It takes a team, you and your mental health provider deciding together, to make the best choices for your care.
Usually, when you go to a medical appointment, the doctor examines you, asks questions, decides on a treatment, and recommends it to you. Most or all of the deciding is done by the doctor. But there’s a new approach called shared decision-making that puts you and your doctor on the same team. Shared decision-making can result in better and more satisfying care.
That’s especially true when it comes to treatment for a mental health condition, where there are often different options to choose from. There are choices in which medications to try, which symptoms to target, and whether to use talking therapy and other supportive treatments. You can have a say in choosing among these options.
Shared decision-making, like all teamwork, takes cooperation. Your doctor must be willing to involve you in decisions and listen to your concerns and desires. And you must want to take an active role in your care.
On this website we talk mainly about working with doctors. But teaming up can work for you whether you are seeing a psychiatrist, primary care doctor, psychologist, counselor or case manager.
