If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room

Beacon Psychiatry logo
(727) 910-2395
Beacon Psychiatry logo
(727) 910-2395

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about our insurance and payment policies, psychiatry services, or therapy options, Beacon Psychiatry is here to help before your appointment

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Table of Contents

Getting Started

What should I do before my first appointment?

To help make the most of your appointment time, we ask that all intake paperwork be completed before your visit. The easiest way to do this is through the patient portal link sent after scheduling.

If you prefer to complete paperwork in person, please arrive at least 30 minutes early so our staff can assist you.

Please also contact your insurance company beforehand to verify:

  • Mental health benefits
  • In-network vs. out-of-network coverage
  • Whether a referral is required

If you need help accessing the portal, please call us at (727) 910-2395.

Please bring:

  • Insurance card (if using insurance)
  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Payment method
  • Current medication list (including dosages and prescribing providers)
  • Relevant psychiatric or medical records

For children/adolescents, helpful records may include:

  • IEP/504 plans
  • School evaluations
  • Teacher reports
  • Psychological testing

Your first appointment is a comprehensive evaluation focused on understanding your symptoms, history, goals, and treatment needs.

Depending on the type of visit, we may obtain:

  • Vital signs
  • Height/weight
  • Urine drug screening
  • Pregnancy testing when clinically appropriate

Your provider will review confidentiality policies, obtain consent for documentation tools such as AI-assisted scribing if used, and review your intake forms for accuracy and completeness.

Additional information may be gathered to improve diagnostic clarity, assess safety, and determine whether further evaluation or testing would be helpful.

Treatment recommendations may include:

  • Therapy
  • Medication options
  • Lifestyle modifications
  • Lab work
  • GeneSight/pharmacogenetic testing
  • Referrals to specialists
  • Referral to a higher level of care if needed

Your provider may also request permission to coordinate care with current or prior providers, therapists, schools, or family members when clinically appropriate.

Our goal is to provide safe, evidence-based, personalized, collaborative, and holistic care.

  • Psychiatry Services: ages 4 years and older
  • Therapy Services: ages 13 years and older

We currently have one physical office location in Trinity, Florida. However, telehealth services are available in multiple states.

Appointments & Policies

All appointments are scheduled in advance. Typical appointment lengths are:

  • Psychiatric evaluations: 60–90 minutes
  • Follow-up medication visits: 15–30 minutes
  • Therapy sessions: approximately 60 minutes

To help ensure timely care for all patients, appointments begin and end at the scheduled time. Depending on time limitations and clinical complexity, some concerns may need to be addressed during a separate follow-up appointment.

Frequency depends on your symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

Medication Management

  • New patients or complex cases may initially require weekly or more frequent follow-ups.
  • Most patients are typically seen monthly during active treatment.
  • Once stable, visits may be spaced to every 2–3 months when clinically appropriate.

Therapy

  • Therapy sessions often begin weekly and may become less frequent over time depending on progress and treatment goals.

No. All visits are by appointment only.

Dr. Dinh offers limited weekend availability depending on scheduling and clinical demand. Weekend availability is not guaranteed.

Yes. Select evening appointments are available for both psychiatry and therapy services. Our latest appointment time is typically 6:00 PM.

No. Beacon Psychiatry is an outpatient mental health clinic and does not provide inpatient hospitalization or urgent walk-in psychiatric services.

If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact 988.

Late Arrival, Cancellations, & No-show Policy

Timeliness is important to ensure adequate time for evaluation and treatment.

New patients arriving more than 20 minutes late will need to reschedule their appointment.

Established patients arriving more than 15 minutes late may be required to reschedule and may incur a late cancellation fee.

Patients are required to cancel or reschedule appointments at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to provide adequate notice, missed appointments (“no-shows”), or late cancellations may result in the following fees:

  • New Patient Psychiatry Evaluations: $200
  • Psychiatric Follow-Up Appointment: $50 / $100 / $150 / $200 / full self-pay fee. Fees progressively increase based on repeated occurrences.
  • Therapy Appointments: $100 / $150 / $200 / full self-pay fee. Fees progressively increase based on repeated occurrences.

These fees are not covered by insurance and will be charged to the payment method on file. Exceptions are generally made only for documented medical emergencies.

Attendance & Continued Care

Yes. Ongoing follow-up is important for safe and effective psychiatric care. Patients are generally required to follow up at least every 30 to 90 days unless otherwise directed by their provider. Missing three consecutive appointments or not being seen for six months may result in:

  • Chart inactivation
  • Denial of medication refills
  • And/or discharge from the practice.

