Adults
When you think your problems are more than the ups and downs of modern life, you may want to seek professional help to reestablish your mental health.
As you navigate your way through life, you may need to seek help for treatment of a psychiatric disorder. Life events such as the loss of a job or a divorce, a life threatening or chronic illness, physical changes in your body that come with pregnancy or menopause, or a trauma may trigger an episode of psychiatric illness. Many of our new patients are aware of their mental health challenges and just need assistance managing a previously identified psychiatric diagnosis. Whatever the reason you are seeking care, we want to help you.
When adults experienced loss or trauma and are looking for a treatment experience that helps them diminish the negative emotional impact related to that trauma, an InterCare professional can provide psychotherapy and if needed, arrange psychiatric consultation.
Adults very often have recognized problems in the past that have responded to psychiatric treatment but now want a stable ongoing relationship with professionals that help them optimize their strengths and reach their life goals. The psychiatric professionals at InterCare are particularly well suited to help individuals who need maintenance medication treatment to control psychiatric symptoms and intermittent psychotherapy to help them realize their life goals or to help them cope with unanticipated challenges.
Get Unstuck in Your Life
Some individuals experiencing barriers to accomplishing their career or personal goals may wonder if it is because they have psychiatric difficulties – problems with mood instability, attention, interpersonal conflict, depression or anxiety. InterCare can augment a personal assessment with the perspective of an experienced mental health professional.
As part of the biological changes related to pregnancy, women can experience changes in hormone levels that can have a dramatic impact on their mood and even their thinking. They can experience their first episode of serious depression. Women who have had episodes of depression in the past are at heightened risk for relapse at this time. Through proper screening, evaluation, and an on-going relationship with a mental health professional, women can get help through this important time and still minimize the need to take medications that would be best to avoid during pregnancy. Active medication treatment right after delivery can minimize the risk of postpartum depression. InterCare has mental health professionals interested and prepared to work with you and your obstetrician at this special time, as you bring a new life into the world.
Men sometimes have difficulty identifying and expressing concerns about feelings, focus, mood and anxiety. InterCare professionals are experienced in helping men feel comfortable dealing with these issues and in helping family members motivate men who are close to them get assistance in dealing with these sensitive issues.
The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) lists common warning signs of mental illness as:
- Excessive worrying or fear
- Feeling excessively sad or low
- Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
- Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
- Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
- Avoiding friends and social activities
- Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
- Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
- Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
- Changes in sex drive
- Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality)
- Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality (lack of insight)
- Abuse of substances like alcohol or other drugs
- Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
- Thinking about suicide or hurting themselves
- Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
- An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance
If a family member has an unexpected serious problem with mood or thinking, seek an urgent mental health consultation through the re:solve crisis network (www.upmc.com/resolvecrisis) in Allegheny County at 1-888-796-8226 or the Washington County Crisis Services at 1-877-225-3567. If you have any concern about risk of suicide or harm to anyone, seek prompt help through the nearest hospital emergency department. Suicide is a very real risk that can be avoided through active crisis intervention. InterCare may be helpful in providing follow up treatment.
How We Help
We want to listen you to understand how you see the situation. Each person may experience distress in a different way. We want an understanding of why you are coming and your expectations for assistance. This process usually starts with an individual interview where you can confidentially present your concerns. We will also ask specific questions and may utilize measurement tools. Together we will arrive at a shared understanding of the problem and our recommendations. The InterCare team works with you to implement treatments that best reflect our professional experience, relevant medical evidence, and your goals and values. Depending on the situation, you may choose to involve a family member or friend. This can help provide a supportive context for treatment.
If you have a concern about yourself or a family member but you are not ready for a consultation, you can access mental health screening tools at Help Yourself, Help Others, or Mental Health American – Screening Tools.