When should I seek a mental health professional? 

There are various situations when such a consultation is warranted e.g. if you notice obvious symptoms of mental health issues such as extreme sad mood or debilitating anxiety. Sometimes you may not realize it yourself but your loved ones may show concern about your mental health. Or your primary care physician may suggest reaching out to a psychiatrist. In all such cases, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional for your own wellbeing. It is safe to say that any change in your behavior that may be negatively impacting your relationships, family life and job performance are immediate indicators for seeking help.  

 
 

Do you accept my health insurance? 

I am out-of-network for all health insurances, and thus I do not accept insurances. All payments are collected on the day of the service. Prices are discussed before the care is rendered. I will provide you with an invoice which can be submitted by you to your insurance company for reimbursement.  

 
 

Will you be able to tell me upfront about my treatment plan and how many sessions I will need? 

Since every case is different, I will work with you to formulate a customized treatment plan in our first session.  

 
 

I have a therapist; can I still see you? 

Absolutely; many times, patients need medications for a few months during difficult phases and I will be happy to work with your existing therapist or life coach. You will actually be encouraged to keep your psychotherapy ongoing while we work together.  

 
 

Will you recommend me a therapist if needed? 

I provide both medication management and therapy in my practice. However, if for scheduling or financial reasons you cannot see me for your therapy on a more frequent basis, I will encourage you to see a therapist outside my practice. Since I am not affiliated with other therapists, I will suggest that you find them on the internet or through your health insurance network.  

 
 
How do I know if you are the right doctor for me? 

I provide a free, 15-minute phone consultation for all new patients.  If we mutually agree to continue, we can set up a face to face meeting at my office.  

 
 

What should I expect on my first office visit? 

We request that before you arrive, please take time to review and sign the forms which I will email to you. 

The initial patient evaluation form even though may look extremely detailed and time consuming, will help us optimize our time in-person.  Coupled with the information provided by you in the evaluation form, I will go over your detailed history and mental health conditions in the first visit. Occasionally, if one hour is not enough, I will request additional half hour session at no extra cost to finish the necessary assessment. Thorough history is critical to formulate a comprehensive treatment plan. Also during this session, you can make a final decision of whether my practice is the right fit for you or not.  

 
 

I am afraid of medications. Do you prescribe medication to all patients? 

No.  

I believe that not all behavioral health conditions require medications. Often times, therapy or other non-medication treatments are more helpful to holistically treat a mental health condition. Depending upon each case, I will formulate an optimal treatment plan. If medications are involved, I will discuss the risks and benefits of psychopharmacological agents in such situations.  

 
I don't think therapy is for me; can you just give me medications to fix my problems fast? 

Most conditions related to behavioral health need more than just medications. Best recovery is achieved through the right balance of lifestyle modification. This involves coupling medications with supportive therapy, a holistic nutritional plan, physical exercise and recreation and fulfilling relationships. I always try to combine at least some kind of supportive therapy in my sessions.   
 
 

I think my problem is my partner, can you see us both? 

I do not do couples therapy. If you both are invested in your relationship, I will recommend that you seek a couple's therapist. Most times our current relations with others are predicated through our past experiences. In those cases, I will recommend that you also work with your own therapist while you are working through your couple's therapy sessions. Occasionally my patients bring their spouses, parents or children (over 16) into one of their sessions when they feel ready. But by no means it can replace couple’s therapy.