Patients who are unable to continue care are encouraged to notify the office as early as possible so appropriate transition planning and referrals can be discussed.

Telehealth & Technology

We use Zoom for telehealth visits.

Please download and test Zoom on your device at least one day before your appointment to ensure everything is functioning properly.

We offer:

  • In-person appointments at our Trinity office
  • Telehealth appointments for eligible patients in multiple states

Please note that telehealth visits are not conducted via FaceTime or other non-secure platforms.

Telehealth services are available for patients located in:

  • California and Washington (Pacific Time)
  • Florida, New York, Kentucky, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Ohio (Eastern Time)
  • Tennessee and Iowa (Central Time)

Yes. We use CharmEHR for our electronic medical record and patient portal system.

Patient Portal: https://phr2.charmtracker.com/login.sas

Insurance, Billing & Financial Policies

We accept many commercial insurance plans. Coverage varies by provider and plan, and patients are encouraged to verify mental health benefits directly with their insurance carrier prior to scheduling.

For out-of-network plans, patients are considered self-pay. Upon request, we can provide a superbill for potential reimbursement depending on your plan’s out-of-network benefits.

To help streamline the billing process and reduce administrative delays, Beacon Psychiatry requires a valid credit or debit card to remain securely on file.

Cards may be used for:

  • Copays
  • Deductibles
  • Coinsurance
  • Outstanding balances
  • Self-pay services
  • Applicable late cancellation or no-show fees

This policy also helps simplify payment processing for telehealth services and balances not fully covered by insurance.

All payment information is stored securely through HIPAA- and PCI-compliant systems.

Psychiatry — New Patient Evaluations

  • New Patient Evaluation (60 minutes) $325/$450

    $325 with PA/PMHNP, $450 with MD

  • New Patient Evaluation (90 minutes) $405/$575

    $405 with PA/PMHNP, $575 with MD

Psychiatry — Established Patient Follow-Ups

  • Brief Follow-Up Visit (15 minutes) $125/$160

    $125 with PA/PMHNP, $160 with MD

  • Follow-Up Visit (30 minutes) $185/$240

    $185 with PA/PMHNP, $240 with MD

  • Complex Follow-Up Visit (60 minutes) $300/$385

    $300 with PA/PMHNP, $385 with MD

  • Therapy with Medication Management (60 minutes) $300/$385

    $300 with PA/PMHNP, $385 with MD

Therapy Services

  • Intake (60 minutes) $175
  • Individual Therapy (60 minutes) $150
  • Couples/Family Therapy (60 minutes) $175
  • Trauma Therapy (60 minutes) $200

Per the No Surprises Act, uninsured/self-pay patients may request a Good Faith Estimate before services.

Requests for forms and administrative documentation — including FMLA, short-term disability, work accommodations, 504 plans, IEP documentation, school forms, payee paperwork, and similar requests — require appropriate clinical evaluation and documentation. To ensure accuracy and clinical appropriateness, the following policies generally apply:

  • Patients must first complete an initial psychiatric evaluation and establish care with the clinic.
  • In most cases, patients must have completed a minimum of 3 follow-up appointments or have been actively engaged in treatment with the clinic for at least 3 months before forms can be considered.
  • Forms are completed based on clinical judgment, objective documentation, symptom severity, diagnosis, treatment history, and level of functional impairment.
  • Additional records (such as school records, psychological testing, therapist documentation, or prior treatment records) may be requested when clinically appropriate.
  • Completion of forms may require one or more dedicated appointments.
  • Administrative fees may apply depending on the complexity and time required.\n- Please allow a minimum of 7–14 business days for completion.
  • Completion of requested forms, accommodations, or disability paperwork is not guaranteed and is determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • Please note that Beacon Psychiatry does not perform forensic evaluations, custody evaluations, workers’ compensation evaluations, or independent disability determinations.

If you are unsure whether your request is appropriate for our clinic, we encourage you to discuss it directly with your provider.

Beacon Psychiatry does not currently provide Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations or letters. However, we anticipate offering this service in the future and encourage patients to check back with us for updates. In some cases, we may be able to provide referrals to outside providers who offer ESA evaluations and documentation services.

