Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there so many different mental health providers?

Because mental health care is a team sport.

Different professionals bring different strengths — and that’s a good thing. The challenge is that their training, roles, and scope of practice are very different, even though the titles can sound similar.

It’s a bit like going to a hospital and assuming everyone in scrubs went to medical school. Helpful people everywhere — different training levels.

What makes this practice different?

We offer:

Small caseload, longer, more in-depth sessions
Direct access, you always see me, a Board Certified Psychiatrist.
Appointments when you need them. We offer mornings, evenings, weekend. Because mental health doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m, your time is valuable, your comfort matters, and your mental health shouldn’t be a maze

You pay only when you need care—with no compromise in quality.

Who is this service for?

We specialize in:

Adolescents struggling with substance use, mental health, or both
High-functioning professionals dealing with burnout, addiction, or emotional overload
Families who want thoughtful, experienced psychiatric care — not a rushed 10-minute med check

What types of addiction do you treat?

We help with:

Alcohol
Cannabis
Prescription medications (stimulants, benzodiazepines, opioids)
Behavioral addictions (gaming, pornography, compulsive behaviors)

If it’s complicated, that’s okay — that’s what we’re here for.

Can mental health issues cause addiction?

Often, yes.
Anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and depression can all increase the risk of substance use. Treating the root problem makes recovery much more sustainable.

Can teens really develop addiction this young?

Yes — and earlier use increases long-term risk.
The teen brain is still developing. Early intervention can change the entire trajectory.

Do you offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?

Yes — when appropriate.
We use evidence-based options like buprenorphine, naltrexone, and others, always paired with therapy, coaching, or recovery support when helpful. Medication alone isn’t the whole answer — we treat the whole person.

Can I contact my psychiatrist between sessions?

Yes. We offer secure messaging and brief check-ins when appropriate—especially for:

Medication questions
Side effect concerns
Emotional check-ins between full sessions

You’re never left in the dark. Well, not for midnight existential crises, but for almost everything else, we’ve got you..

Do you work with therapists, schools, or primary care doctors?

Absolutely.
We believe great care happens when everyone is aligned. With your permission, we collaborate with therapists, pediatricians, primary care doctors, and treatment programs to create a coordinated plan.

Can my teen be seen privately without their school or insurance knowing?

Yes.
Because we’re self-pay, visits are not billed to insurance. We also take privacy seriously and explain confidentiality clearly to both parents and teens.

What does the first appointment include?

Your first visit is a comprehensive evaluation that looks at:

Mental health
Substance use
Stress, sleep, focus, mood
Family, school, or work context
Strengths (not just problems)
You’ll leave with a clear diagnosis, plan, and next steps.

Will you prescribe medications right away?

Sometimes — if appropriate.
But we don’t rush prescriptions. We focus on getting the diagnosis right first, discussing options, and building a plan that actually fits your life.

How often are follow-ups?

It depends on your needs.
Some people come monthly at first, then space visits out. Others prefer quarterly check-ins. We design the cadence around what actually helps — not what insurance demands.

Is this only for “severe addiction”?

Not at all.
Many people come early — when they notice something feels off, habits are creeping in, or stress is turning into unhealthy coping. Early support prevents bigger problems later.

Does addiction always require rehab or inpatient treatment?

Not always.
Some people do well with outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, therapy, and accountability. Others benefit from higher levels of care. We help match the level of support to the actual need.

Can you provide a second opinion?

Yes — and many families come to us specifically for that.
We offer one-time comprehensive consults with a full diagnostic review and treatment plan you can take back to your current providers if you choose.

How do I know if it’s ADHD or just stress, anxiety, or burnout?

Great question — they can look similar.
ADHD is lifelong and shows up across settings. Stress and anxiety can mimic ADHD. A careful evaluation helps avoid misdiagnosis.

Why cash-pay? Isn’t insurance supposed to help?

In theory, yes. In reality, insurance promises “access,”until it’s time to actually cover something. Suddenly it’s all, “Hmm, let me think about it,” and boom — denial letter.

