FAQs

 A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a master's level educated registered nurse who specializes in psychiatry.  A trained Master's Level Psychiatric NP can make clinical diagnoses and prescribe medications. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are NOT medical doctors and did not attend medical school but function much as a psychiatrist does. 

Integrative psychiatry is a holistic approach to mental health that looks at the whole person—not just symptoms. It combines traditional treatments like medication with lifestyle changes, nutrition, mind-body practices, and other supportive therapies to create a personalized plan that fits your unique needs. The goal is to support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being in a more complete and lasting way. 

Our psychiatric nurse practitioners may provide supportive therapy and support for lifestyle change during a visit, but the visit is primarily to address medication effectiveness and response to what is being prescribed. Patients should have their own therapist in addition to a prescribing psychiatric nurse practitioner for the best mental health outcomes.

This will vary from patient to patient depending on stability of symptoms and whether new meds are being introduced or other med changes are happening. Once stable and on the proper doses, our patients can see their psychiatric NP every 3-4 months. Again, this will vary and be discussed with each patient and tailored to their needs. 

We do NOT provide 24/7 crisis coverage for psychiatric emergencies. If you are in crisis outside of regular business hours please call 988 the national mental health hotline or proceed to your nearest emergency room or call 911. 

Our nurse practitioners will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the potential benefits and risks  of these types of controlled medications.  Specific medication prescriptions or refills are not guaranteed.  We will  individually assess your needs, the appropriateness of each medication and work together to ensure the best outcomes.

 If you are already prescribed stimulants we request you provide documentation and your neuropsychological testing results to confirm your diagnosis for which you are being treated with stimulants.  We may require a recent EKG and a urine drug screen to continue these medications, if clinically indicated. 

Some patients with a history of drug or alcohol use may not be a good fit for these types of medications and this will be discussed with your provider.  

Once care is established, refill requests can be addressed during your visit or requests can be made through our online HIPAA compliant texting app, Spruce.  Refill requests will be filled within a 72 hr window. 

Click here to schedule an initial intake appointment with one of our Nurse Practitioners.  For general questions please contact our office at info@thrivepsychiatriccare.com or 617-229-6852 and we will get back to you as soon as possible.