FEES
60-minute initial evaluation upon request
30-minute medication follow-up upon request
You can pay with credit card or HSA/FSA card, which many employers sponsor. For your convenience, a card can be stored in your chart and automatically charged at the appointment time to maximize time during sessions.
CANCELLATION
If you don't appear at your appointment or cancel within 48 hours, you will be charged a full fee.
If you're more than 10 minutes late into the appointment, you're considered no-show, and thus will be charged a full fee and will need to reschedule.
BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS (CALLS, PAPERWORK, ETC.)
You will be prescribed adequate medications until your next appointment. However, should you require refills between appointments as a result of a no-show or late cancellation, you'll be charged a fee.
Phone calls or paperwork that require more than 10 minutes will be prorated to your hourly fee.
HOW I CAN HELP
WHY SEE A PSYCHIATRIST?
Psychiatrists are specialized medical doctors that require at least 12 years in higher education:
4 years of undergraduate studies (“pre-med” or otherwise)
4 years of medical school (7% acceptance rate on average)
4 years of specialty training or “residency” in psychiatry (1,904 positions across the US)
8-hour exam by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, which certifies 1,500 new psychiatrists per year
Medical doctors (MD), including psychiatrists, require at least 15,000 hours of clinical training before being allowed to independently diagnose, treat, or prescribe medications. In comparison, nurse practitioners (NP) require 500 clinical hours (typically supervised by a medical doctor), and physician assistants (PA) require 2,000 clinical hours.
WHY SEE A PERINATAL PSYCHIATRIST?
My additional training offers an in-depth understanding of the nuances when diagnosing, treating, or prescribing medications for moms and moms-to-be. One major hesitation of taking medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding is the fear that it may negatively affect the baby. As a mom of 2 under 2, I understand.
A few examples of such nuances:
50% of pregnancies in the US are unplanned. However, fetal organs such as neural tube and the heart are formed by 2-5 weeks and 2-8 weeks after conception, respectively, when most people are unaware that they’re pregnant. This means avoiding medications that may interfere with fetal organ formation is imperative for women of reproductive age, especially during preconception planning.
Pregnancy lowers or increases the serum level of some medications. For instance, lithium requires a dose reduction 24-48 hours prior to delivery to lower the chance of infant toxicity.
WHY SEE A SPORTS PSYCHIATRIST?
My additional training offers an in-depth understanding of the nuances when diagnosing, treating or prescribing medications for athletes. You may be reluctant to take medication that can impair your athletic performance or is classified as a “performance enhancer” and is prohibited in your sport. As a former student athlete, I understand.
A few examples of such nuances:
Propranolol is a common medication for performance anxiety. However, it can also lessen tremors and improve fine motor control, and therefore is prohibited at all times in archery and shooting, and in competitions for golf, automobile, billiards, darts, and some skiing, snowboarding, or underwater sports.
Most bipolar medications may cause weight gain, tremors or sedation that can undoubtedly impair athletic performance. Thus, lamotrigine, which is less likely to produce these side effects, is preferred for athletes.
WHAT SETS ME APART?
My additional Masters in Psychopharmacology and Applied Psychology add even more insight on all things medication and human behavior.
Every patient is different, and my recommendations are always made on a case-by-case analysis. If together we determine that medication is beneficial, I'll walk you through different options, thoroughly explain their risks, benefits, alternatives and potential side effects, so you can be fully informed and content with your next steps.