Patients may access available medical records free of charge through the patient portal. If a patient is requesting printed medical records for personal use, records are available for in-office pickup only and are not provided via email or fax. Per-page copying fees may apply in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations. Requests for transfer of records to another healthcare provider may be submitted through a signed Release of Information (ROI) form. Records requested directly by another provider’s office for continuity of care are typically faxed securely to that office free of charge. Requests from third parties — such as employers, attorneys, schools, insurance companies, or disability agencies — may incur administrative and copying fees. These records are generally transmitted directly to the requesting party after receipt of appropriate authorization documentation.

Medications & Treatment

No. Medication is never automatic. Before anything is prescribed, you’ll complete a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation covering your symptoms, medical history, past treatments, and personal preferences.

Medication is typically recommended when:

  • Your diagnosis requires it as standard of care (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe ADHD)
  • Symptoms are moderate to severe and significantly affecting daily life
  • Therapy alone has not worked after an adequate trial (usually 8–12 weeks of evidence-based therapy)
  • Safety concerns are present, such as suicidal thoughts or psychosis
  • You have a chronic or recurring illness where medication supports long-term stability

Medication is usually NOT prescribed when:

  • Symptoms are mild and not significantly impairing daily life
  • You’re dealing with situational stress or adjustment difficulties
  • You prefer therapy alone and your symptoms are mild to moderate

Your preferences matter. Medication is a tool — not a default outcome of a psychiatric evaluation. The decision is always made together, based on your diagnosis, severity, history, and goals.

Controlled substances require careful evaluation and ongoing monitoring.

If you are seen by a Physician Associate (PA), prescriptions for certain controlled medications may require additional physician review and co-signature before being sent to the pharmacy, which may result in delays later in the day.

Please note that stimulant refill requests should be submitted in advance and are processed based on clinical priority and office workflow.

Pharmacogenetic testing (PGx) is a genetic test — usually a simple cheek swab — that looks at specific genes to help predict how your body processes certain medications. It only needs to be done once, since your DNA does not change.

What it can tell you:

  • How fast or slow your body breaks down certain medications
  • Whether a standard dose may be too high or too low for your metabolism
  • Whether certain medications may be a better or worse fit genetically

What it can’t tell you:

  • Which medication will definitely work for you
  • Whether you have a mental health condition
  • How every medication will affect you — genetics is just one piece of the puzzle

When is it most useful? If you’ve tried multiple medications without success or experienced significant side effects, this test can help explain why and guide future medication choices. It is less useful as a first step before ever trying any medication. Your provider will use your full clinical picture — symptoms, history, and preferences — with or without genetic testing.

Learn more about pharmacogenetic (GeneSight) testing below:

MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is an enzyme that helps your body process folate (vitamin B9), which is needed to produce mood-regulating brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.

Two common MTHFR variants exist — C677T and A1298C. Having one or two copies can reduce how efficiently your body uses folate, which some research links to a modestly increased risk of depression or mood disorders. However, many people with MTHFR variants have no mental health issues at all, and many people with depression have normal MTHFR genes.

Should you get tested? Most major medical organizations, including the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), do not recommend routine MTHFR testing. The treatment — ensuring adequate folate intake — is the same whether or not you have the variant.

What about L-methylfolate supplements? L-methylfolate (the active form of folate) has shown modest benefit as an add-on to antidepressants in some studies. Your provider can recommend it based on your clinical picture without any genetic test required.

The bottom line: MTHFR variants are very common and are not cause for alarm. If you’ve been told you have one, make sure your full symptoms have been properly evaluated rather than attributed solely to this finding.

Advanced Treatments

TMS is a noninvasive brain stimulation treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. No anesthesia or surgery is required. TMS is FDA-cleared for depression.

Who is it for? TMS is typically recommended for adults with major depressive disorder who have not responded adequately to at least one or two antidepressant trials, or who cannot tolerate medication side effects.

What to expect:

  • You sit in a chair while a device delivers brief magnetic pulses to your scalp
  • Sessions last 20–40 minutes; newer “theta burst” protocols take as little as 3–4 minutes
  • Treatment is typically 5 days per week for 4–6 weeks
  • No sedation — you can drive yourself to and from appointments

Results: About 50% of patients respond to TMS, and approximately 30–35% achieve full remission. Effects can last up to 3 months or longer after completing treatment.

Side effects are generally mild — the most common are headache and scalp discomfort. Seizure is the most serious risk but is extremely rare. TMS does not cause the memory loss associated with ECT.

