Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Psychiatry Work?
Here are the questions I hear most often from people who are thinking about reaching out. If you don’t see yours here, the free 15-minute consultation is a great place to ask..
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Getting Started
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Fees and Insurance
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During Treatment
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Psychiatry & Care Questions
Getting Started
What does treatment look like?
The first appointment is 60 to 75 minutes. We’ll talk through your psychiatric history, your current situation, and what you’re hoping for.
If therapy is part of the plan, we’ll meet on a schedule that makes sense for where you are and what you need. If medication is part of the plan, follow-up appointments happen every two to four weeks depending on where things stand and whether we’re adjusting doses. The pace is ours to set together.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes, I’m currently accepting new patients. Availability is limited, so scheduling a free 15-minute consultation is the best way to check timing and see if we’re a good fit.
What age groups do you see?
I work with adults ages 18 to 65. I don’t treat children or adolescents.
Do I have to live in a specific area to work with you?
Not necessarily! I see patients in person at my office in Beacon, NY, and via telehealth for anyone in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.
Do you offer telehealth appointments?
Yes. Telehealth appointments are available for patients anywhere in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. All telehealth sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal.
What conditions do you treat?
I treat depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, ADHD, psychosis, and bipolar disorder. I also have specialized expertise in deprescribing for people who want to safely reduce or stop psychiatric medications.
Fees and Insurance
What are your fees?
The initial consultation is $500 for 75 minutes. Follow-up medication management appointments are $300 for 30 minutes. Weekly therapy sessions are $300 for 50 minutes. I offer a sliding scale on a case-by-case basis, which we can talk through during the free 15-minute call.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. I’m in-network with Aetna, Oscar, UMR (Mount Sinai employees only), Northwell Direct, Anthem BCBS, and Horizon BCBS of NJ. For all other plans, I’ll provide a superbill so you can seek reimbursement from your insurer directly.
A few things to know if you’re planning to use insurance:
- Please upload the front and back of your insurance card before your first appointment.
- If a spouse or parent is the policyholder, I’ll also need their name and date of birth.
- For Aetna, Aetna Medicare, Northwell Direct, Oscar, and UMR (Mount Sinai employees only): please call your insurance to confirm I’m in-network before your appointment.
- For Anthem BCBS and Horizon BCBS of NJ: you’ll receive an email to set up a Headway account. Headway handles billing on your behalf.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
Yes, on a case-by-case basis. This is best discussed during the free 15-minute consultation so I can understand your situation directly.
During Treatment
How do I reach you between appointments?
Once we’ve had our first appointment and established a treatment relationship, the best way to reach me is through the secure messaging portal inside SimplePractice. This keeps your communication private and on the record.
What's your cancellation policy?
Please cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your appointment. Late cancellations or no-shows may be subject to a $100 cancellation fee. If something comes up, reach out through the patient portal as soon as you can.
Do you prescribe controlled substances, including stimulants?
I do – stimulants and other controlled medications can be genuinely effective treatments and an important part of psychiatric care for some people. When they’re the right clinical fit, I prescribe them. My approach is thorough rather than reflexive. That means a proper evaluation first, clear conversation about what we’re doing and why, and consistent monitoring as we go.
How do therapy and medication work together?
They can be combined or kept separate, depending on what works best for you. I’m comfortable providing both medication management and therapy, or working alongside another therapist you already see. The goal is a coherent plan, not a fragmented one.
Psychiatry and Care Questions
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a therapist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. A therapist, such as a licensed clinical social worker or psychologist, provides talk therapy but cannot prescribe. Some psychiatrists, including me, offer both medication management and therapy within the same practice.
What is a psychiatric evaluation?
A psychiatric evaluation is a thorough clinical interview, typically 60 to 75 minutes, in which a psychiatrist gathers information about your mental health history, current symptoms, medical background, medications, and life circumstances. The goal is to understand the full picture before making any treatment recommendations.
What is psychopharmacology?
Psychopharmacology is the study and clinical practice of using medications to treat mental health conditions. It involves understanding how psychiatric medications work in the brain, how the body processes them, and how factors like age, medical conditions, and lifestyle can affect how a medication works for a particular person.
What is deprescribing in psychiatry?
Deprescribing is the careful, supervised process of reducing or stopping psychiatric medications when they’re no longer needed or when their risks outweigh their benefits. It’s done collaboratively, with a detailed plan and close monitoring. I’m the co-author of the first book on psychiatric deprescribing, published by Oxford University Press.
How do I find a psychiatrist in the Hudson Valley?
Beacon Psychiatry serves patients in Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Kingston, Cold Spring, Rhinebeck, Woodstock, Middletown, Peekskill, Tarrytown, New Paltz, Catskill, Hudson, and surrounding communities in Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster Counties. Telehealth appointments are available for patients across New York State.. To get started, schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
Do I need a referral to see a psychiatrist?
It really depends on your insurance plan. If you have a PPO plan, you typically don’t need a referral and can book directly. If you have an HMO plan, your insurance may require a referral from your primary care provider before they’ll cover the visit. Either way, the best first step is to schedule a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk through your situation and figure out next steps together.
What should I expect at my first psychiatry appointment?
Your first appointment is 60 to 75 minutes. We’ll talk through your psychiatric history, current symptoms, medications, and what you’re hoping to get out of care. The goal of that first session is to understand your situation, not to walk out with a prescription. Any recommendations come after a thorough conversation.
Not Sure Yet?
That’s Completely Fine.
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so you can ask your questions and see if this feels like the right fit. No commitment, no pressure.