Besides, we intentionally operate outside insurance systems so we can:

spend more time per visit
provide comprehensive evaluations
avoid rushed decision-making
prioritize quality over volume

Real privacy (no middlemen poking into your chart)
No surprise denials
No “who is this claim adjuster and why are they deciding your treatment?”
Ability to use HSA/FSA
No giant deductibles or copays that cost more than our cash rate

It’s concierge-level service without the concierge price tag — because we keep our patient panel intentionally small.

Do you offer in-person or telepsychiatry?

Both!

In-person if you want a cozy office, solid eye contact, and complimentary tissues that don’t feel like sandpaper.
Telepsychiatry if you prefer therapy while wearing pajama pants or hiding from Oklahoma weather. You can meet from your home, office, car (parked!), or that cozy corner you pretend is a retreat. You stay in your comfort zone, reduce stigma, boost continuity of care, and never need to explain another “tardy slip.” And your psychiatrist can see your face in HD

Either way, the care is the same—just the pants vary.

Do I have to see you?

Not at all. But we encourage patients to consider

Those that are transparent about credentials
Practicing within their training
Thoughtful in diagnosis
Careful with medication
Committed to ongoing education

Your brain is not a trial-and-error experiment. It deserves informed, careful, and respectful care.

Mental health care isn’t about choosing the “nicest title” — it’s about choosing the right level of care for your needs.

When it comes to your mind, your education, your career, and your future…

Thoughtful care is an investment — not a luxury.

Do I need a psychiatrist for everything?

Not necessarily.

For mild concerns, coaching, therapy, or supportive care may be enough.

Many Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are compassionate, dedicated, and helpful — particularly for:

mild conditions
stable follow-ups
supportive care

The difference is training depth. Psychiatry becomes complicated quickly.

Symptoms can become very

complex
long-standing
unclear
affecting school, work, or relationships
not improving as expected

That’s when deeper medical training can make a meaningful difference. — something that only medical training provides

Can anxiety or depression look different in teens than adults?

Yes — very different.
In teens, anxiety and depression often show up as irritability, withdrawal, declining grades, substance use, or “not caring.” It’s not always sadness.

Why does misdiagnosis matter so much?

Because mental health diagnoses influence real-life outcomes:

school performance
accommodations
medication exposure
career decisions
self-identity

When the diagnosis is off, patients often blame themselves rather than realizing the treatment plan never quite fit.

In psychiatry, problems don’t always look dramatic — they look like “why isn’t this helping?”

What about therapists and psychologists?

They are essential members of mental health care.

Psychologists (PhD/PsyD) specialize in therapy and psychological testing
LCSW, LPC, LMFT provide therapy and emotional support
Life coaches focus on motivation and goals (not clinical diagnosis)

Therapy is incredibly powerful — especially when the diagnosis is already clear.

Think of therapy as strengthening the system, while psychiatry focuses on correctly identifying and stabilizing it.

What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and other providers?

A psychiatrist (MD or DO) is a medical doctor who completes:

4 years of medical school
4 years of psychiatry residency
2 additional years for child & adolescent psychiatry
Ongoing board certification and continuing education

That’s 10–12 years of post-college medical training, focused entirely on the brain, behavior, development, and medication safety.

Psychiatrists are trained to manage diagnostic uncertainty — not just symptoms.

Experience teaches caution.

The more cases you’ve seen, the more you realize:

symptoms evolve
diagnoses unfold
certainty takes time

In medicine, confidence grows — but so does humility.

How do I know if my substance use is a problem or “normal stress coping”?

A simple check:
If it’s affecting relationships, work/school, mood, sleep, motivation, or your ability to stop — it’s worth getting checked out. You don’t have to “hit rock bottom” to ask for help.

Isn’t all mental health treatment basically the same?

If only.

Many psychiatric conditions look alike early on:

ADHD vs anxiety
trauma vs mood disorders
depression vs bipolar spectrum
substance use vs self-medication
medical conditions mimicking psychiatric symptoms

Same symptoms. Very different treatments.

That’s where depth of training becomes important.

Can one visit actually help?

Surprisingly often, yes.

A single, thoughtful consultation can provide reassurance, direction, and a plan—sometimes preventing years of “Why isn’t this working?”

Have More Questions?

We’re here to help.
Reach out anytime—we provide private psychiatry, telepsychiatry, adolescent addiction treatment, professional burnout support, medication-assisted treatment, second opinions, and personalized mental health care without insurance restrictions.