Important: Tell your provider about any metal implants in your head or neck before starting. Dental fillings and braces are generally safe.

At this time, Beacon Psychiatry does not directly provide TMS treatment services. However, we may be able to refer appropriate patients to trusted specialty clinics that offer TMS evaluations and treatment. If you are interested in learning whether TMS may be appropriate for your condition, please discuss this with your provider.

Learn more about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) below

Ketamine has been used safely as an anesthetic for over 50 years. At lower (subanesthetic) doses, it can produce rapid antidepressant effects — sometimes within hours. IV ketamine for depression is off-label (not FDA-approved specifically for depression), but is supported by clinical research and guidelines for treatment-resistant cases.

Who is it for? Adults with treatment-resistant depression (not improved after at least two adequate antidepressant trials), or those experiencing severe depressive episodes with suicidal thoughts who need rapid relief.

What to expect:

  • A low dose is delivered through an IV over approximately 40 minutes
  • You are monitored by medical staff throughout
  • A typical course is 4–6 infusions over 2–3 weeks
  • You will need someone to drive you home after each session

Results: Studies show response rates of 58–68% and remission rates of 42–51% after a full series. Effects on suicidal thoughts can be rapid.

Side effects: During or shortly after the infusion, you may experience dizziness, nausea, increased blood pressure, or dissociation (feeling detached from your surroundings). These typically resolve within 1–2 hours.

Important: Do not drive or make important decisions for the rest of the day following any infusion.

Beacon Psychiatry does not currently provide IV ketamine infusion therapy. However, we may be able to refer appropriate patients to outside clinics that specialize in ketamine treatment for treatment-resistant depression and related conditions. Referral recommendations are made on a case-by-case basis depending on clinical appropriateness and patient needs.

Learn more about IV Ketamine below

Spravato is the brand name for esketamine, an FDA-approved nasal spray for:

  • Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in adults
  • Major depressive disorder with active suicidal ideation or behavior

Esketamine works on a different brain chemical system (glutamate/NMDA receptors) than traditional antidepressants, which is why it can help patients who haven’t responded to other medications.

What to expect:

  • Must be administered in a certified healthcare setting — never at home
  • You self-administer the nasal spray under provider supervision
  • You are monitored for at least 2 hours afterward
  • Schedule: twice weekly for 4 weeks, then weekly, then every 1–2 weeks
  • Each session (including monitoring) takes about 2.5–3 hours

Results: Improvement can begin within 24 hours of the first dose. Clinical trials found esketamine more effective than quetiapine for achieving remission in treatment-resistant depression.

Common side effects: dissociation (temporary), nausea, dizziness, increased blood pressure, and headache.

Important: You cannot drive until the day after treatment. Do not use alcohol or recreational drugs around treatment sessions.

Beacon Psychiatry does not currently administer Spravato (esketamine) treatment. However, we may be able to refer eligible patients to certified treatment centers that provide Spravato evaluations and monitoring. If you believe you may be a candidate for Spravato, please discuss this with your provider.

Learn more about Spravato (Esketamine) below:

All three treatments are options for adults with treatment-resistant depression — meaning depression that has not improved with standard antidepressant medications. Here is a quick comparison:

TMS
IV Ketamine
Spravato (Esketamine)
Magnetic pulses stimulate brain areas involved in mood
IV medication that acts on glutamate (NMDA) receptors
Nasal spray that acts on glutamate (NMDA) receptors
FDA-cleared
Off-label (not FDA-approved for depression)
FDA-approved for TRD and MDD with suicidal ideation
Gradual improvement over 4–6 weeks
Rapid — often within hours to days
Rapid — often within 24 hours
May persist 3+ months after treatment course
Single infusion effect lasts days to ~ 2 weeks; series may last longer
Ongoing maintenance treatment typically needed
No
Monitored but not general anesthesia
No anesthesia; monitoring required
Yes
No — need a ride home
No — need a ride home; no driving until next day
4–40 minutes
~ 2 hours (infusion + monitoring)
~ 2.5–3 hours (administration + monitoring)
20–30 sessions over 4–6 weeks
4–6 infusions over 2–3 weeks, then maintenance
Twice weekly → weekly → every 1–2 weeks (ongoing)
Headache, scalp discomfort
Dissociation, nausea, dizziness, blood pressure increase
Dissociation, nausea, dizziness, blood pressure increase
Seizure (very rare)
Blood pressure changes, potential for misuse
Sedation, respiratory depression, potential for misuse

What Does the Future Hold?

