How Does Collaboration With Healthcare Professionals Improve Patient Treatment Plans?

One situation where collaboration really makes a difference is when a patient is dealing with both depression and chronic pain. These two issues are deeply connected—chronic pain can make depression worse and vice versa. By working closely with a pain-management specialist, we can develop a treatment plan that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects.

For example, we might combine TMS therapy to treat depression with physical therapy or pain-management strategies. This team approach often leads to better outcomes for the patient because we're tackling the problem from multiple angles, helping them feel better both mentally and physically.

At our office, we love collaborating with other healthcare professionals! So often, by collaborating, we can support our client's overall health and well-being much more effectively. For example, at times, clients will experience symptoms that are related to an autoimmune condition but also cause psychological symptoms. It is crucial for both the mental health provider and the physical health provider to collaborate to understand the symptoms and to develop a treatment plan that incorporates both approaches.

Since our office specializes in working with children and teens, it is often educational professionals that we are collaborating with. This collaboration is crucial as it helps inform a mental health provider's perspective of how a client is coping and reacting to a school environment and also helps inform the school as to the student's experience and needs.

So often, collaboration can be beneficial because anytime we can have a holistic and multi-layered perspective on our clients, it will help manage more than just what they can disclose in a session.

One of the great things about my group practice is that we have both psychotherapists and medical-management providers on staff. When a client comes to me seeking therapy, we can work together to decide if medication is the right option. If it is, I can refer the client to a medication provider that I know will be a good fit from both a prescription-orientation and a clinical-connection standpoint. Together, the three of us can discuss a medication plan, what's working and what's not, and develop a treatment plan that works specifically for the client. I've seen clients who have hit a wall from a therapy angle make significant strides once medication has been introduced into their treatment.

When you are working with someone with an eating disorder, it is imperative that you collaborate with other healthcare professionals. These other professionals include dietitians and primary-care physicians, both of whom should be familiar with working with eating disorders. Eating disorders can have many physical consequences, so you want to incorporate elements to treat both the mind and the body when you are crafting a treatment plan.

In treating an individual, one must consider the whole person, like a puzzle—not just the pieces that make up this puzzle. Often, with mental health there are pieces that contribute to wellness, such as diet, sleep, and exercise. Treating the whole person means treating all aspects of wellness. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals helps put the pieces in place so that the puzzle can be completed in whole.

I work primarily with children. Collaboration with doctors can be incredibly valuable, as, in some instances, medication is warranted. I commonly collaborate with occupational therapists when working on sensory issues that are causing anxiety. As well, individuals who are neurodiverse benefit greatly from collaboration from their care team.

A few years ago, I worked with a client who struggled with panic disorder. They had experienced some gains as a result of their work with their previous therapist, but they were experiencing a return in symptoms, and so we began working together. The client had been prescribed an anti-anxiety medication by their primary-care doctor, but they never used it because of their belief that medication is a 'crutch.' I spent some time exploring this belief with my client, and I also suggested that they meet with a psychiatrist to discuss the possible benefits of medication, since psychiatrists have specialized training in mental health issues.

Once the client established care with the psychiatrist, the three of us worked as a team to reframe the use of medication and develop a treatment plan that my client was on board with. Having the psychiatrist join the treatment team allowed my client to learn more about the effects of anti-anxiety medication, and also address their fears that using it could be addictive.