Getting started begins with a brief, complimentary introductory call. This is a short, pressure-free conversation designed to understand what you are seeking and to determine whether the practice is a good fit. If we decide to move forward, next steps are discussed clearly and thoughtfully.
2. What happens during the introductory call?
The introductory call is a 10–15 minute conversation focused on clarity and fit. We discuss what has prompted you to reach out, what you are hoping for, and whether working together feels appropriate.
This call is not a medical visit and does not involve diagnosis or treatment.
3. What happens after the introductory call?
After the call, one of three outcomes usually follows:
You may be invited to schedule an Initial Evaluation
You may be placed on a priority waitlist if availability is limited
You may be guided toward another resource that is a better fit
All outcomes are handled with care and transparency.
4. What types of concerns do you work with?
I work with adults navigating anxiety, inattention, life transitions, and periods of reflection or reassessment. Many patients seek care during moments when roles are shifting, priorities are changing, or the direction of the next stage of life is not yet clear.
Some individuals are seeking thoughtful psychiatric support while reflecting on midlife, aging, and the second half of life.
5. Do you see people younger than 50? Do you see children or adolescents?
While many patients are drawn to this practice during midlife and beyond, I work with adults of various ages.
I do not see children or adolescents. This practice is designed specifically for adult psychiatric care.
6. What do you mean by “life transitions”?
Life transitions are periods when familiar roles, routines, or expectations begin to shift or are ending. These may include career changes, retirement, caregiving responsibilities, health changes, relationship transitions, or broader periods of personal reassessment.
These moments often prompt reflection about direction, priorities, and how one wishes to live the years ahead.
My approach blends careful psychiatric evaluation, thoughtful medication management when appropriate, and insight-oriented psychotherapy.
Treatment is collaborative and intentionally paced. Our work often explores how life experiences, patterns of thinking, and major transitions influence emotional health and direction in life.
Medication may play a role when helpful, but it is never the sole focus of care. The broader goal is to support clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of direction over time.
8. Do you prescribe medication or supplements?
Yes, when clinically appropriate. Medication decisions are made carefully and collaboratively, with attention to benefits, risks, and individual context.
I aim to simplify medication regimens whenever possible. Supplements may be discussed as supportive tools, but they are not a substitute for thoughtful psychiatric care.
9. Do you accept insurance or Medicare?
No. Renaissance of Mind is a private-pay practice and does not participate in insurance networks or Medicare. Superbills are not provided.
Private pay means that services are paid for directly by the patient at the time of service, using a payment method on file. This structure allows for longer visits, greater flexibility, and individualized care without insurance constraints or third-party involvement in treatment decisions.
10. What if I am Medicare-eligible?
If you are Medicare-eligible, including individuals who are age 65 or older, you must notify the practice before scheduling.
Federal regulations require that Medicare-eligible individuals who receive private-pay psychiatric services do so under a private Medicare contract. This contract does not change your care.
It simply confirms that:
Medicare will not be involved as a payer
Services will not be billed to Medicare
You are choosing to receive care on a private-pay basis
If you wish to proceed, the contract will be provided for review and signature before services begin, and any questions will be answered clearly.
11. Do you offer telepsychiatry throughout California?
Yes. I provide secure telepsychiatry services for adults who must be located anywhere in California at the time of their appointment.
Patients commonly seek care from across the state, including Greater Los Angeles, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, the San Francisco Bay Area, and other regions where thoughtful, depth-oriented psychiatric care may be less accessible locally.
In-person visits in Calabasas are uncommon and offered selectively when clinically appropriate rather than as a routine option.
12. Who is this practice not a good fit for?
This practice is designed for outpatient, non-urgent psychiatric care. It is not within the practice scope to provide emergency services, crisis intervention, or certain specialized treatments.
A detailed description is available on the Practice Scope and Fit page, where the types of situations best suited for this practice are described.
13. Do you use AI? Is my information confidential?
Technology may be used thoughtfully to support documentation and administrative efficiency. Patient confidentiality is never compromised.
No identifying patient information is entered into public or consumer AI systems. All protected health information is handled exclusively within HIPAA-compliant platforms under strict privacy safeguards.
14. Do you offer emergency or crisis services?
No. Renaissance of Mind provides non-urgent outpatient psychiatric care only and does not offer emergency, crisis, or on-call services
If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or are in immediate danger, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
15. How can I express my communication preferences? Can I share personal or medical details by phone or email?
After care is established, you may share your preferences for how you’d like to be contacted (phone, voicemail, text, or email), including which methods you prefer first and what types of messages feel appropriate for each.
The secure patient portal (MYIO by Valant) is the primary way clinical information is communicated. In certain time-sensitive situations, brief clinical messages may be shared through other methods when appropriate or when portal messages have not been acknowledged. Ongoing clinical discussions are handled through scheduled visits or the patient portal to ensure thoughtful, confidential care.
16. Why do people choose a private-pay psychiatric practice?
Many patients value the ability to work at a slower, more thoughtful pace without insurance constraints. Private-pay care allows for longer visits, deeper conversations, and a more personal therapeutic relationship.
Many patients find that this structure supports clarity, continuity, and care that feels thoughtful rather than rushed.