Mental Health Disorders That Can Be Managed With Medication

Psychiatric drugs can help manage these mental health illnesses:

• Addiction and substance abuse
• Anxiety Disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Spectrum Disorders
• Sleep Disorder
• Substance Use Disorders

What To Expect From Your First Session

It begins with your therapist getting to know you. Your therapist will ask personal questions about your lifestyle, health concerns, symptoms, history, and family background. This is to determine the psychiatric conditions and the treatment options available. Your therapist will work with you to design a treatment plan that is right for you.

Medication may be recommended as part of your treatment. If you decide to accept medication, you will be referred to our psychiatric nurse practitioner for an assessment.

Your psychiatric nurse practitioner will perform a checkup, and review your medical history and information about your mental health disorder provided by your therapist. Based on this assessment he will decide if medication is suitable for you. If it is, he will discuss the types of medications, possible side effects, and dosages with you.

Your therapist and your psychiatric specialist will work together to assist you with medication management. They will observe and monitor the effectiveness of the medication, make adjustments to your personal treatment plan until it is just right, and help decide when it is time to taper off.

Types of Medication Used for Treating Mental Health Problems

Here are the common types of psychiatric drugs:

• Anti-anxiety drugs – Helps you feel calm.
• Antidepressants – Helpful for moderate to severe cases of depression.
• Antipsychotics – Reduces the symptoms of schizophrenia, psychosis, and bipolar disorder.
• Mood stabilizers – Helps prevent extreme mood swings.
• Sleep aid medications – Helps with severe insomnia.
• Addiction recovery medication (Suboxone) – Relieves withdrawal symptoms.

Types of Therapeutic Modalities Used for Treating Mental Health Problems

Your sessions with your therapists will focus on evidence-based therapy like:

• Behavioral Therapy
• Cognitive Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Psychodynamic Therapy

Call (314) 200-5131 now for an appointment.

Meet Our In-house Psychiatry Team

CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIAN

Shelah Radke, MD, JD

Pursuing mental wellness is a sign of strength.  As a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Physician, I have enjoyed celebrating my client’s strengths for the past 10 years, having dedicated my career to working with children, adolescents, and young adults in the field of psychiatric medicine.  

• Double Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• Residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland and Fellowship through Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.
• Recently served as the Medical Director of Child Crisis Psychiatry Services at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis
• Provided direct clinical care in two private practice settings in the Washington, D.C, area
• Worked with clients at Monarch boarding school in Cleveland, Ohio, collaborating with teachers and parents frequently to optimize opportunities for creative learning.  

I am committed to using evidence-based practices, including integrative, lifestyle, and pharmacological interventions, to help my patients achieve better mental health outcomes. I also enjoy partnering with clients by using the shared decision-making model of care. I work with clients to understand their unique needs and goals, and together we develop personalized treatment goals that are tailored to their individual needs. This approach empowers patients to take an active role in their own care and can lead to more positive outcomes and greater overall satisfaction with the treatment process.

PSYCHIATRIC ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE

Jeff Boatman, APRN – MHCNS

Jeff received his degree in nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and his master’s degree, Master of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University, specializing in Psychiatric Adult Mental Health Nursing. He has worked for over 25 years as a board-certified Advanced Practice Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. He is an Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with prescriptive authority and has served patients in hospital, office, and nursing home settings.

His focus in the mental health field is on adult psychiatry. Jeff works with adults age 25 and up and has helped patients with bipolar, anxiety, ADD, addiction, and much more. He is affiliated and has privileges at St. Mary’s Health Center in St. Louis. He is also an active member of the American Psychiatric Nurse’s Association and the APNA Missouri Chapter where he has served on the Board. Jeff assists clients at West County Behavioral Health with their psychiatric and medication needs with compassion and skill. He provides truly customized treatments that help clients feel better fast and recover well. 

West County Behavioral Health, St. Louis, MO

We are dedicated to providing high-quality therapy and psychiatric services to the residents of the Greater St. Louis area. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, West County Behavioral Health is readily accessible to the residents of St. Charles and St. Louis. We have a broad range of psychiatry services like outpatient programs, telehealth services, and counseling services so you can start getting back to feeling like yourself, faster. Get expert care from a trusted team of therapists and psychiatric nurse practitioner.