What is "adherence"? Why did I get an Adherence Letter?

“Adherence” is the medical word for “a patient sticking to their treatment plan.” At the beginning of your treatment, you and your psychiatrist tailor your treatment plan to include all the things you need to start feeling better. This can include medication and other treatments. It also includes how often you’ll need to see your psychiatrist for follow-up visits so they can check in on your progress.

It’s so important to keep that schedule and “adhere” to your treatment plan. Which means it’s essential that you’re comfortable with it. If you’re not or feel you won’t be able to, talk to your psychiatrist. They’re here to help. If you’re not sticking to the plan and not communicating with your doctor, they may send an adherence letter.

We’ll only recommend the treatment we think you need, and that will benefit you based on our expertise and training as doctors specializing in mental health. We want what’s best for you. In some cases, that may not be with us. If we’re not able to find a plan you can stick to, it might be time to talk about options outside of Talkiatry if we can’t provide the care you’re looking for.