FAQ

For emergencies, you can call 9-1-1, go directly to the nearest Emergency Department, call 9-8-8 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), or contact the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

Local Psychiatric hospitals that provide 24/7 psychiatric assessment and recommendations / admissions include:

- Vanderbilt Respond: 615-327-7000

- Parthenon Pavilion: 615-342-1400

1) Send a secure message on your HIPAA compliant messaging app - we will prompt you through this setup.

2) Call the office phone at 615-637-3131.

Non-urgent messages will be addressed as quickly as possible within 3 business days

Many studies are emerging about the dangers of benzodiazepines, therefore our practice does not prescribe benzodiazepines. Some risks include but are not limited to: cognitive impairment, respiratory impairment, significant correlation to early onset Alzheimer's, risk of overdose that can be fatal, abuse, and physical dependence with withdrawal risks such as seizures, respiratory depression, liver damage, and death. If you are currently on a benzodiazepine, we will titrate you off safely and find alternative treatment options. We know that change can feel scary to start, but we will be with you every step of the way and are confident there are safer, effective treatment options.

When requesting a new patient appointment, we recommend you thoroughly read our practice policies form to determine if we will be a good fit for you, as we aim to maintain a healthy, long term patient-provider relationship. Here are the most frequently asked questions about the policies. **Full policies will be available for review and required to be signed with all intake paperwork**

- We require at least 24 hours notice for schedule changes and cancellations. We do not double book our clients - we reserve the time specifically for you.

- No early refills of a controlled substance will be provided. For standard refills, please provide 24 business hours for refill requests.

- We do not complete disability or court paperwork. Disability paperwork will need to be completed by a licensed Psychologist or a state official who specializes in this that field. We also can not complete FMLA upon first visit.

The office address is 403 Henslee Drive, Dickson, TN 37055. Your first visit will be in office and follows up can be in office or via telemedicine, utilizing Zoom.

We believe telemedicine is the future of psychiatry. The telehealth link can be found in your patient portal and will be messaged to you 10 minutes prior to your appointment. Some people worry the connection will not be present face to face, but studies show improved patient satisfaction with telehealth. We can meet more frequently, spend more time on visits, and it decreases the costs of transportation and time taken off work.

This will depend on your insurance's mental health coverage. Our team will verify your insurance eligibility and estimated costs, send an invoice, and review any questions you have prior to each visit date. Copays and deductible estimates are collected the morning of each visit, which ensures your provider is able to spend the full appointment time discussing your medication concerns.

We practice Psychiatry, which includes diagnostic and medication management services. Therapy falls under Psychology, which includes diving into the mental processes and providing coping skills. This terminology is confusing, however they are different fields of practice. We do pride ourselves on spending additional time getting to know you and your concerns, thoroughly explaining diagnosis and medications, and offering brief, solution focused education. It is important for patients to additionally seek therapy with a licensed counselor. Studies show that utilizing both medication management and therapy leads to significantly improved outcomes.