Common Questions
FAQs
Yes, we keep a waitlist for a number of reasons:
- If you would like to see a specific provider who does not currently have any openings.
- If you prefer to use insurance and we do not have any providers with current openings who are in-network with your plan.
- If would like a specific type of therapy (i.e., couples counseling, children under 18, EMDR, etc.).
In Washington State, ARNPs specializing in psychiatry diagnose mental illnesses, provide psychiatric care, prescribe psychotropic medications, administer risk assessments, and help coordinate treatment between primary care providers and other behavioral health providers.
Please know that if you are looking for a board-certified psychiatrist or a neuropsychologist, we do not currently have one on staff.
Our ARNPs can assist you with:
- personal and psychopathology
- emotional
- cognitive
- behavioral
They, however, cannot assist you with the following tests (these are required to be performed by a neuropsychologist):
- language delays or difficulties
- fine motor deficits
- intellectual disabilities
- autism spectrum disorders
- giftedness
- learning disabilities
- traumatic brain injuries
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FAQs–
We understand that starting medication can feel urgent when you're struggling, and we're here to support you.
In most cases, prescriptions are not given at the very first appointment. Your first visit is typically an evaluation, where your clinician will take time to understand your symptoms, history, and needs. This thorough assessment helps us make safe and effective treatment recommendations, which may or may not include medication.
If medication is appropriate, your provider will discuss options with you and can often prescribe it at a follow-up appointment, or sometimes sooner depending on the situation.
- Please know:
- Our goal is to ensure any medication is safe and well-suited for you.
- If you're in urgent need, let us know—our team will do our best to support you.
For some patients, therapy, lifestyle changes, or other supports may be recommended before or alongside medication.
If you have questions after your initial visit, don’t hesitate to reach out. We're here to help you feel better, one step at a time. Please note - per DEA regulations, regardless of provider, we require that you must be seen in person by your provider at least once per year for ongoing medication prescriptions and long term management.
Typically, new patients can expect the following process:
- Initial evaluation appointment: During your first visit, your provider will conduct a comprehensive assessment to understand your symptoms, medical history, and treatment needs.
- Treatment planning: Based on this evaluation, your provider will discuss treatment options with you, which may include medication, therapy, or a combination of approaches.
- Prescription timeline: If medication is determined to be appropriate, your provider may:
- Prescribe medication at the end of your first appointment
- Schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss medication options (typically within 1-2 weeks)
- Until a good medication match is working, you might see the provider every 2-4 weeks, otherwise typical follow up medication management appointments are every 4-6 weeks.
- We may request additional information (such as lab work or records from previous providers) before prescribing
- Factors affecting timing: Several factors can influence how quickly you receive a prescription:
- Complexity of your symptoms
- Medical history
- Need for additional assessments
- Type of medication being considered
Please note that certain medications (such as controlled substances) may require additional steps before prescribing, including specific evaluations or documentation.
If you have urgent concerns about your symptoms, please let our staff know so we can prioritize your care appropriately.
To contact your psychiatric provider, Geoffrey Fong or Tim Richardson, you can message them via your patient portal.
To contact your talk therapist, please email them directly.
If you would like to schedule a follow-up appointment with your psychiatric provider, Geoffrey Fong or Tim Richardson, please contact the client care team at clientcare@pspseattle.com or (206) 669-4336.
If you would like to schedule a follow up appointment with your talk therapist, please contact your provider directly via email or the patient portal.
To request a refill, please contact your provider through your patient portal. Please do not initiate refill requests through your pharmacy as they do not sync with our medication refill system. Please allow at least 3-4 business days to process your refill as we do not provide 24 hour or weekend care and currently most pharmacies are experiencing staffing shortages, medication shortages, and additional delays. If you are in a crisis and need a refill on shorter notice, you can try to escalate your refill request by notifying the care team (after sending the original request via the patient portal) and you can also contact your primary care or urgent care for a short term bridge prescription as we may not be able to refill on short notice.
Yes, this information is critical, we must know any plan you are on! Even if you are on any secondary insurance that you know we do not accept, it is critical information for us. For your insurance to cover your services with PSP you will need to call and request a coordination of benefits with BOTH plans, explaining which plan you want to designate as your primary plan to use with PSP. Otherwise your claims will be denied and you will be responsible for the bill.
If your insurance changes, please reach out to us at helpdesk@pspseattle.com or (206) 207-7860 as soon as possible so that we can coordinate payment moving forward. If we do not have current insurance information, you may be responsible for the out of pocket private pay cost for any denied sessions.
We ask that your card be on file in your patient portal prior to your first appointment because we collect payment automatically at time of service. All clients are required to have an active card on file in order to receive services. As part of your intake paperwork you will be asked to sign a credit card authorization form acknowledging that you understand and consent to this policy. Without this form signed and a card on file, you cannot receive services at PSP. If this policy does not work for you, we are sad to lose your business and wish you the best in working with a clinic with a different policy.
We have providers who accept:
- Premera Blue Cross
- Regence Blue Shield
- Out-of-state Blue Cross Blue Shield plans (coverage may vary)
- Kaiser PPO and HOM
- Lifewise
- First Choice Health Network
- Aetna
- Cigna (medication management only)
- Tricare (coming January 1, 2025)
- Medicare (coming later in 2025, please check back in January 2025 for a status update)
Not all PSP providers accept all insurance plans. Please get in touch with our client care team to confirm the plans accepted by your provider.
We do not accept Apple Health, Medicaid, Medicare, Molina, or UnitedHealth at this time. If your insurance plan changes, please make sure your provider accepts your new insurance plan before scheduling your next appointment.