FAQ / Answers to Common Questions About Psychiatric Care
Starting psychiatric care often comes with questions about appointments, insurance, medications, telehealth, therapy, and what to expect during the consultation process.
We’ve gathered answers to some of the most common questions patients and families ask when considering care at Adelpha.
If you do not find the answer you’re looking for, please call, chat, or contact our team directly.
01
Adelpha begins with a structured consultation process designed to ensure we fully understand your history, concerns, goals, and clinical needs before making treatment recommendations.
For adults, the consultation process includes at least two visits within the first 30 days.
For children and adolescents, the consultation process includes at least three visits within the first 30 days.
This process allows your physician or therapist to develop a thoughtful and individualized treatment plan. If we believe another type of care would be more appropriate, we are happy to help connect you with additional resources or referrals.
No.
Many patients contact us because they know something is not working but are unsure whether they need medication, therapy, TMS, or another service.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or know which treatment is right for you. Our role is to understand your situation and help determine the most appropriate next step.
People seek psychiatric care for many different reasons.
Some are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, panic attacks, trauma-related symptoms, or changes in mood. Others may have questions about medications, difficulty functioning at work or school, relationship concerns, sleep issues, substance use concerns, or symptoms that have not improved with previous treatment.
If emotional, behavioral, or mental health concerns are affecting your quality of life, reaching out for an evaluation may be a helpful first step.
A psychiatric evaluation is designed to help your physician understand the full picture.
During the consultation process, your doctor will review your history, current symptoms, treatment experiences, goals, medical background, and other relevant factors that may affect your care.
The goal is not simply to assign a diagnosis. The goal is to understand your situation thoroughly and develop thoughtful, evidence-based recommendations tailored to your needs.
To ensure every patient receives the time and attention needed for a comprehensive assessment, clinical consultations occur during scheduled appointments.
We do not offer pre-appointment physician phone consultations.
02
Appointment length varies based on the type of visit and the patient’s clinical needs.
Most appointments range between 30 and 60 minutes.
Your psychiatrist will recommend an appointment structure that supports your treatment plan.
Before your first visit, please:
Completing these steps in advance helps ensure a smoother consultation process.
Appointments can be scheduled by:
Many patients find calling or sending a chat message are the fastest ways to connect with our team.
03
Yes
Adelpha offers child and adolescent psychiatry services with our board-certified Child and Adolescent psychiatrists and licensed MFTs with specialized training in the mental health needs of children, teens, and transitional-age youth.
Availability may vary based on the physician’s or therapist’s schedules, so we encourage families to contact the office for current openings.
Adelpha provides psychiatric care for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and transitional-age youth.
Physician’s or therapist’s availability and treatment recommendations may vary based on age, diagnosis, and clinical needs.
04
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing mental health conditions.
Depending on the physician and clinical situation, psychiatric care may include medication management, psychotherapy, TMS, and collaboration with other healthcare providers.
Psychiatrists are physicians who can perform psychiatric evaluations, diagnose psychiatric conditions, prescribe and manage medications, administer TMS treatments, and provide psychotherapy as well.
Therapists focus on psychotherapy and counseling approaches that help patients better understand emotions, behaviors, relationships, and coping strategies.
Many patients benefit from working with both a psychiatrist and therapist as part of a coordinated treatment plan. At Adelpha, when clinically appropriate, your psychiatrist may also be your primary therapist.
Yes.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medications. Medication recommendations are based on a thorough evaluation and individualized treatment plan.
Not every patient requires medication, and treatment recommendations vary based on the person’s specific needs and goals.
Both.
Adelpha offers medication management, psychotherapy, and coordinated treatment plans that may combine multiple services when clinically appropriate.
Some patients work with one provider, while others benefit from a collaborative treatment approach involving multiple members of the care team.
Yes.
Many patients benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication management. During your initial consultation at Adelpha, you and your psychiatrist will determine if psychotherapy is recommended and how it may be best implemented.
While all our Adelpha psychiatrists are highly trained and experienced in a variety of evidenced-based psychotherapy techniques, we respect and value existing therapeutic relationships. If you have an established therapeutic relationship with another therapist, our psychiatrists are more than happy to coordinate with your existing therapist to ensure continued collaborative care.
Yes.
Adelpha provides Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a well-established FDA-cleared treatment for certain psychiatric conditions including depression, anxious depression, and OCD.
TMS is offered in-house as part of our comprehensive psychiatric care model.
During a consultation, your physician can help determine whether TMS may be an appropriate treatment option.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, non-medication treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions involved in mood regulation, anxiety, and OCD.
TMS is FDA-cleared for certain psychiatric conditions and may be considered when symptoms have not improved sufficiently with other treatments.
There is no single timeline that applies to everyone.
Some patients benefit from short-term treatment focused on a specific concern, while others benefit from ongoing support over a longer period of time.
Treatment recommendations depend on diagnosis, goals, symptom severity, and individual circumstances.
Medication refills are generally managed during scheduled visits whenever possible.
If you need a refill between appointments, please allow up to 48 business hours for processing.
Urgent after-hours refill requests handled through the on-call physician may incur additional fees.
05
Yes, for eligible patients.
Telehealth may be available when clinically appropriate and will be discussed during the consultation process.
Eligibility is determined based on clinical needs, treatment recommendations, and applicable regulations.
Patients must be physically located in California at the time of their appointment, including telehealth visits.
This requirement exists because psychiatric providers must comply with California licensing regulations.
06
Adelpha participates with several insurance plans, including:
• Aetna
• Cigna
• ComPsych
• CSULA
• HMC Healthworks
• Lyra
• UCSHIP
Coverage varies by plan and individual policy.
Our team can help review your benefits before treatment begins.
Many insurance plans provide coverage for psychiatric evaluations, medication management, psychotherapy, and other mental health services.
Coverage varies significantly between plans, so our team can help verify benefits and explain coverage details before treatment begins.
Adelpha provides courtesy out-of-network billing for eligible patients.
Payment is due at the time of service, and reimbursement is dependent upon your specific insurance plan.
Current cash-pay rates include:
Please contact our office for the most current fee schedule.
07
Medical records can be requested through the Patient Portal or by contacting our office directly.
Requests are processed securely and may require several business days to complete.
08
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide at least 48 hours’ notice.
Late cancellations and missed appointments will result in a fee.
Current fees include:
• $200 for psychiatrist appointments
• $150 for marriage and family therapist appointments
Please contact the office if you have questions regarding appointment policies.
For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.
09
Encino Office
6345 Balboa Blvd., Suite 365, Building 3
Encino, CA 91316
Pasadena Office
525 Cordova Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
Oakland Office
1970 Broadway, Suite 940
Oakland, CA 94612
Encino
Paid on-site parking is available.
Pasadena
Free on-site parking is available.
Oakland
Street parking and nearby public parking options are available.
*BART Metro Stop is located in the basement of our building.
Our team is happy to help.
Whether you have questions about insurance, appointments, providers, services, or next steps, reaching out is a reasonable place to start.
Adelpha provides thoughtful, comprehensive psychiatric care for patients and families who want clear guidance, qualified support, and care that sees the whole person.
Apply Now
"*" indicates required fields
