Psychiatric Medication at Counterbalance

Medication serves an important role in mental healthcare. It can reduce symptoms and prevent relapses of symptoms. Everyone needs the right balance of brain chemicals to live full, productive lives. Some brains produce organically occurring brain chemicals naturally, while other brains require some assistance to get to an optimal balance. This can be amplified for clients who have experienced severe trauma. 

While some patients benefit from psychiatric therapy alone, many need a combination of medication and therapy interventions. At Counterbalance Counseling & Psychiatry, we value the interface of what research shows us to be true in clinical practice. We believe that for some clients, the combination of the two is the best path towards achieving peace of mind and your mental healthcare goals, or as part of your trauma recovery. 

Because of the uniqueness of each medication and client, we believe it is important to allow ample time when assessing and adjusting medications for clients. We offer 1-hour initial appointments and 30-minute ongoing follow-up appointments to ensure our clients start off on the right track. 

Medication management is an important tool to utilize when experiencing or recovering from trauma. Severe trauma can significantly affect or change our brain chemistry and general physiological state, making medication management a vital tool throughout recovery for some clients.

Our practice does not prescribe stimulants and narcotics.

What conditions can Counterbalance Counseling & Psychiatry treat with medications?

Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, ADD/ADHD, OCD, Insomnia, PTSD, Eating Disorders, Skin picking/Hair pulling, Hormonal Changes, and Sexual Functioning

What medications do we prescribe?

  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-Anxiety Medications
  • Mood Stabilizers
  • Non-Stimulant ADHD Medications
  • Antipsychotics

Comprehensive Evaluations

  • Obtain thorough clinical histories including behavioral, medical, family and social histories
  • Review previous medical records if available
  • Order screening blood work if indicated
  • Refer for Neuropsychological Evaluations if indicated
  • Offer GeneSight® testing
  • Collaborate with other providers such as Primary Care Provider or Therapist

Individualized Treatment Plans

  • Prescribe medications if indicated
  • Recommend nutritional supplements based on symptoms and/or lab results
  • Recommend behavior modifications such as nutrition, exercise and/or sleep hygiene
  • If indicated, refer to PHP, IOP, Group Therapy, Family Therapy or Individual Psychotherapy

Regrettably, there are some services that we are unable to provide specifically within the psychiatric medication section of our practice. This does not mean we are unable to address these concerns on the therapy side of the team. These services include:

  • Controlled Substances (specifically stimulants and narcotics)
  • Emotional Support Animal Letters
  • Forensic Psychiatry (e.g., custody evaluations, legal cases, and disability evaluations)
  • Geriatric Psychiatry (patients 65 years of age and older)
  • Neurological Disorders (e.g., epilepsy, dementia, chronic migraine, and traumatic brain injury)
  • Substance Abuse Treatment

Appointments for New and Established telehealth patients for medication management will be run via the Telehealth platform Doxy.me. Some visits may be conducted in person as well.

When using doxy.me, all data is encrypted, your sessions are anonymous, and none of your information is stored. Doxy.me adheres to HIPAA, PIPEDA, and GDPR data privacy requirements.

At this time, medication management services are provided for clients aged 16-64.

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Jennifer Dawson

PA-C, (Certified Physician Assistant)

DES MOINES UNIVERSITY OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL CENTER
Physician Assistant

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Areas of Specialization

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • OCD
  • Insomnia
  • PTSD
  • Mood Disorders
  • ADD/ ADHD

Certifications + Training

  • National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

Jennifer is a Physician Assistant certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She graduated with honors and received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center in 2006. Jennifer has served patients in Iowa, Minnesota, and Texas. She has been part of the Austin Mental Health community since 2016. 

Jennifer has expertise in diagnosing and treating Depression, Anxiety, OCD, ADD/ADHD, Insomnia, PTSD, Mood Disorders and other psychiatric illnesses. She provides medication management and supportive psychotherapy using a holistic, evidence-based approach. She understands how there are often medical factors that can contribute to mood symptoms and, if indicated, recommends additional testing to ensure that there are no other underlying concerns that need to be addressed in order to get maximum improvement. 

Jennifer also values collaborating with a patient’s therapist and other medical providers for a more comprehensive and holistic conceptualization.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, trying new restaurants and volunteering at Austin Pets Alive.

*LGBTQIA Advocate

Supervising Physician: Dr. Azeza Uddin, MD

Pooja Memula

PA-C, (Certified Physician Assistant)

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Physician Assistant

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Areas of Specialization

  • Women’s Health
  • Depression
  • ADD/ADHD
  • OCD
  • PTSD
  • Anxiety
  • Mood Disorders

Certifications + Training

  • National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

Pooja has served patients in North Carolina prior to moving to Austin in 2022. She has experience working with children, adolescents and adults.

Pooja has experience in diagnosing and treating Depression, Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, Insomnia, PTSD, Mood Disorders and other psychiatric illnesses. She provides medication management and supportive psychotherapy by utilizing holistic, evidence-based medicine. 

Pooja’s priority is to help her patients feel better mentally and physically. She is dedicated to creating a customized treatment plan that caters to each patient’s individual needs. She believes it is important that the patient feels comfortable, heard and safe when receiving mental health services. Having the privilege to help improve one’s health journey is something she deeply values. She makes it a priority to collaborate with your therapist to ensure you have the best team of clinicians to guide and maximize patient centered care. 

Pooja received her undergraduate degree and obtained her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2021. In her leisure, she enjoys spending time outdoors, working out, cooking and traveling. She loves spending time with her loved ones and Australian Shepard, Bowser.