Adult Psychiatric Consultations

In the past few years, the awareness of mental health has seen a rise all over the world, and Pakistan is no exception. There has been increasing acknowledgment of how essential mental health is to one's overall well-being, and more and more people are seeking professional help for their mental health issues. Connections is one of the most prominent facilities in Lahore that provides detailed and outstanding psychiatric care. What sets it apart is its expert staff, who are utterly dedicated to rendering the right kind of help to each patient they see.

Providing complete psychiatric care is not just about alleviating the symptoms of mental illness; it is about understanding the patient as a whole. This means taking into consideration not just the immediate problem but also the patient's emotional, psychological, and social history. At Connections, which is where I conduct my psychiatric interviews, the goal is to create such a safe environment for patients that they feel they can "let it all hang out," as one patient put it. Listening is the key.

Connections employs highly trained, specialized professionals in many areas of psychiatry. Our team includes not only psychiatrists but also psychologists and licensed therapists, all of whom are top-notch in their field. It's our diverse expertise that gives our patients the well-rounded care so necessary for even considering a correct and effective treatment plan.

The intake session is the "first date" of sorts that both patient and staff must endure, mainly because it establishes the bedrock of any therapeutic relationship. During this hour, the team gets to know the patient, who is invited to share with us some of the concerns that brought him or her to us in the first place.

Receiving care at Connections begins with being accurately diagnosed. Mental health conditions can show themselves in many different ways, so what we might be called an "effective" treatment for one person would not be the same for another, even if their symptoms appear similar. So, when a potential patient first comes to Connections for help, they have a conversation with a staff member who tries to understand what the patient is going through. To arrive at the most accurate diagnosis, Connections will use a number of different forms: interviews and various kinds of standardized tests that help them get to know the potential patient's way of thinking (or not thinking) in a much more comprehensive way than what is available to us when we try to "think back" to how we felt when we went through something.

After establishing a diagnosis, the next step is to have a discussion about treatments. At Connections, a variety of choices are put on the table—everything from medication to different kinds of therapy. The aim, as said, is not "one-size-fits-all" but rather to craft a treatment plan that is "right for you." At Connections, the staff are always careful to tell patients that both sides of every medication story need to be told, with no glowing endorsements or scare tactics used against the prospect of going on or getting off medication.

At Connections, psychotherapy is just as essential a part of treatment as medication. There are a number of different approaches to therapy that may be used, but the most common of these at Connections is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Another common therapeutic approach at Connections is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). There are several other very effective types of therapy that are used at Connections, such as mindfulness-based therapy, supportive therapy, and "good old-fashioned talk therapy." Regardless of the kind of therapy the patient chooses, the sessions are truly collaborative. The patient's active role as a partner in therapy is what makes achieving their goals possible and "ensures that the sessions have real therapeutic value."

Personalized care is not simply a buzzword or an inspirational slogan for us at Connections—it is the essence of what we do. We know intuitively that every human being is a unique individual; in our work with patients, this simple truth repeatedly reveals itself. Thus, when it comes to formulating a treatment plan, there is no "one size fits all." Following the intake session, together with the patient we outline the course of therapy. The patient and staff members collaborate to develop a concise, individualized plan that stays true to the "path of least resistance" principle and that clearly delineates goals, methods, and follow-up assurances. As part of the "patient empowerment" process, we value very highly indeed what our patients say about their preferences and treatment concerns.

Connections place a high priority on ongoing patient care. The staff sees regular follow-up appointments with patients as an opportunity to keep a finger on the pulse of patient progress. They allow the staff to gauge treatment efficacy and make any necessary adjustments. These appointments also provide an opportunity for the patient to reflect on their way-find journey and how far they have come. The staff at Connections is also very committed to the feeling of being heard and understood and try hard to create an environment where patients feel safe. At Connections, psychiatric treatment is about more than just the staff working with patients; it’s about creating a strong “therapeutic alliance.”

The staff at Connections Mental Health understands that the first intake session is the very first step in establishing a relationship of trust between patient and provider. They know it is important to take the time necessary not only to complete a mental health screening but also to engage in a conversation with the prospective patient. "It is a dialogue," said Dr. Torrey Y. Lurman, the director of mental health services, "in which we get to know you a little bit, and you get to know us a little bit." The staff at Connections sees and hears patients during the intake process. Once the staff has an understanding of the individual's unique circumstances, they use that information to guide them toward the next step in the process. In short, the staff at Connections lays the foundation for effective mental health treatment to occur.

Patients often feel isolated and hopeless when dealing with mental health issues. At Connections, a mental health program located in West Baltimore, patients have the opportunity to express their concerns in a safe and supportive environment.

Connections serves both men and women who are received into its care. Staff members listen to patients as they talk about any number of things that worry them. The patients at Connections serve as an important reminder of how fragile mental health can be. Of course, mental health can be impacted by any number of things — life events, family issues, and difficulties at work, to name just a few. But mental health is also impacted by the culture in which one lives. And in cultures across the world, but especially in Pakistan, mental health has long been a topic shrouded in stigma.

Besides actual professional treatment, it helps a lot when mental health patients can draw on support from the community. That is what Connections is all about: not just serving as the "last stop" before the emergency room for those in crisis but also actively helping people engage with the kinds of resources that promote their mental wellness. The "us" in "Nushey u Rishee" means, essentially, this: once someone has left mostly behind a life of feeling constantly pressured or unsafe, they won't truly be better until they've found a place in society again, a way to connect with the "normal" people who historically have done the valuably relatable kind of work that societal mental health patients have needed done for millennia.

Connections embody all that is good in the world of those seeking help. It listens; it empowers; and it attends to the stigma that still surrounds mental health. If you or someone you know is in a bad place mentally, consider reaching out to Connections—a place that seems, at first blush, to be so much like an oasis. It is attentive, it is compassionate, and, above all, it is an understanding that the care it gives is a right to all seeking the path that leads to mental wellness.