Question 1

What is the difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist?

Accepted Answer

While both are mental health professionals and work together as a multidisciplinary team, their training and approaches to treatment differ.  Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are trained to evaluate the physical and neurological aspects of mental health in addition to psychological.  They are able to prescribe medications and integrate psychotherapy.
Psychologists typically have a doctoral degree (Psy. D or PhD) and are trained in psychological assessment and testing, behavioral interventions, and therapy to address emotional issues.  Depending on the state, some are able to prescribe medications with additional training.
Both can play a different yet integral role in improving your mental health.

Question 2

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

We are a private pay practice and do not accept insurance.  
Insurance companies place restrictions on the treatments they will cover and the frequency of appointments.  They place increasing demands on doctors which make it difficult to spend more time with patients and less on paperwork.  Insurance companies also require patient information which may impact your ability to obtain disability or life insurance, should you apply for it in the future.
As a private pay practice, we are able to spend as much time as needed and collaboratively devise individualized treatment tailored to your needs.

Question 3

What are your fees?

Accepted Answer

New patient evaluation for a Child or Adolescent (90 min): $600New patient evaluation for an Adult (60 min): $400 (additional time can be requested)Medication management & therapy follow up (50 min): $340Medication management follow up (30 min): $190Accelerated Resolution Therapy appointment (90min): $350Your appointment fee covers far more than the time we spend face-to-face.  It includes regular collaboration with your therapist, PCP, or other providers, careful review of labs, testing, and previous records, informational handouts, and tailored referrals designed specifically for your needs.  We accept credit cards, HSA, and FSA.I aim to make our services accessible and can provide you with a receipt after your appointment which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Every plan is different but many plans with out-of-network coverage will provide reimbursement for our visit. If your insurance covers out-of-network providers, you can expect to receive 30%-80% of their “approved cost visit.” Their approved cost may differ from the actual cost of our visit. If you are seeking reimbursement, please check with your insurance carrier prior to our appointment.I partner with Mentaya, a company that can streamline the reimbursement process for you. Mentaya charges a fee of 5% of the appointment cost to guarantee that it will submit your claims and handle any insurance follow-up.

Question 4

What is your payment policy?

Accepted Answer

We accept credit cards, HSA, and FSA due at the time of your visit.
Appointments must be cancelled or rescheduled at least 24 hours (a business day) before your appointment. That allows enough time to schedule someone who may be waiting for an appointment. If cancelled or missed less than 24 hours before your appointment, you will automatically be charged 50% of your visit.

Question 5

Do you offer virtual appointments?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  We offer in-person or online visits to anyone in Florida, and online visits to those in Iowa.If you are unable to make an in-person appointment, you have the flexibility to switch to to an online visit so that you can still attend your appointment.

Question 6

How often will I need an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Appointment durations vary from 30 min to 90 min, depending on the services.
The frequency of your appointments will also depend on your individual needs, severity, and what types of medications are utilized.  We recommend regular appointments at first to ensure we are making progress.  Once you are stabilized, we can typically meet less frequently.
For parents seeking help for their child, it is often helpful for the parent to have a separate appointment to further discuss family dynamics and parenting interventions.

Question 7

What ages do you treat?

Accepted Answer

Our practice primarily serves children and adolescents.  While there is no minimum age, children younger than 5 years old are determined on a case by case basis.Adult appointments are available by referral from a healthcare professional.  For questions, please call or schedule a 15 minute consultation appointment.

Question 8

Is treatment for children different than adults?

Accepted Answer

I am fellowship-trained in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and have years of experience in treating patients of all ages.  Mental health symptoms and treatment can differ significantly between adults and children.

Being able to treat patients across all stages of life is especially helpful in working with adults since many issues stemmed from childhood.

I tailor therapeutic interventions to an age-appropriate level so that children can understand and benefit from them.  I believe it is never too young to introduce children to practices like meditation to improve self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-regulation.

Question 9

Do you treat LGBTQ+ individuals?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  I fully support LGBTQ+ individuals in living authentically and with autonomy. When it comes to a child’s gender identity, I believe it’s important to take a developmentally informed approach. Children are growing in their sense of self and decision-making capacity, so any steps—especially medical ones—should be made thoughtfully, in collaboration with the child, their family, and other providers.

Question 10

I'm not a religious or spiritual person. Would meditation still help me?

Accepted Answer

The beauty of meditation is that it is a universal practice which can be used by anyone while still respecting your personal beliefs.  It is a path to self-awareness, clarity, and peace.

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