Frequently Asked Questions | Concordis Behavioral Health

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. They have broad medical training and can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, prescribe medications, and provide therapy.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is a registered nurse with advanced training, education (Master’s degree or higher), and expertise in mental health care. Both are able to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, prescribe medications, and offer therapy. PMHNPs provide compassionate and comprehensive care to their patients, contributing positively to the field of mental health.

We are not currently credentialed with insurance companies. Your health insurance may still be willing to cover part of our service expenses, however. We offer superbills for reimbursement submission. We encourage anyone interested in using health insurance to contact their insurance provider and inquire about their “out of network” compensation.

If you have a simple situation that requires brief 15-20 minute appointments solely for medication refills, it may make more sense to find a provider within your insurance network. If, however, you're searching for a reliable partner in your mental health journey, someone who devotes time and energy to address your complexities and carefully selects therapeutic approaches to customize treatment according to your needs, then seeking an out-of-network provider like Concordis may be the optimal choice for you.

At Concordis, medications are one of many tools we utilize to support our clients on their wellness journey. We take great care in the decision-making process, ensuring that our clients have a fundamental understanding of why particular medications are chosen and what outcomes to anticipate. Our aim is to develop a treatment plan that aligns with your comfort level and individual needs. By integrating medications with other therapeutic approaches, we strive to minimize the amount medications utilized and often times, the duration of use. It's about finding the right balance and combination of treatments to best support your well-being.

Currently, the providers at Concordis do not prescribe or provide psychedelic assisted therapy. This type of therapy entails a therapist being present with an individual during a psychedelic experience. Ketamine is currently the only psychedelic that is legal to prescribe and utilize for therapeutic uses in California.

Our role for now is to assist with client evaluations to determine if clients are suitable candidates for this type of treatment. We also provide education on the various options available, benefits, risks, and expected outcomes. When appropriate, we offer safe medication changes from a “harm reduction” standpoint, referral to reputable providers who offer safe and legal services, and post psychedelic journey supportive or “integrative” therapy sessions.

Your journey with Concordis starts with free, 15 minute telephone consultation to determine if our providers are the right fit for you. You can do so by clicking here.

Your first appointment (the comprehensive psychiatric evaluation) will be scheduled during the consultation. Later, you will receive an email with instructions for creating your EHR profile account and filling out the necessary “new client” paperwork.