Finding the right mental health support can be difficult when anxiety, depression, mood changes, or other symptoms begin affecting everyday life. For individuals and families seeking psychiatric care in the Twin Cities metro, Northwest Family Counseling offers individualized psychiatric services with Michelle Jarman, an Independent Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Michelle provides psychiatric assessments, medication management, and supportive psychotherapy, with appointments available in person and online.
Psychiatric care can look different from person to person. Some people may benefit from medication management, while others may need an evaluation to better understand what they are experiencing. For others, psychiatric care may work alongside counseling to provide additional support.
Understanding what psychiatric care involves can make it easier to determine whether an assessment or ongoing psychiatric support may be appropriate for you or someone you love.
What Is Psychiatric Care?
Psychiatric care focuses on evaluating, diagnosing, and treating mental health conditions and symptoms. A psychiatric provider considers a person’s current concerns, symptoms, history, treatment experiences, and individual needs when developing a plan of care.
As an Independent Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Michelle provides psychiatric assessments, medication management, and supportive psychotherapy for clients of all ages. Her approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and individualized to each client’s needs.
Psychiatric care is not simply about receiving a prescription. A thorough assessment provides an opportunity to talk about what you have been experiencing and consider different treatment options. When medication is appropriate, ongoing follow-up can help evaluate whether the treatment is effective and safe.
The goal is to develop a treatment plan that makes sense for the individual rather than assuming the same approach will work for everyone.
When Might Psychiatric Care Be Helpful?
There are times when stress, worry, sadness, changes in mood, difficulty concentrating, or other symptoms become difficult to manage without additional support. When symptoms persist or begin interfering with everyday life, talking with a mental health professional can help you better understand what may be happening.
Psychiatric care may be helpful when mental health symptoms are affecting relationships, work, school, sleep, parenting, or other areas of daily functioning. It can also be appropriate when existing coping strategies are no longer providing enough relief or when you want to explore whether medication could be part of your treatment.
You do not need to know exactly what is wrong before scheduling a psychiatric assessment. Understanding your symptoms and their impact is part of the assessment process. A psychiatric provider can help you explore possible concerns and discuss treatment options based on your individual situation.
For some people, psychiatric care is a new part of their mental health journey. For others, it provides ongoing support through medication management and regular follow-up.
If you are already working with a therapist, psychiatric care can also be coordinated with counseling when that combination makes sense for your needs.
What to Expect From a Psychiatric Assessment and Medication Management
A psychiatric assessment provides an opportunity to discuss your mental health concerns in greater detail. The purpose is to help the provider understand your symptoms, history, current circumstances, and treatment goals.
During an assessment, you may discuss your current symptoms, personal history, previous treatment, medications, and other factors that may be relevant to your mental health. This information helps the provider develop a treatment plan based on your individual needs.
Michelle takes a collaborative approach to psychiatric assessment and treatment. She emphasizes education so clients can better understand their mental health concerns and the treatment options available to them. Clients are encouraged to ask questions and participate in decisions about their care.
A psychiatric assessment does not automatically mean that medication will be prescribed. An assessment is an opportunity to explore what you are experiencing and discuss potential approaches to treatment.
Psychiatric Medication Management
Medication management is one component of psychiatric care that may be appropriate for some individuals. Psychiatric medications can affect people differently, which is why treatment often involves ongoing evaluation rather than a one-time prescription.
Michelle customizes prescription regimens based on each person’s symptoms and needs. Follow-up appointments provide an opportunity to monitor effectiveness and safety and make adjustments when appropriate.
Good medication management involves an ongoing conversation between the provider and client. Changes in symptoms, questions about effectiveness, side effects, and other concerns can all be addressed as treatment continues.
Medication is not appropriate for everyone, and some people may prefer to explore treatment options that do not involve medication. Michelle works with clients to understand their preferences and determine what approaches may be appropriate for their circumstances. You can learn more about the benefits of consistent medication management from our blog.
How Psychiatric Care Can Work With Counseling
Psychiatric care and counseling serve different purposes, but they can complement one another.
Psychiatric services can address symptoms that may benefit from medication management or other psychiatric interventions. Counseling provides a place to explore thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, life experiences, and coping strategies.
For some people, combining psychiatric care with counseling can provide support from both perspectives. Medication may help manage certain symptoms while counseling addresses emotional, behavioral, or relational concerns connected to those symptoms.
The right combination depends on the individual. Some people may benefit from psychiatric care on its own, while others may find that working with both a psychiatric provider and therapist better fits their needs.
Northwest Family Counseling offers a range of counseling services for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. When appropriate, psychiatric care and counseling can be part of a coordinated mental health treatment plan.
Online Psychiatric Care in Minnesota and Throughout the Twin Cities Metro
Accessing mental health care is not always easy. Distance, work schedules, family responsibilities, transportation, and other circumstances can make regular in-person appointments challenging. Online psychiatric care in Minnesota provides another option for people who need professional support.
Michelle offers online appointments in addition to in-person psychiatric care. Online appointments can provide greater flexibility for individuals seeking psychiatric assessments, medication management, and ongoing follow-up without needing to travel for every appointment.
Online psychiatric care can also be helpful for people who live throughout the Twin Cities metro or in surrounding Minnesota communities. Depending on individual circumstances and applicable requirements, virtual appointments may make it easier to maintain continuity of care.
Northwest Family Counseling provides psychiatric services with Michelle in Buffalo and Hutchinson, as well as online. This gives individuals and families in communities throughout Wright County, McLeod County, and the surrounding Minnesota area additional options when looking for psychiatric care.
For someone searching for psychiatric care in the Twin Cities metro, the right provider does not necessarily have to be located in Minneapolis or St. Paul. Online services can expand access while still providing an ongoing relationship with a psychiatric provider.
Meet Michelle Jarman, Independent Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Michelle Jarman, MS, APRN, CNP, PMHNP-BC, PHN, is an Independent Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Northwest Family Counseling. She is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who provides psychiatric assessments, medication management, and supportive psychotherapy for clients of all ages.
Michelle earned her Master of Science degree from the University of North Dakota and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South Dakota State University. Her clinical approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and individualized to each client’s symptoms, needs, and goals.
Education is an important part of Michelle’s work. She believes clients should understand their mental health conditions and the treatment options available to them so they can participate confidently in decisions about their care.
Michelle also has a strong interest in supporting families and parents. She is passionate about strengthening and preserving the family unit and supporting parents throughout the different stages of their parenting journey.
Whether someone is seeking psychiatric care for the first time or needs ongoing medication management, Michelle works with clients to develop a treatment plan that reflects their individual circumstances and preferences.
Connect With Psychiatric Care
If you have been searching for psychiatric care in the Twin Cities metro, an assessment can help you better understand your symptoms and explore treatment options that fit your needs.
Michelle Jarman provides individualized psychiatric assessments, medication management, and supportive psychotherapy through Northwest Family Counseling. In-person appointments are available in Buffalo and Hutchinson, and online appointments provide another option for eligible clients throughout Minnesota.
To learn more about psychiatric services, medication management, or working with Michelle, contact Northwest Family Counseling for a free consultation.
