FAQs

What’s the difference between psychiatry and therapy?

  • Both are ways of addressing mental health issues, but they differ in their approach, focus, and the professionals involved.  Psychiatry involves using medications and medical treatments to manage mental health conditions.  Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed medical school followed by years of specialty training.  Therapy focuses on talking and problem-solving techniques to help individuals cope with emotional or behavioral issues.  Therapists include various professionals like psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and mental health counselors.

  • We understand that medication is not for everyone, and we respect our patients’ preferences regarding their treatment.  We are happy to provide an initial evaluation, treatment recommendations, and referrals to therapists as needed.  While we may recommend medications as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, the final decision is always up to you.

What age range do you see?

  • 18 years and older.  For senior populations, a referral to a geriatric psychiatrist may be necessary to better address neurocognitive disorders and polypharmacy.

Can you provide documentation for FMLA, disability, custody disputes, or other court-ordered psychological evaluations?

  • We provide necessary documentation only for patients who have been under Dr. Sanders’ care for at least 6 months.  We believe this is necessary as a patient’s psychological fitness is best assessed with longitudinal care.

Do you use medication-assisted treatment options for opioid addiction?

  • We are happy to provide referrals for MAT, but our office does not prescribe Suboxone, Subutex, or methadone.

What are your self-pay rates?

  • Our current rates for Dr. Sanders are $375 for an initial evaluation (up to 60 minutes) and $175 for follow-up appointments (up to 20 minutes).  These rates are subject to change.

Do you charge any additional fees?

  • $75 for paperwork such as ESA letters, requests for work/school accommodations, pre-surgical clearances

  • $75 for no-shows or late cancellations (we require 24-hour notice for cancellations)

  • $20 for returned checks

How often will I need to be seen in order to maintain the doctor-patient relationship?

  • This differs by the individual.  Typically, Dr. Sanders sees patients about once a month until a patient feels comfortable with his/her medication regimen, then appointment intervals can range from one to six months.  If a patient is not seen for over one year, the doctor-patient relationship is assumed to be terminated, and a new psychiatric evaluation will need to be scheduled to reinstate care.  A first evaluation is considered a consultation for mutual fit and does not automatically constitute a patient-doctor relationship.