Telehealth & FAQ
Know what to expect, before you arrive.
Not knowing what happens next is its own kind of stress — here's exactly how a first session unfolds.Not knowing what happens next is its own kind of stress. This page walks through the practical questions and exactly how a first session unfolds.
Your First Session: A Step-by-Step Roadmap
Here is exactly what happens from the moment you decide to book an appointment to the conclusion of our first meeting.Taking the step to initiate psychiatric care requires energy and courage. To make the process as transparent and predictable as possible, here is exactly what happens from the moment you decide to book an appointment to the conclusion of our first meeting.
Request a brief (10-15 min) Personalized Care Discussion
This brief, low-pressure video call is an opportunity for us to meet face-to-face, discuss what brings you to care.
Schedule An Initial Evaluation
Click the “Request Appointment” button on this site. You will be securely redirected to my HIPAA-compliant patient portal. There, you can select an available date and time that fits your schedule. If you prefer to touch base briefly first, you can opt to book a free, optional 15-minute introductory phone call.
Complete Your Welcome Packet
Deadline: 48 Hours Before Session. Once your appointment time is approved, you will receive an automated email containing a link to your secure client portal. Here, you will review my Washington State practice disclosures, sign the telehealth privacy policies, and fill out the Clinical & Somatic Intake Questionnaire. Completing these forms ahead of time allows me to deeply review your history before we meet, preserving our entire live session for your care.
Prep Your Private Telehealth Space
10 minutes before the start of your appointment. Log in from a private, comfortable room where you cannot be easily overheard. Grab a glass of water, ensure your device (phone, laptop, or tablet) is connected to Wi-Fi, and confirm that your camera and microphone are turned on. Per Washington State law, please ensure you are physically located within the state lines of Washington for the duration of our call.
Connect on Video & Verify Identity
The First 5 Minutes. At your exact session time, click the unique, secure video link sent to your email or smartphone. We will log on face-to-face. To satisfy state clinical guidelines, we will begin with a quick verification: I will ask you to confirm your current physical address in Washington and briefly show a valid photo ID to the camera.
The Clinical Evaluation
60 to 75 Minutes. We will take our time discussing what brings you to care today, focusing heavily on your current symptoms, life stressors, sleep patterns, and how past experiences or systemic/racial trauma have impacted your nervous system. You are entirely in the driver’s seat. You only have to share what feels safe to share. We will collaborate to build a treatment map that honors your comfort level.
Collaborative Next Steps
The Final 10 Minutes. We will close our session by reviewing our agreed-upon care map. If we decide to initiate medication, I will electronically transmit the prescription directly to your preferred pharmacy during the call. Finally, we will lock in your first 45-minute follow-up session (usually scheduled 2 to 4 weeks out) and your account will automatically process your out-of-pocket payment, immediately generating a Superbill in your portal for your insurance records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your initial psychiatric evaluation lasts between 60 and 75 minutes. This is a collaborative, whole-person assessment. We will dive deep into what brings you to care today, your current symptoms, medical history, past medication trials, lifestyle factors (like your sleep patterns and stress levels), and your long-term goals. You won’t just walk away with a prescription; you will leave with a clear clinical assessment and a tailored holistic treatment plan. Because we are a telehealth-focused practice in Washington State, you will need to verify your physical identity with a photo ID and confirm your exact physical location at the start of our secure video call.
Sometimes, yes—if it is clinically appropriate and we have enough data to do so safely. However, medication is a mutual decision. If your history is highly complex, if you are looking for controlled substances (like stimulants for ADHD), or if we need baseline blood work first, I may recommend that we spend our first follow-up visit gathering additional data, reviewing standardized rating scales, or coordinating with your primary care provider before safely initiating a new prescription.
All routine refills are actively managed during our scheduled follow-up appointments to ensure proper clinical monitoring. I will write enough refills to safely carry you over until our next recommended session. If you find yourself running out of medication, it is typically an indicator that you are due for a follow-up appointment, and you should log into the Patient Portal to schedule one. If your pharmacy states you have “no refills remaining” but we have a confirmed upcoming appointment scheduled, you can submit a refill request directly through the secure Patient Portal. Please allow 1 to 2 business days for processing.
Frequency depends entirely on your clinical stability. When we are initiating a new medication or adjusting dosages, we will typically meet every 1 to 4 weeks to closely track efficacy and monitor for side effects. Once we find a stable regimen that works well for your life and you are feeling steady, our maintenance follow-ups will spread out to once every 1 to 3 months.
Therapists and psychologists focus primarily on talk therapy to process life circumstances, behaviors, and relational patterns. As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), my primary focus is diagnostic evaluations, the complex biological components of mental health, and medication management. While I weave brief, supportive psychotherapy into our 45-minute follow-ups, optimal outcomes usually occur when medication management is paired with regular, dedicated weekly therapy. With your written permission, I will gladly collaborate directly with your therapist to ensure your entire care team is perfectly aligned.
For all non-emergent matters—such as scheduling changes, basic administrative questions, or minor medication updates—please use the secure, HIPAA-compliant messaging feature inside the Patient Portal. Messages are checked during standard business hours, and I typically reply within 24 to 48 hours. Please note: The patient portal and office telephone are not monitored 24/7 and are never to be used for emergencies. If you are experiencing an acute mental health crisis, please call or text 988 immediately, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Sessions are held securely online through a HIPAA-compliant platform (SimplePractice).
Appointments canceled with less than 24 hours' notice will incur a flat fee of $100. This charge cannot be billed to insurance.
Right now, we're able to see patients in Washington State. We hope to expand soon, so please check back to see if your state becomes available.
When you're ready, we'll begin gently.
Takes about two minutes, nothing committed until you say so.Requesting an appointment takes about two minutes, and nothing is committed until you say so.