Thoughtful, Physician-Led Care
Medication Management
Personalized psychiatric prescribing and follow-up with a board-certified psychiatrist — including careful monitoring, adjustments, and second opinions.
Quick Answer
Psychiatric medication management is ongoing physician care that helps determine whether medication is appropriate, select an option based on your diagnosis and history, monitor benefits and side effects, and adjust the plan over time. At Haven, Dr. Rachel McKenna or Dr. Alison Larson, D.O. conducts the evaluation and follow-up; medication is one option within a broader treatment plan, not an automatic outcome of the first visit.
Understanding Medication Management
Care Built Around Your Specific Experience
Medication can be useful for many psychiatric conditions, but prescribing is not the same as medication management. Good management starts with an accurate diagnosis, a careful review of prior treatments and current medications, and a clear understanding of what you want to improve. It continues through regular follow-up rather than ending when a prescription is sent.
At Haven, your medication visits are with a board-certified psychiatrist. Dr. Rachel McKenna and Dr. Alison Larson, D.O. provide adult, child, and adolescent psychiatric care, so recommendations account for age, development, medical history, daily functioning, and the way symptoms overlap. If the safest next step is therapy, further evaluation, a non-medication strategy, or coordination with another clinician, we explain that plainly.
Reasons to Schedule
- —A current psychiatric medication is not providing enough relief
- —Side effects are affecting sleep, appetite, energy, focus, or daily life
- —You take several medications and want a careful psychiatric review
- —A diagnosis or medication plan does not seem to fit your experience
- —You need ongoing monitoring after starting or changing treatment
- —You want a second opinion before making a medication change
Our Approach
How We Treat Medication Management at Haven
The first visit is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, not a prescription refill appointment. We review current symptoms, prior diagnoses, medication history, benefits, side effects, allergies, other medical conditions, substance use where relevant, and any records that help clarify what has already been tried. We also consider whether sleep, physical health, stress, or another condition could be influencing the symptoms you want to treat.
If medication is appropriate, your psychiatrist explains the expected benefit, common risks, alternatives, and what to watch for before you decide together. The specific choice depends on your diagnosis, age, medical history, other medications, past response, and preferences. We do not promise a particular prescription in advance, and controlled medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate and consistent with current state and federal requirements.
Follow-up is where medication management does most of its work. We check whether the treatment is helping the symptoms and functioning it was intended to address, ask directly about side effects, and decide whether to continue, adjust, change, or taper the plan. Some follow-ups may be completed by secure video when clinically appropriate and when the patient is located in a state where the treating physician is licensed.
Medication often works best as one part of care. We may recommend psychotherapy, sleep or routine changes, school or workplace supports, laboratory or medical follow-up, or another Haven service when it meaningfully complements psychiatric treatment. We coordinate rather than treating a prescription as the entire plan.
How It Works
Your Path to Treatment
Comprehensive Evaluation
A detailed clinical interview and diagnostic review — never a rushed checklist — to understand your specific pattern of symptoms.
Personalized Care Plan
A treatment plan built around your history, goals, and preferences, which may include medication, referrals, or lifestyle strategies.
Careful Management
Close follow-up in the early weeks of any new treatment to fine-tune the plan and monitor how you're responding.
Ongoing Support
Your care continues beyond the first visit, with regular check-ins as your needs evolve over time.
Individual Care
Related Psychiatry Services
Explore focused information about other conditions and psychiatric services available at Haven.
Common Questions
Medication Management FAQ
Does a medication-management appointment guarantee a prescription?
No. The first step is an evaluation. Your psychiatrist may recommend medication, a change to an existing medication, further assessment, therapy, another form of care, or no medication change, depending on what is clinically appropriate.
Can Haven review medication prescribed by another clinician?
Yes. Bring an accurate medication list, prior records when available, and notes about what helped or caused side effects. A second-opinion visit can clarify the current plan, but changes are made only after a full clinical review.
How often are follow-up visits?
Timing depends on the medication, symptoms, and stage of treatment. Follow-up is usually closer after a new medication or dose change and may become less frequent once the plan is stable.
Can medication follow-ups be done by telehealth?
Many follow-ups can be completed by secure video when clinically appropriate. Location, diagnosis, medication type, and current prescribing rules can affect eligibility, so your psychiatrist will explain what applies to your care.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
Our team is here to listen, evaluate, and guide you with compassionate, personalized psychiatric care for medication management — in-person in St. Petersburg or via telemedicine anywhere in Florida.