Frequently Asked Questions
everything you wanted to know about seeking mental healthcare
How much do services cost?
Do you accept insurance?
How often do I need to be seen?
I provide a generous sliding scale based on income to make services available for all people. Full self-pay rates are $300 for an initial evaluation and $150 for follow-up appointments.
I am currently an in-network provider with Aetna, Cigna, Optum, Connecticare, United Healthcare, UMR, Harvard Pilgrim, Oxford, Oscar, and Compass Plan. I do NOT take Anthem/BCBS, Medicare, or HUSKY. If I am not in your network, I provide a superbill that you can submit for reimbursement from your insurance company.
We will decide together how often to meet. At times of increased need or complex medication changes, we may choose to check in weekly. When things are stable, I see patients at least once every three months, more often if you prefer. Most patients choose to be seen monthly.
What happens during a psychiatric evaluation?
During an initial evaluation, your provider will gather information about your current symptoms, your mental health history, your physical health history, your family and social relationships, your interests and passions - anything that will help to get to know you as a whole person. Sometimes this may take more than one session to complete. The psychiatric evaluation will typically end with recommendations for treatment, which may or may not include medications. At this time, you may also request to discuss possible diagnoses, though at our practice we do not focus on diagnosis as a key component of treatment.
What is the difference between therapy and a psychiatric appointment?
While much of the same information may be assessed during a therapy intake and a psychiatry intake, the goals will be different. Therapists may use different models to help you develop insight into your problems and their origins and develop strategies to progress toward your personal goals. In a psychiatry appointment, we will be focused on tools that are more focused on the body and the brain, and that are complementary to your therapy. This may include medication, nutritional and sleep counseling, and alternative treatments. In our practice, we never provide "just" medication management - every session is intended to be therapeutic, and we will always want the full picture of what's going on in your life, not just a medication update.
What's the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychiatric APRN?
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed advanced-level graduate training. This is why they are also known as psychiatric APRNs, or “advanced practice registered nurses.” In practice, psych APRNs and psychiatrists provide many of the same services, such as conducting psychiatric evaluations, completing physical exams, diagnosing mental health conditions, ordering lab work or imaging, prescribing medications, or providing therapy. Differences between APRNs and psychiatrists include training and approach to care. APRNs and psychiatrists both complete Bachelor’s degrees in a related field, advanced professional degrees (MSN or doctoral degree for APRNs; MDs for psychiatrists), and thousands of hours of clinical training. In addition, MDs complete residencies and may go on to specialized fellowships. In the state of CT, APRNs are fully independent practitioners after completing training and must maintain board certification in their specialty by completing extensive continuing education and clinical practice. Just as there are many different types of therapists, including marriage and family therapists (MFTs), license professional counselors (LPCs), social workers (LCSWs) or psychologists (Ph.D. or Psy.D), who all bring different approaches to their work, APRNs and MDs have different frameworks for providing care, and every individual provider is different. APRN training is rooted in the nursing model of care, which is focused on being patient-centered, holistic, strengths-based, and collaborative.