Frequently Asked Questions

I have been a board certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the state of Arizona since graduating from ASU with my Doctorate in Nursing Practice in 2016. I worked as an RN in acute care and psychiatric hospitals since 2016, including working as a Nursing Supervisor/Admin Rep of a Level I Trauma Center in the years before I became a Psychiatric NP. I have cared for patients ages 6 years and up with a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses over the past five years. 

I enjoy helping my clients find an accurate mental health diagnosis, identifying the root causes, and exploring treatments to improve their quality of life.  I particularly enjoy forming a strong therapeutic relationship with my patients, helping them through the challenges and transitions in their lives.

All appointments are conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant, convenient telehealth platform on Kareo. Clients may quickly and conveniently schedule their appointment online. After scheduling, they will be emailed and/or texted a confirmation, emailed their initial onboarding documents for completion, reminders of their upcoming appointment, and a link for their appointment. The process is quite easy, even for those who are not tech savvy. Clients may use a smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer for their appointments, and with one click of a link, they will be face to face with me for their appointment. 

I do not take insurance but do accept Flex Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) cards, as well as all debit and credit cards. I can print a Superbill for clients who wish to submit their claim to their insurance company for possible reimbursement. Payment for services is due at the time of the appointment. Clients may provide their credit card information at the end of their appointment, which will be charged through a secure transaction with Stripe on Kareo. Clients may choose to save their payment information in Kareo for future appointments, or they may provide their information at each appointment.

All prescriptions are sent electronically directly to the pharmacy of the client’s choice. Clients may use their insurance to pay for prescriptions at the pharmacy. All efforts will be made to ensure that any medications prescribed are affordable. I am willing to choose medications from insurance formularies, and happy to look up prices for medications at local pharmacies via GoodRX for clients who pay out of pocket. While I can prescribe controlled substances to appropriately treat mental health symptoms, please be aware that federal and state laws require one in-person meeting prior to prescribing controlled substances electronically via telehealth. Arrangements can be made if a controlled substance is required to treat symptoms appropriately. 

While I understand that life happens on occasion, I do expect those who schedule an appointment to be on time, and to treat our appointments in the same way they would any office appointment – focused and able to participate honestly and without excessive interruptions. I also know that life does occasionally bring unexpected events, and while I do not charge a no show fee or late fee, I do plan on starting on time and will not inconvenience other clients by taking extra time due to late starts. If more than one no show occurs, I reserve the right to collect payment upon scheduling. 

 Confidentiality is a cornerstone of mental health treatment and is protected by law. Aside from emergency situations, information can only be released about your care with your written permission (or written permission from your legal guardian(s) for those under 18). If insurance reimbursement for prescription medication is pursued, insurance companies often require information about diagnosis, treatment, and other important information as a condition of your coverage. Additionally, several other exceptions to confidentiality exist that require disclosure by law: (1) danger to self – if there is threat to harm yourself, we are required to seek hospitalization for you, or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection; (2) danger to others – if there is threat of serious bodily harm to others, we are required to take protective actions, which may include notifying the potential victim, police, or seeking appropriate hospitalization; (3) grave disability – if due to mental illness, you are unable to meet your basic needs, such as food, clothing, and/or shelter, we may have to disclose information in order to access services to provide for your basic needs; (4) suspicion of child, elder, or dependent abuse – if there is a suspicion or report of abuse to a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person, even if it is about a party other than yourself, we must file a report with the appropriate state agency; (5) certain judicial proceedings – if you are involved in judicial proceedings, you have the right to prevent us from providing any information about your treatment but, in some circumstances, a judge may require testimony through a court order. We also reserve the right to consult with other professionals, whether within our practice or with an outside provider that may have a specialized knowledge in a certain area. In these circumstances, your identity will not be revealed, and only necessary clinical information will be discussed. Please note that such consultants are also legally bound to keep this information confidential.