By: Kimberly Harkey, MEd, LPC-S
You’ve been wondering whether medication might be the next step for you in helping you find some relief from Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, etc. You are seeing a therapist and want to talk to them about it, but aren’t sure how to ask or what to say. With all the stigma that still exists around mental illness, it can feel daunting. Here are a few things to expect and questions to ask.
Disclaimer: Therapists do not prescribe medication. A therapist can discuss your decision to take medication and provide referrals to a prescriber.
How can I prepare for the conversation with my therapist?
The short answer is: you don’t have to. Therapy is ideally a safe space for you to show up with thoughts that are still tangled and your therapist can help you untangle them. If all you know is that you want to talk about the possibility of medication, that’s enough to start the conversation with your therapist. You don’t have to be 100% committed to taking medication to talk to your therapist. The therapy room is the perfect place for you to figure it out.
While not necessary, to prepare, if you’re feeling nervous about the conversation, it may be helpful to spend some time planning for the discussion. It can be helpful to be clear on what you’re looking for from the conversation about medication with your therapist and be able to let your therapist know that up front. Do you want them to share information? Are you just letting them know you’re going to start medication? Do you want their help in the decision? If you are looking for help, what kind of help do you want? Your therapist can help you explore pros and cons, provide information, or help you set up check-in points for you to check progress once you start medication.
How will they react?
A client centered, trauma informed therapist will likely respond in a way that treats taking medication as 100% your choice. There is no perfect way to take care of your mental health and no one size fits all answer to medication or not. They will also honor that you might be coming into the room with trauma from the medical community (and trauma more generally). A client centered therapist will want to hear all about your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that brought you to this moment. They may ask about your previous experiences with medication (if any), what makes now feel like the right time, and how you’re feeling about the choice.
What a client centered therapist won’t do: A client centered therapist won’t have a succinct, one word answer for you because they can’t possibly know what’s best for you. Only you know your unique symptoms, your hesitations, your barriers, and your strengths. Your therapist may know you well, but this is such a personal decision. They will likely not share their opinion (both the best and sometimes most annoying part of therapy, right?). A therapist will want to help guide you to make a decision that best fits you and your values as an individual. They’ll likely have questions to help understand the decision and see how they can best support you.
What might they ask?
What has your experience been with medication and medical professionals in the past?
People have mixed experiences with medication and with medical professionals. Your therapist may ask this to give you a safe space to process any past traumas with medication, express any hesitations, or brainstorm ways to help you advocate for yourself as you start this journey. Therapists can help you find a provider that specializes in what you’re needing or help you make a list of questions you want to ask the doctor at your first visit. Your therapist may also be able to provide a referral if you don’t already have a doctor in mind.
What would you like to be different with medication?
If you’ve brought up medication, you’ve probably been struggling and want it to bring you relief from certain symptoms. Your therapist may be able to help you describe concrete things you want to see change with the medication. Maybe you want to be able to go to a party without feeling anxious or be able to stay focused at work for a greater amount of time. Talking with your therapist and making your own notes about how you’re feeling now can be super helpful. Often, people start taking medications and after a few months have a hard time remembering how they felt before medication. Noting your symptoms, rating them on scale of 1-10, or completing assessments with your therapist before you start medication can help you have a gauge to use to see how much the medication is helping.
Can I share information about medication and (ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, etc.)?
It may feel silly that they’re asking permission to share information, but you absolutely have the right to say yes or no. If you don’t want to hear information, no is a valid answer. Maybe you’ll done a lot of research and hearing more information would be exhausting. Maybe you just want to do the research on your own. That’s okay too.
If you do want to hear more information, they may have information to share with you about general statistics about medication or how it could be helpful for certain diagnoses. They may be able to share information about possible side effects from medication. They may also have information about how medication affects the specific symptoms of your diagnosis that you experience. For example, they may know that the symptom you’re wanting help with is hard to treat in therapy, but that people usually find relief with medication or the opposite – that what you’re wanting relief with may be something they can easily help with, but hard for patients to find relief with in medication.
Conclusion
Discussing medication with your therapist can be a vital step in addressing mental health challenges, and it’s okay to start the conversation even if you’re not fully certain about taking medication. Your therapy sessions are a safe space for exploring these options. Be honest about your thoughts and feelings, and let your therapist know what you’re hoping to gain from the discussion. Whether you’re looking for information, guidance, or just to communicate your intent, your therapist is there to support you. By approaching the conversation with openness and clarity, you can take a significant step toward finding relief and improving your mental health.
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