Contact – Online Psychiatrists

Yes. If you are currently in treatment with a psychotherapist or primary care physician, I will have you complete an Authorization to Release Information form since this will allow me to contact your therapist or physician to provide him or her with feedback about our appointment and to discuss a shared treatment plan as needed. I stay in regular communication with collaborating providers.

I always encourage you to call or email me with questions about your medication. I do my best to return all calls and emails the day they are received unless you call after business hours. I feel that time spent on the phone or by email can be essential for good treatment and I do not routinely charge for this time. However, if I see that we are spending extended periods of time outside of the session, I will discuss with you the need to charge for that time as if it were an office visit. Please be aware that email is not a secure method of communication and let me know if you do not want me to communicate clinical information with you via email.

If I am prescribing medication for you, I ask that you keep track of your medication supply so that you can call for a refill at least a few days before you will run out. It is helpful to me if you always call your pharmacy for a refill rather than contacting me directly as this enables the pharmacy to have your records prepared when they call me. This applies even if your bottle indicates that there are no additional refills available.

I work with patients who experience a wide variety of psychiatric disorders, impairments, and challenges. In particular, I treat patients with anxiety disorders (such as generalized anxiety, OCD, post-traumatic stress, panic attacks, and phobias), mood disorders (such as depression and bipolar disorder), eating disorders, substance abuse, ADHD, autism, and behavioral disorders. Additionally, I treat patients who present with psychiatric problems due to medical conditions.

Every treatment plan is collaborative and geared toward the specific needs and goals of the patient, who is included in the decision-making process from the outset. In certain disorders, where it has been proven that medication is highly effective, it will most likely be recommended. But each plan is multifaceted, incorporating non-medical interventions, such as psychotherapy, education, coping strategies, and methods of self-care.

Physician psychiatrists are psychopharmacologists when they have extensive understanding and experience in psychiatric medication use, interactions and effects. They advance their knowledge of psychopharmacology through formal and informal continuing education. It is key to remain aware of the latest drugs used to treat mental disorders and psychological illnesses including depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Lately, psychopharmacologists are able to order genetic tests that can see if an individual tends to metabolize specific medications too slowly or too quickly. This helps guide us about what are the doses and types of medications patients are more likely to respond to, and tolerate.

Tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, benzodiazepines, and other antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs can sometimes have serious side effects so monitoring by a mental health professional is important.

While Online Psychiatrist, PC does not accept insurance, patients are provided with a bill to submit for reimbursement from their insurance providers, should they wish to do so. We recommend contacting one’s insurance company to review out-of-network coverage if this is an important consideration.