosis, treatment options, and lifestyle adjustments that may be in order as you progress. Your doctor may also recommend classes that teach practical skills for improving your mental health and wellness, generally.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one “talk therapy” with your doctor is the cornerstone of any treatment program. As you may know, there are many types of “talk therapy,” including Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Supportive Psychotherapy. Depending on your diagnosis, personality, and how much time you can commit, your doctor may practice one or all of these therapeutic approaches with you over the course of your treatment.
Family Therapy
Although an individual patient’s name is on the appointment calendar, in family therapy everyone in the room is undergoing treatment. Indeed, it is not unusual for a family to need more therapy than any individual within that family unit. The goal of family therapy is to identify the sources of dysfunction, improve communication, increase empathy, and work toward mutual trust and love.
Group Therapy
People dealing with the same mental illness often have a lot in common. They view the world in similar fashion, and the world often responds to them in kind. As a result, in group therapy you are at once an expert advising your co-members, and a novice seeking advice from an expert panel. Our therapeutic groups are composed of between six to 12 people who have been evaluated by a Mind’s Eye doctor and approved for participation. Group members commit to attend a predetermined number of weekly sessions (usually 8). Each session lasts about an hour. Group members are required to keep all personal information they learn about other members confidential.