Not everyone in treatment needs medication. But for some people, it's a meaningful part of getting better. In our virtual IOP, a psychiatric provider looks at whether medication could help — and if it can, manages it alongside the rest of your care.
Psychiatric appointments happen as needed — usually once a week or every other week. Your provider stays in sync with your Primary Therapist, so medication decisions reflect what’s actually happening in your therapy.
Sample schedule
*Available as needed
01—05
Sample schedule
*Available as needed
Psychiatry is the part of medicine that treats mental health conditions with medication. In an intensive outpatient program (IOP), a psychiatric provider decides — with you — whether medication fits your treatment plan, then prescribes and manages it over time. At Charlie Health, this happens virtually and is coordinated with your therapy — therapy helps you build skills and understanding, while psychiatry addresses the biological side, making that work easier when medication is a fit. Whether medication is right for you is always a decision you make with your provider.
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For clients working through a substance use disorder (SUD), medication can be a meaningful part of recovery and our Psychiatric Team can build it into your treatment plan.
Charlie Health can start or continue evidence-based, FDA-approved medications — like naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram — based on your history and clinical needs. Suboxone for opioid use disorder is available in some states, depending on local regulations. These support treatment for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. For cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis, and other substance use, we offer supportive symptom management.
Drug testing is part of care for everyone in our substance use program, and it’s required if you’re in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or the abstinence-based track. It’s available at no cost. You’ll get a notification when it’s time to test, then use a secure app to complete a quick oral-fluid (mouth swab) sample at home. It’s discreet: the app confirms your identity and testing window, and the swab gives a clear read on recent use. Most results come back in minutes; some go to a lab and return in 1–3 business days. When a result needs confirming, your Psychiatry Team can order a follow-up lab test.
A therapist helps you make sense of what you're going through; a psychiatric provider evaluates whether medication would help and manages it if so. Many people benefit from both — which is exactly how our IOP is set up, with therapy and psychiatry coordinated on the same team.
| Psychiatrist or psychiatric provider | Therapist |
|---|---|
| Training A medical doctor or advanced-practice provider | Training A licensed mental health clinician |
| Can prescribe medication Yes | Can prescribe medication No |
| Main focus Diagnosis and medication | Main focus Talk therapy, skills, and support |
| How often Periodic check-ins | How often Usually weekly |
Medication management means a qualified provider oversees your behavioral health medication start to finish — so it’s safe and actually working for you, with adjustments along the way.
Your provider learns your history, symptoms, and goals, and talks through whether medication is worth considering.
If you decide together to try it, your provider walks through the options, what to expect, and side effects to watch for.
You meet regularly so your provider can see how your medication is working, answer questions, and catch side effects early — the “management” part.
Finding the right medication and dose is usually a process. Your provider fine-tunes over time based on how you're feeling.
