Autism diagnostic evals are available for adults and children. For patients that have already had a general initial evaluation with me, autism evals take an additional 2 hours in a separate appointment (fee is $770).

Please note: Though I can make the diagnosis of autism in children, if you are seeking school support for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Special Education (SPED), I recommend completing testing through a psychologist, as schools often require this.  Even after private psychologist testing, school districts MAY require an additional evaluation by their school district psychologist to qualify for services. 

Please check with your individual school district to understand their required process.  I recommend you also go to the website Autism Speaks and download their school community "tool kit" and their resource guide.

ADHD evaluation is available for adults and children. For patients that have already had a general initial evaluation with me, adhd evals take an additional 2 hours in a separate appointment (fee is $770).

Medication is most effective when used in combination with other wellness strategies, such as lifestyle changes and talk therapy. Medication management complements psychotherapy by helping you to:

• Stabilize your emotions and mood

• Achieve a receptive state to do “the work” in therapy.

• Find relief from intense symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other conditions.

• Address sleep disturbances, chemical imbalances, or other symptoms that are difficult to treat by therapy alone.

• Make lifestyle changes to improve your physical and mental health.

I do not provide psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” but I also do much more than just write prescriptions for medication. We know that mood is more than a lack of a specific neurotransmitter in your brain. Your physical health impacts your mental health and vice versa. We will work together to ensure the “whole person” is addressed. This may include:

• Review of recent lab work and ordering of labs/radiological studies, as indicated.

• Referrals for specialists (sleep studies, neurologists, occupational/speech therapy) if indicated.

• Referrals for counseling/therapy if indicated.

• Discussing your physical health challenges which can impact your mental health, including “preventative maintenance” (We don’t let our car go over 5,000 miles before an oil change because we know it can destroy the engine. Yet we often put off that same maintenance in our physical bodies (immunizations, annual blood work, colonoscopies, mammograms, etc).

You can read more about my treatment philosophy on the ABOUT page.

My primary mode of communication with patients is via text, so the quickest and best way to start our conversation is by sending me a text at: 434-686-7418.

Afer reaching out via text, I will send you an invite to the secure text and messaging platform, Spruce, which is also HIPAA compliant to protect your privacy. I can answer any questions you may have, and give you several new patient appointment options.

The average time for a new patient appointment is one to two weeks.

An initial consultation lasts an hour and a half and costs $385. Follow-up visits last 20 to 30 minutes and cost $185.

Sound Mind Psych is not in-network with any insurance. I will provide you with a “super bill,” which is a medical term for a receipt of services, and you can submit that to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.

You will need to pay at the time of service. You can learn more about ways to pay at our Financing page.

I decided not to contract with insurance companies because they would restrict the way I wish to deliver services. I prefer to spend more time in direct care with my clients than asking permission from insurance companies for care. Although I am not in-network with insurance, I am still responsible for getting your medications authorized according to your individualized pharmacy benefit. 

I will provide the documentation necessary (a “superbill,” which is a fancy term for a receipt of services) for you to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Out-of-network reimbursement policies vary, so you will need to consult your individual policy or insurer’s website for further guidance around this.

As my patient, paying out of pocket provides you these benefits:

The nature of your treatment will not be determined or influenced by the insurance company: not the number of sessions, or the choice of medications, or the referrals, or whatever will be written in your chart. You are hiring me, not the insurance company. You can submit the “superbills” to your insurance company for potential reimbursement, but you don’t have to do so. It is also possible to keep the sessions at a higher level of confidentiality if you decide not to submit to the insurance company.

Access to me is simple, fast, and direct. I respond to texts within 24 hours through our secure text messaging app, Spruce, and I regularly coordinate with therapists, other medical providers, and families. Tired of having to go through a phone tree or leaving messages with clinic staff to get a basic question answered from your provider? Just reach out to me directly.

Because I am a solo practice, integrated into a quiet counseling office, your privacy is maintained. If you’ve ever been to a traditional clinic, you know that maintaining privacy isn’t always possible with check in staff and waiting rooms and your names being called aloud. With me, you come to the office and I will meet you in the waiting room with no “fanfare.”

Get help when you need it. My practice is designed to eliminate common healthcare frustrations such as the inability to reach out to your provider outside of appointments, enduring long wait times for appointments, or the inability to see your provider in times of crisis.

If you are a current patient in crisis, please reach out to me in Spruce and I will work you into the schedule as soon as possible. If you are acutely suicidal and not feeling safe and are planning on acting on these thoughts, please call 911 and go directly to the Emergency Room.