“Telemedicine in psychiatry, using video conferencing, is a validated and effective practice of medicine that increases access to care.” (American Psychiatric Association, 2018). Through telepsychiatry you will be able to have a face to face visit with your provider from your home. Prior to your appointment, a link will be provided which will take you to our "virtual waiting room". At the time of your appointment. you will be connected with your provider. You will then proceed with your appointment as you would any other psychiatry appointment.

I am not contracted with any insurance companies. This means I am an "out-of-network" provider and will not bill any insurance companies directly. This ensures your private information is kept priviledged and prevents your insurance company from dictating your course of treatment.

We encourage clients to contact their insurance company to check what their out of network benefits are prior to your appointment. In order to request reimbursement from your insurance company, you will need to provide a bill from your appointment. To access this bill, sign into your Luminello portal and click the "Billing" section. From there you can click, "Create Statement" which will provide you with a statement to submit to your insurance company.

Please allow 24 hours to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Appointments cancelled less than 24 hours before the appointment time will be assessed a $50 cancellation fee. I If you do not call to cancel or reschedule, you will be charged a $100 no-show fee.

Prescriptions will be written with enough medication to last until your next appointment. Please be sure that you have a follow-up appointment scheduled before your medication runs out. In the unlikely event that you will run out of medication before your scheduled follow-up, please email us to set-up your next appointment and enough medication will be provided to last you until that time.

Clients living outside of Maryland or DC will need to be seen in-person for their appointments at our Bethesda office. State laws require that the provider is licensed in the state where the client is for the appointment. At this time, our provider is only licensed in Washington, DC and Maryland.

Most patients can be seen for all appointments through telepsychiatry. However, if your treatment may include controlled substances, you will need to have your initial appointment in-person. Controlled substances are medications that need to be closely monitored by prescribers (stimulants or benzodiazepines). If you are unsure about whether or not you would need a controlled substance, we encourage you to schedule your initial appointment in person.

Normally, yes! We'd love to see you in our Bethesda office for initial and follow-up appointments if that is your preference. However, due to the pandemic we are currently only accepting clients through telehealth.

We ask that telepsychiatry patients take their weight before each appointment to be tracked by your provider. Though scales will differ, if you use the same scale before each appointment, we will be able to get a baseline and then track any changes. For patients on medications which may alter your blood pressure, we will require you find a way to get your blood pressure taken regularly. We recommend purchasing a low-cost blood pressure cuff to keep at your home. We recommend this cuff for ease of use and value: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PWYGRVG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health and have completed medical school, residency training in psychiatry, and often further training in subspecialties within psychiatry. They are licensed to prescribe medication, and their practice may include psychotherapy, but it is not a requirement. Psychiatrists often work in hospitals, clinics, private practice, or academia. PMHNPs, on the other hand, are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who specialize in psychiatric and mental health care. They have completed a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, as well as clinical training in psychiatric and mental health nursing. PMHNPs are licensed to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, prescribe medication, and provide psychotherapy and counseling services. They may also work in hospitals, clinics, private practice, or community mental health centers. One of the nursing positive distinctions of PMHNPs is their holistic approach to mental health care. They view mental health as an integral part of overall health and wellness, and they prioritize patient-centered care that considers the patient's physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. PMHNPs also have a strong focus on patient education, promoting self-care and healthy lifestyles, and advocating for the rights and needs of individuals with mental health disorders.