Research in this area is moving quickly. Some of the most exciting areas of ongoing study include:

  • Combining TMS and ketamine: Early research suggests that using these treatments together may produce stronger and longer-lasting results than either treatment alone.
  • Accelerated TMS protocols: Newer protocols can deliver a full course of TMS treatment in as little as 5 days instead of 4–6 weeks, which could make treatment much more accessible.
  • Head-to-head comparisons: Researchers are conducting studies directly comparing TMS, IV ketamine, and Spravato to help determine which treatment works best for which patients.
  • Longer-term safety data: Studies are ongoing to better understand the long-term effects of repeated ketamine and esketamine use.
  • Personalized treatment: Researchers are working to identify which patients are most likely to respond to each treatment, so that care can be tailored to the individual.

Therapy & Mental Health Education

Psychiatrist (MD or DO): A medical doctor who completed four years of medical school plus four years of psychiatry residency. Psychiatrists have the most extensive medical training of any mental health prescriber and are best suited for complex, treatment-resistant cases, especially where mental health and medical conditions overlap.

Physician Assistant (PA): Completed a master’s-level PA program (2–3 years) and can prescribe medications including controlled substances. PAs work under a collaborative or supervisory relationship with a physician, with requirements varying by state.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): An advanced practice nurse with specialized graduate training in psychiatric care. PMHNPs can diagnose, prescribe, and many are trained in both medication management and psychotherapy. Over half of U.S. states grant full independent practice authority.

All three can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe psychiatric medications, develop treatment plans, and refer to therapy or specialty care.

For common conditions like depression, anxiety, or ADHD, all three provide high-quality care with comparable patient outcomes. The right fit depends on the complexity of your case, local availability, and personal preferences.

The simplest way to understand it: a psychiatric provider focuses on diagnosing conditions and managing medications, while a therapist focuses on talk therapy.

Psychiatric Provider: An umbrella term for any licensed professional who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medications — including psychiatrists, PMHNPs, and PAs. Initial evaluations run 45–90 minutes; follow-ups are typically 15–30 minutes, focused on symptom review and medication management.

Therapist: A licensed professional who provides psychotherapy — structured, evidence-based conversations to help people understand and change patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior. Therapists cannot prescribe medications. Types include psychologists (PhD/PsyD), LCSWs, LPCs, and LMFTs. Sessions are typically 45–60 minutes, weekly or biweekly.

Do you need both? Many patients benefit from seeing both — sometimes called “split treatment.” Combined medication and therapy tends to produce the best outcomes for moderate-to-severe conditions like major depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.

A good starting point:

  • Mild symptoms or adjustment stress → starting with a therapist alone is often appropriate
  • Moderate-to-severe symptoms or medication questions → consider seeing both
  • Unsure where to start → your primary care provider can help with the right referral

“Therapist” is a broad umbrella term; “psychologist” is a specific profession with doctoral-level training. All psychologists who provide therapy are therapists, but not all therapists are psychologists.

Therapist: Any licensed professional who provides talk therapy, including LCSWs, LPCs, LMFTs, and psychologists. Most non-psychologist therapists hold a master’s degree (2–3 years of graduate training).

Psychologist: Holds a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) — typically 5–7 years of graduate training including a clinical internship. Psychologists can do everything a master’s-level therapist can do, plus:

  • Formal psychological and neuropsychological testing (IQ, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities) — master’s-level therapists generally cannot perform these
  • More extensive research training, particularly for PhD psychologists
  • Prescribing authority in a small number of U.S. states (master’s-level therapists cannot prescribe in any state)

For patients: When it comes to the therapy itself, research shows comparable outcomes between doctoral-level psychologists and master’s-level therapists for most common conditions. The main practical differences are that psychologists can perform formal testing and have more years of training.

Both the PsyD and PhD lead to licensure as a psychologist. Both graduates can provide therapy, perform psychological testing, and diagnose mental health conditions. The key difference is training focus:

PhD in Clinical Psychology
PsyD (Doctor of Psychology)
Training model
Scientist-practitioner — equal emphasis on research and clinical work
Scholar-practitioner — emphasis on clinical practice over research
Research
Extensive; includes original research dissertation
Less intensive; may use a clinical dissertation or project
Program length
~5–7 years
~4–6 years
Funding
Most receive tuition waivers and stipends
Most pay tuition; less financial aid
Common career path
Academic, research, or teaching roles
Clinical practice (private practice, hospitals, clinics)

For patients: There is no meaningful difference in therapy quality between a PhD and PsyD psychologist. Both are fully licensed, both diagnose and treat mental health conditions, and both can perform psychological testing. A patient would not typically need to choose based on degree type alone.

