This might be for you if you notice
- Wondering whether medication could help with low mood, worry or focus
- Already taking a mental health medication and needing someone to manage it
- Side effects, or a sense that a medicine is not doing what you hoped
- In therapy and curious whether medication could support that work
- Wanting your prescriber and your therapist to be on the same page
What medication management is
Medication management is ongoing care with a prescriber who looks after the medication side of your mental health. At Locascio Wellness that prescriber is a licensed psychiatrist: a physician trained in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
The National Institute of Mental Health says medications can play an important role in treating mental disorders and are often used together with other treatments, such as psychotherapy. It also says medicines affect people in different ways, and it may take several tries to find the one that works best with the fewest side effects.
That is why medication management is more than one appointment. It is a working relationship: you share how things are going, and the psychiatrist uses that to decide what, if anything, should change.
How visits work
Your first visit is a conversation about what brought you in, your health history, past treatment and any medicines you take now. NIMH suggests bringing a list of all of your medications, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements, along with the questions you want to ask.
From there, the psychiatrist talks with you about the options and whether medication makes sense for you. Not every visit ends with a prescription. Medication decisions are made with you, and you are always welcome to ask why a medicine is suggested, what side effects to watch for, and what other choices there are.
Follow-up visits check how you are feeling and how the medicine is working. Please do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own: talk with the psychiatrist first.
Helpful to have ready for your first visit
- A list of every medicine and supplement you take, with doses
- Medicines you have tried before and how they went
- Your main questions, written down
- The name of your therapist or other providers, if you want them involved
Medication and therapy together
Many people see a therapist and a prescriber at the same time. If you are in therapy with us, your therapist and the psychiatrist can coordinate with your permission, so your care fits together instead of running on two separate tracks.
If you are not in therapy and would like to be, our therapists offer anxiety therapy, depression therapy and ADHD therapy, among other services. You can read about everyone on our team first.
A psychological evaluation is a separate service. If you have had one, or are thinking about one, our psychological evaluations page explains how they work.
Online visits and the rules that apply
Every visit is by secure video. You need a phone, tablet or computer, an internet connection and a private spot to talk. You must be physically located in Pennsylvania during each visit, because that is where our psychiatrist is licensed to treat patients.
NIMH notes that, depending on your insurance and provider, care you can receive virtually includes an assessment, a treatment plan and a prescription for medication. Some medicines have extra rules, though. Many ADHD stimulants and some other medicines are controlled substances under federal law. A temporary federal rule, published in the Federal Register, allows certain controlled medicines to be prescribed by telemedicine without a prior in-person visit, under set conditions, through December 31, 2026. Whether any medicine is right for you is the psychiatrist's decision.
Video visits are for ongoing care, not emergencies. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.
Getting started
- Reach outUse our booking page or call us, and say you are interested in medication management. Tell us a little about what is going on, in your own words.
- Check your coverageCoverage for psychiatric visits depends on your plan. Ask us to verify your benefits before your first visit. Our insurance and fees page lists the plans we work with.
- Meet the psychiatrist by videoYour first visit is a full conversation about your history and goals. From there you decide on a plan together, with follow-ups to see how it is going.
Your psychiatrist
Medication management is with our psychiatrist, licensed as a physician in Pennsylvania. His license number is on his profile.
Questions people ask
Can I get psychiatric medication through Locascio Wellness?
Yes, for people in Pennsylvania. Our psychiatrist offers medication management by secure video. You must be physically located in Pennsylvania during each visit. Whether a medicine is prescribed, and which one, is decided by the psychiatrist with you after a full conversation about your history and goals.
Do I need to be in therapy with you to see the psychiatrist?
Ask us when you reach out and we will explain the options for your situation. Many people find it helps to have both. If you do see one of our therapists, the psychiatrist and your therapist can coordinate your care with your permission, so everyone is working toward the same goals.
Does insurance cover medication management?
Often, but it depends on your plan. Coverage for psychiatric visits can differ from coverage for therapy, so ask us to verify your benefits before your first visit. That way you know what to expect. Our insurance and fees page lists the plans the practice works with.
How do online psychiatry visits work?
You meet the psychiatrist by secure video from a phone, tablet or computer, from a private place where you can talk freely. Bring a list of your current medicines and your questions. Follow-up visits check how you are feeling, how a medicine is working and whether anything should change.
Can ADHD medication be prescribed by video?
Many ADHD stimulants are controlled substances with extra federal rules. A temporary federal rule allows certain controlled medicines to be prescribed by telemedicine without a prior in-person visit, under set conditions, through December 31, 2026. Whether any medicine is right for you is the psychiatrist's decision after evaluating you.
Will I get a prescription at my first visit?
Not necessarily. The first visit is about understanding your history, symptoms and goals. Sometimes a medicine is started then, and sometimes the psychiatrist suggests waiting, gathering more information or trying another approach first. You are always welcome to ask why a choice is being made.
What if a medicine gives me side effects?
Tell the psychiatrist. NIMH notes that medicines affect people differently and finding the right one can take more than one try. Do not stop or change a medicine on your own unless you are told to. If a reaction feels serious or urgent, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications
- National Institute of Mental Health: Tips for Talking With a Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health
- National Institute of Mental Health: Getting Mental Health Support Virtually
- Federal Register: Fourth Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Published by Locascio Wellness. Last updated October 9, 2026. Clinically reviewed by Anthony Locascio, PsyD, LPC. This page is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis.