Phone: (720) 730-6670 Fax: (928) 358-4532
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I get services paid for by insurance?
A: I am considered an out of network provider and do not accept any commercial insurance. If you find me listed through your insurance carrier it is because I've worked for agencies in the past where insurance was accepted. I can provide you with a superbill and you may seek reimbursement from your insurance company, as typically a portion is covered by most insurance policies. I recommend calling your insurance carrier prior to your visit to see if mental health services are covered. You may also use an HSA account for payment.
Q: Where is your office located?
A: My office has recently moved to Castle Rock, near the "rock" off the Wilcox exit. It is still easily accessible from most parts of Denver and the Colorado Springs area. Out of respect for privacy of my patients, once we have agreed on an appointment time I will give you the exact location and directions to the office suite. I am still seeing patients virtually from all over the state. You may need to come once or twice to the office for an in-person visit during the time we work together.
Q: Is your practice a good fit for everyone?
A: Not necessarily... But it could be a great fit for you! Information gathered ahead of time will help me determine if I can provide the services you are looking for. If not I will gladly provide you with recommendations or referrals to others who may better address your needs. I cannot take Medicare. Legal evaluations and disability evaluations are outside the scope of this practice.
Q: Do you offer telemedicine?
A: I am able to offer telemedicine services statewide in Colorado. There are certain limitations to this service including, but not limited to, inability to perform a complete physical exam and restrictions on the prescribing of controlled/scheduled prescriptions without an initial in-person visit. I require that patients being seen for telemedicine visits have a Primary Care Physician and a release on file for me to communicate with this person as needed.
Q: I have a therapist already. What is the difference between seeing you and seeing my therapist?
A: If you have a therapist you are already happily working with I fully support you continuing with this person; often therapists and psychiatrists work together on behalf of their patients with the best results. Some people find that they prefer doing both psychotherapy and medication in one visit, and this is an option when seeing a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health disorders, and is able to diagnose, prescribe and adjust medications, order labs or other studies, and offer psychotherapy. Typically, a therapist (who may be a psychologist or counselor) holds either a Masters Degree or Ph.D (or Psy.D) and does various types of psychotherapy, and does not practice medicine.
Q: Why should I see a board certified psychiatrist?
A: People have many options when it comes to choosing health care providers. I'm often asked why someone would see a psychiatrist instead of a Nurse Practitioner or PA in a mental health clinic. Psychiatrists are required to obtain a four year MD or DO degree after college, and are then required to do a 3 - 4 year residency to specialize in mental disorders. Our standard training includes family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology in addition to hospital and outpatient-based psychiatry. A child and adolescent fellowship is an additional two years of training in child development, school-based care, pediatrics, child psychopharmacology, family and group therapy, and management of hospitalized patients. Over time, psychiatrists receive on average 15,000 hours of direct medical training and supervision in the field before practicing independently. This far surpasses the training of other pathways and provides us with an unparalleled level of expertise towards the management of complex mental health conditions and the ability to offer the highest standard of care.
Q: Do you offer neuropsychological testing? Does my child need neuropsychological or educational testing to get diagnosed?
A: Though some psychiatrists go on to obtain additional training in psychological testing, this is not a standard part of psychiatric training and my practice does not do formal testing. (A psychiatrist is qualified to make diagnoses, including ADHD and ASD, based on clinical assessment.) Many children experiencing attention or behavioral problems are referred right away for neuropsychological testing with the assumption that this will provide conclusive diagnostic answers. While neuropsychiatric testing will diagnose learning disorders and can highlight cognitive or developmental strengths and weaknesses, there is no one test for any mental health condition. I advise parents who begin to have concerns about their child's development or behavior to reach out to their pediatrician first. A pediatrician can manage many common behavioral and mental health disorders, and can refer to psychiatry for further assistance. From there, your child's pediatrician or psychiatrist can help determine if neuropsychological testing would be helpful or necessary to clarify or support an existing diagnosis.