I do not believe that medication alone is the answer.

Taking care of your mental health takes a lot of hard work. For many people, medication combined with coaching or talk therapy is the key to success.

Unfortunately, there is often a stigma surrounding mental health medications. I am passionate about breaking down this stigma so that people can get the treatment they need—shame free. I’m dedicated to putting a stop to the shame associated with being on medication for mental illness and helping individuals live their best lives.

I like to use this analogy when thinking about the “tool” of medication in your mental health tool kit.

Once upon a time, I considered myself a runner. For me, having a great pair of running shoes made all the difference. Once my shoes started to wear out, I would start having back and knee pain but as soon as I had a new pair of shoes, the pain was gone and I had an instant boost. Ultimately, while the shoes made running easier, I was still the one who had to drag myself out of bed to run in the cold. I was the one that had to pound the pavement for miles and put in the mental and physical work to keep going.

Medication is like a good pair of running shoes. Shoes alone aren’t going to run the marathon for you. You are the one doing the hard work. Medication is not going to solve all of your problems. But, just like shoes make running less painful, medication can help ease the emotional and mental pain of mental illness.

I have studied mental health medications in depth and continue to research and explore new medications that are being introduced and approved through the FDA. Medications that I often prescribe include but are not limited to antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, and stimulants.