Frequently Asked Questions

How are visits conducted?

For Arizona patients, visits can occur virtually or in person and for Washington patients all visits will happen remotely using both video and audio via my secure Zoom platform.

Do you see patients in-person?

Yes, for patients located in the Tucson, Arizona area.

Does telepsychiatry work?

Yes. Both prior research and the pandemic suggest no degradation in effectiveness when comparing remote and in-person care. For many years I have worked as a coach with clients from all over the country exclusively using Zoom–I’ve found it to be just as powerful as in-person work.

What's the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist, LICSW, therapist, or counselor?

All of these mental health professionals talk to people and can help them solve their problems. The difference is their education and training background. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have the ability to prescribe medications in addition to providing psychotherapy.

Do you take insurance?

No. I am not an in-network provider with any insurance plan. There are many benefits of this arrangement.

I can spend more time with my patients.
Treatment decisions are made entirely by myself and my patient, not by insurance companies or managed care organizations.

Many insurance policies provide ‘out of network benefits’ that reimburse our services to varying degrees. I can help facilitate your efforts to claim traditional insurance benefits by providing you a receipt that you can then submit to your insurance company.

What should I ask my insurance company to determine out-of-network reimbursement?

How do I submit a claim for out-of-network reimbursement?
How much is my "out-of-network deductible"?
After I meet my deductible, how much will I be reimbursed (expressed as an exact dollar amount, not as a percentage of the "allowed amount") for an initial diagnostic evaluation (billing code 90792 with modifier 95) and follow-up psychotherapy session (billing codes 99213 + 90836 with modifier 95)?

What shall I do in case of an emergency?

Please note that as a solo provider I do not provide weekend or after-hours access. If you feel you may need this level of access to your psychiatrist, I would recommend establishing care with a psychiatric provider who is reachable 24/7. After all, it’s crucial you find a psychiatrist who is a great fit for you! In the event of an emergency, please contact 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department. You may also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

What if I already have a therapist?

I’ll be happy to consult with you to determine whether medication and lifestyle interventions would be helpful, and to collaborate with your therapist in order to provide you the best care possible. In advance of meeting with me, I’d recommend asking your therapist or primary care physician if they believe referral to a psychiatrist is indicated.

What if I don’t want therapy at all?

I like to meet people where they are. Some of my patients do not wish to engage in psychotherapy. I’m happy to treat you IF I feel that medication and lifestyle recommendations may substantially improve your problem.

Do you prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine?

There are currently federal laws in place that limit the prescribing of controlled substances to patients I have not seen in person.

There are currently exceptions to that policy currently in place and I am able to provide such prescriptions in some cases. However, I cannot guarantee what the DEA’s final ruling will be on controlled substance prescribing via telemedicine so all such prescriptions would be for a time-limited basis.

If you have a primary care doctor who would like a dose recommendation for a controlled substance such as stimulants for ADHD, I am happy to provide consultation and recommendations. If having a prescription for a controlled substance is essential for your treatment, I recommend that you work with a different practice.

How frequently will we meet?

Frequency depends on the issues we are treating and whether I am serving as your primary psychotherapist. Each case is different, but here’s a rough approximation.

Therapy patients:

The duration of therapy is highly variable and depends on the nature of the issues we're addressing. Plan on meeting weekly for anywhere from at least 4-6 months, and depending on the issues we’re working on we may decide to continue with longer-term work.

Medication and lifestyle interventions:

We will initially meet every 2-3 weeks until your issues have significantly improved, then once monthly, and in most cases ultimately graduate to meeting every 2-3 months.

Coaching-based therapy:

We will usually meet 2-3 times monthly for 6-12 months, depending on your specific objectives.

What is your cancellation policy?

Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you; therefore you have effectively contracted for that time. As such, if you do not cancel your appointment at least 48 hours in advance (so I can try to fit another patient into that time), you will be charged the full appointment fee. In the case of initial consultations, you will be charged $250.