Prairie Mental Health Services offers a distinct and unique approach to the care of persons experiencing psychological, emotional, behavioral and cognitive distress. Our approach is not different than what has been practiced in the past. However, over the years we have come to realize that spending less time with individuals who are seeking psychiatric and psychological care is wholly inadequate and impractical for the understanding and implementation of effective and meaningful interventions. Our approach involves the integration of the practice of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychological assessment. Such an integrated approach offers the clinician and patient a unique perspective to their understanding and appreciation of themselves as unique individuals.

 Granted, this approach is time-consuming and demanding of the patient and clinician to gain this unique perspective. This approach does not offer easy and simple answers and solutions to the suffering of individuals and their life’s problems. But what it does offer is an approach that creates a unique lens through which to see persons as individuals. Labels and diagnostic categories can be useful and efficient but taken as a unitary approach offer an unsatisfying understanding of an individual’s emotional and psychological suffering and turmoil.

 Prairie Mental Health Services offers an alternative to the simplistic and unimaginative approach to the practice of psychiatry and the lack of integration absent in the practice of psychotherapy and counseling. Prairie Mental Health Services also appreciates the complexity of human beings. A simple cause and effect explanation belies the richness and complexity of the human experience; thus, the importance of integrating psychological assessments to offer multiple lenses to fully or at least more fully understand and appreciate the individuals as unique persons. 

Our approach seeks to not just categorize individuals and their psychological problems but to more fully describe and achieve a more fine-grained picture of their lived experience. Missing the reality, that we all speak a common language that represents a common experience is too elementary and simplistic. Individuals should be meet where they are; the practice of psychiatry should seek to understand the myriad of complexities of the individual seeking assistance. Often, an individual may lack the language to adequately represent their lived experience. We should understand that those asking for help often are unable to describe their suffering; remember they are not incapable or lack the capacity.  Such individuals may purposively withhold information about traumas and other experiences of paramount importance from the provider.

Prairie Mental Health Services seeks to raise the bar, have patience and spend the time to fully appreciate those who seek our consultation.