There are three main types of master’s-level licensed therapists. All can diagnose mental health conditions and provide psychotherapy. None can prescribe medications.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree plus 2–3 years of supervised post-graduate experience. Training emphasizes the whole person in their environment — including relationships, socioeconomic context, and access to resources. LCSWs are uniquely skilled in case management and connecting patients with community services. They make up the largest group of mental health providers in the U.S.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): Holds a master’s in counseling or a related field, plus supervised clinical hours. Also called LMHC or LCPC depending on the state. LPCs are generalists who treat a wide range of conditions — depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use — with a focus on individual growth and personal development.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT): Holds a master’s in marriage and family therapy, plus supervised hours. Trained in a family systems approach, meaning individual problems are understood in the context of relationships and family dynamics. Specializes in couples therapy, family therapy, and relational issues.

How to choose:

  • Primarily relationship or family concerns → LMFT
  • Need help navigating community resources or social services → LCSW
  • General individual mental health concerns → any of the three
  • Formal psychological testing (ADHD, IQ, autism) → a psychologist (PhD or PsyD) is required

For most common conditions like depression and anxiety, all three provide comparable quality of care.

Evaluation
Main Question
What It Measures
Typical Duration
Psychoeducational
Why am I struggling in school?
IQ + academic skills (reading, writing, math); identifies learning disabilities
2–4 hours
Psychological
What mental health condition explains my symptoms?
Emotions, behavior, personality, mental health diagnoses
2–6 hours
Neuropsychological
How is my brain working across all thinking areas?
Memory, attention, language, executive function, processing speed, and more
4–8+ hours
Autism (ASD)
Does this person have autism?
Social communication, behavior, developmental history, cognition, adaptive skills
2–6 hours (may span multiple visits)

Psychoeducational: Done through schools or clinics to identify learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia) and determine eligibility for IEP or 504 accommodations.

Psychological: A broader mental health assessment by a licensed psychologist to diagnose conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or trauma.

Neuropsychological: The most comprehensive type, conducted by a neuropsychologist. Common reasons for referral include concussion, memory concerns, stroke, or possible dementia.

Autism (ASD): A specialized diagnostic process using structured behavioral observation (e.g., ADOS-2), developmental history, and cognitive testing. Not a single test — information is gathered from multiple sources.

Note: These evaluations overlap, and the right one depends on the specific clinical question being asked. A neuropsychological evaluation may include elements of a psychological or psychoeducational evaluation.

Yes. Both PAs and PMHNPs can prescribe psychiatric medications, including controlled substances, subject to state laws and scope-of-practice regulations.

For most psychiatric conditions, they can prescribe the same medications commonly used by psychiatrists.

Privacy, Family Involvement & Emergencies

Yes. You may contact our office on behalf of a spouse, adult child, partner, or parent.
However, the individual must participate in their own intake process and provide consent for treatment unless legal guardianship or a healthcare POA applies.

Because of HIPAA privacy laws, we cannot release information without written patient authorization unless legally permitted or required.

If a patient would like family involvement, we encourage completion of a Release of Information form.

If you hold legal guardianship or a healthcare Power of Attorney, we will need documentation on file before discussing protected health information.

If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If concerns are non-emergent, you may contact our office. While we may not be able to release information to you, our clinical team can consider the information you provide.

If you have an urgent but non-emergency clinical concern after 5:00 PM Monday – Friday, on weekends or holidays (such as a medication question, missed dose, non-severe side effect or cancellation of the next-day appointment), you may leave a voicemail at the office at 727-910-2395 or send a secure message through your CHARM patient portal. Messages may be reviewed by our support staff (Guillermo, Lordie and/or Valerie) and forwarded to your provider as clinically appropriate when the office reopens. Non-urgent voicemail and portal messages received after 5:00 PM will generally be addressed on the next business day. Voicemail and portal messaging should not be used for emergencies, safety concerns, or other time-sensitive clinical situations.

If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or feel unsafe, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or call or text 988 immediately.

Emergency: Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay: Call 211

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 Text START to 678-678

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1

Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-962-2873