Psychiatric medication management by physicians who actually know you.
At Wave Psychiatric Group, medication management is not a ten-minute prescription renewal. It is an ongoing clinical relationship with a board-certified psychiatrist who understands your full history, monitors your response carefully, and adjusts your treatment plan as your needs evolve.
What is psychiatric medication management?
Psychiatric medication management refers to the ongoing prescribing, monitoring, and adjustment of medications used to treat mental health conditions. It encompasses the full arc of pharmacological treatment — from the initial decision of whether medication is appropriate, to selecting the right agent and dose, to evaluating your response over time and managing side effects, interactions, and long-term considerations.
Done well, psychiatric medication management is far more than writing a prescription. It requires a deep understanding of psychopharmacology, a nuanced read of how a given patient is responding, and the clinical judgment to know when to stay the course, when to adjust, and when to reconsider the diagnosis entirely. It also requires time — time to ask the right questions, hear the full answer, and think carefully before acting.
At Wave, every medication management patient is cared for by a board-certified psychiatrist. Not a nurse practitioner, not a physician assistant — a physician with specialized residency training in psychiatry and psychopharmacology.
Our psychiatrists provide medication management for the full range of psychiatric conditions in adults, including:
Major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression
Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder
OCD
Bipolar disorder types I and II
ADHD in adults
PTSD and trauma-related disorders
Psychotic disorders including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder
Insomnia and sleep-wake disorders
Personality disorders
Substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric illness
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and perinatal mood disorders
If you have a complex presentation involving multiple diagnoses or prior medication trials that have not produced adequate results, our psychiatrists have the clinical depth to work through that complexity with you.
Conditions we treat with medication
Across Los Angeles, psychiatric medication is increasingly being prescribed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants — often through telehealth platforms optimized for volume rather than quality. In many straightforward cases, this works adequately. But for patients with complex presentations, treatment-resistant conditions, diagnostic uncertainty, or significant medication histories, the difference between a physician and a non-physician prescriber is clinically meaningful.
Board-certified psychiatrists complete four years of medical school after undergraduate degrees, followed by four years of psychiatric residency — a minimum of eight years of post-graduate clinical training. This training encompasses the full breadth of medicine, not just psychiatry. It means your prescriber understands how your cardiac medications interact with your antidepressant, how your thyroid disorder might be contributing to your depression, and how to distinguish a medication side effect from a new symptom requiring its own evaluation.
At Wave, we made a deliberate decision to build a physician-only practice. It is a higher bar to maintain — but it is the standard of care our patients deserve.
The physician difference
What to expect from medication management at Wave
Initial evaluation
Your first appointment is a comprehensive diagnostic assessment of 50 minutes. Your psychiatrist will take a thorough psychiatric and medical history, review your current and prior medications and your response to them, and develop a diagnostic formulation before making any prescribing decisions. Medication is never prescribed at Wave without first understanding the full clinical picture.
Starting a new medication
When a new medication is indicated, your psychiatrist will explain the rationale for the choice, what to expect during the initiation period, potential side effects and how to manage them, the expected timeline for therapeutic response, and the plan for follow-up. You will leave your appointment with a clear understanding of your treatment plan and what comes next.
Follow-up and monitoring
Medication management follow-up appointments at Wave are typically 25 minutes — long enough to conduct a meaningful clinical check-in, review your response, address any concerns, and adjust your plan as needed. The frequency of follow-up is determined by your clinical situation: more frequent early in treatment or during transitions, less frequent once you are stable. Your psychiatrist remains reachable between appointments through our secure patient communication platform.
Managing complex regimens
For patients on multiple psychiatric medications — or on medications with narrow therapeutic windows, significant interaction profiles, or complex titration requirements — our psychiatrists provide the kind of careful, longitudinal oversight that complex psychopharmacology requires. We regularly see patients who have been on numerous medication trials elsewhere and are seeking a more rigorous, thoughtful approach to their pharmacological care.
Medication management and psychotherapy — an integrated approach
At Wave, we do not view medication management as a siloed service. Our psychiatrists have all received advanced psychotherapy training, which means they bring a psychotherapeutic lens to every medication visit — understanding the psychological dimensions of your illness, the role of your history and relationships in your presentation, and the ways in which medication and therapy work together to produce durable outcomes.
For patients who want both medication management and psychotherapy, we offer integrated treatment with a single physician who provides both. For patients already working with a therapist, or for whom we are unable to accommodate psychotherapy in our schedules, we maintain close communication with outside therapists and can provide direct referrals to trusted colleagues in our clinical network.
Wave offers medication management via secure telehealth video visits for patients anywhere in California. Telehealth psychiatric medication management is clinically appropriate for most patients and conditions. However, our psychiatrists exercise the same clinical judgment regarding prescribing via telehealth that they would in person — including compliance with applicable regulations governing controlled substance prescribing. Patients requiring Schedule II controlled substances such as stimulant medications for ADHD may be required to be seen in person at least initially, depending on current regulatory requirements.
A note on telehealth prescribing
Insurance and fees
Wave Psychiatric Group accepts Aetna, Optum / UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health, Meritain Health, Oxford Health Plans, ComPsych, UC SHIP, and others for diagnostic assessment appointments. Self-pay rates are also available.
Call us at 323-688-6380 or complete our intake form and our team will verify your benefits before your first appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I definitely be put on medication after my first appointment?
No. Medication is one treatment option among several, and the decision to pursue pharmacotherapy is always made collaboratively between you and your psychiatrist after a thorough evaluation. Some patients benefit from therapy alone, lifestyle interventions, or a combination of approaches that may or may not include medication. Your psychiatrist will present the full range of options and their relative evidence base before any prescribing decision is made.
Can I transfer my care to Wave if I am already on psychiatric medications?
Yes. We regularly see patients transferring care from another psychiatrist, a primary care physician, or a telehealth platform. Your psychiatrist will conduct a full evaluation at your initial visit, review your current medications and your history with them, and either continue your existing regimen, propose adjustments if they are necessary, or recommend a more systematic evaluation if the clinical picture warrants it.
What if my medication is not working?
Treatment-resistant or inadequately responsive presentations are a significant part of our clinical practice. If you have tried multiple medications without adequate response, your psychiatrist will conduct a thorough review of your diagnostic formulation, your prior medication trials and the adequacy of those trials, and the evidence base for next-step strategies — including augmentation, combination approaches, medication switches, and where appropriate, referral for interventional treatments such as TMS or ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Do you prescribe controlled substances?
Yes, but only where clinically indicated. Our psychiatrists prescribe the full range of psychiatric medications, including controlled substances such as stimulants for ADHD, benzodiazepines for anxiety, and sedative-hypnotics for insomnia, in accordance with applicable regulations and sound clinical judgment. We do not prescribe controlled substances reflexively or without appropriate evaluation and ongoing monitoring.
How often will I need to come in for medication management?
Follow-up frequency is individualized based on your clinical situation. Early in treatment, or when medications are being adjusted, more frequent visits — every two to four weeks — are typically appropriate. Once you are stable on an effective regimen, quarterly visits may be sufficient. Your psychiatrist will recommend a follow-up schedule that reflects your clinical needs.