I’m new to all of this, what do psychiatric services entail?

First of all, if you’re new to engaging with psychiatric care we want to start by saying thank you! The first step can often be the most anxiety inducing. It requires vulnerability but also courage.

Psychiatric care focuses on the science and art of prescribing the appropriate medication to reduce the symptoms associated with a mental health diagnosis. That’s not to say that medications are the cure all though. Throughout our appointments you’ll notice that we implement Motivational Interviewing which is a therapeutic style of communication that aims to help you find the internal motivation to make a positive change.

We always encourage pairing medication with engagement in appropriate therapy and are happy to provide a referral list for therapists that can provide more in depth and personalized therapy.

What does concierge mean?

Really what we’re talking about is care that is personalized. More specifically we strive to meet you where you are, primarily that will start via a telehealth platform, but as the therapeutic relationship builds we may discuss other appointment settings that may suit your needs better, such as a home visit or perhaps if preferred, meeting for a walk at a local track or trail.

We are having trouble finding psychiatric care for our child, do you treat children?

We are so glad that you have found us. Healthcare in general is so difficult to navigate and connect with and psychiatry is no exception. We love working with children and their families! We believe the earlier we can intervene the better the outcomes for everyone.

At New England Psychiatric we are willing to prescribe medications for children as young as 6 in following with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Additionally they recommend behavior therapy, particularly parent training, which we fully support and encourage everyone to be engaged in while also taking appropriate medications.

I have actually been getting treatment by another prescriber but I am interested in meeting with someone new, could I schedule an intake with you?

Absolutely! People change providers all the time for a variety of reasons. It never hurts to hear from someone new. We would caution however, in the vein of tempering expectations, that meeting with a new provider does not guarantee that we will offer something different than your last provider. The experience may be better but the treatment plan may be the same. You can trust that our treatment recommendations are grounded in the latest evidence.

I’m interested in improving my mental health but I’m not sure if I want to start on a prescription medication yet, is there anything you can help me with?

Mental health is so much more than just prescription medicine. We always say that just because we can prescribe does not mean that we always should. Meaning that we treat the person, not just the presenting symptoms. Perhaps we need to focus on behavioral activation, sleep hygiene, nutrition, or supplements first.

What should I expect for my appointment?

During your initial appointment you can expect a lot of questions as we set the stage for what is your next chapter. It is so important that we take the appropriate amount of time to get to know you as we work to formulate the most accurate diagnosis (though this may at times require multiple appointments).

Additionally, we strive to continually improve the field of psychiatry and are committed to mentoring and teaching upcoming providers. At times you may see a student or new hire joining your appointment. We may also incorporate some of the latest technologies such as AI Scribes which allow us to focus our attention on you rather than writing. Rest assured though that your care is taken seriously and handled with care and privacy is paramount. Should any recording technologies be implemented they are solely for the use of dictating notes and all recordings are promptly deleted once the clinical note is complete.

It is always recommended to come in with an open mind, a willingness to share, and tempered expectations (we may not start a medication on the first visit).

The more background information you can share, the better, so collect any past documents, both medical and psychiatric. These can be sent in prior so that your provider can review them in advance.

We also ask that you bring any and all medications or supplements that you are currently taking to all of your appointments. Often times we find that there may be confusion regarding a certain medication and having it physically present during the appointment can help to address any questions that may arise.

Lastly, your safety is paramount and that extends to our expectations for meeting via telehealth. We kindly ask that you be in a private setting that allows you to be fully engaged. That is to say, no driving and no public spaces. Sitting in your car is okay but we cannot have a substantive conversation if you are multitasking.

Is there anything that your team doesn’t do?

This is actually a really great question as it is so important to be clear up front about what you can expect from us. While we strive to improve your mental health we do acknowledge that we have our limitations. We are unfortunately not equipped to treat some diagnoses at this time, most of which fall into the category of Severe Mental Illness, such as schizophrenia or psychosis. Additionally, we are not able to safely manage mental health crises (e.g. severe suicidal ideations), if you are struggling with suicidality we encourage you to seek immediate care at your nearest emergency department.

Additionally, our focus is on medication management, and as such we do not provide any letters of support for Emotional Support Animals. We would encourage you to speak with your therapist as they are better equipped to understand your needs and reach your goals in this regard. If you do not yet have a therapist we are happy to provide you with a list of referrals.