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What can I expect from my first appointment?

 

During your evaluation appointment, your provider will:

  • Review your new patient paperwork and assessments

  • Discuss your current life circumstances, challenges, and mental health goals

  • Provide a diagnosis based on the evaluation

  • Recommend appropriate medication(s), if needed

Note: Prescriptions will be sent to your preferred pharmacy by the end of the business day.

How long is my first appointment?

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The first appointment can be up to 1 hour. 

Can you test for Autism?

 

Our providers can not test/evaluate for Autism. Qualified healthcare professionals who can evaluate for autism include: Pediatricians and Psychologists.

How often do I need to see my provider?
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After you first appointment, your provider will schedule you for follow up visits. Follow-up visits are typically 20 minutes long and are used to monitor your response to medication and make any necessary adjustments. The frequency of these visits depends on the type of medication prescribed. Medications classified as controlled substances (such as those used for ADHD) require more frequent follow-ups.

I think I have ADHD, can your providers diagnose and prescribe medications for ADHD?
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Your first appointment with us is a full psychiatric evaluation, which includes an assessment for ADHD.

  • If the provider determines that you meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis during this initial session, they will provide the diagnosis and discuss appropriate medication options.

  • If the diagnosis is not clear-cut, the provider may refer you to a psychologist for more in-depth testing.

Please note: The ADHD evaluation is covered by your insurance as part of the initial psychiatric evaluation with our practice.

Do you offer talk therapy? 
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​No, our providers specialize in medication management only. These are 20-minute appointments focused on ensuring that you are on the correct medication and dosage.

Talk therapy is typically provided by a psychologist, therapist, or counselor. We encourage all patients to seek talk therapy in addition to medication management for the most comprehensive care.

To find a talk therapy provider that meets your needs, we recommend visiting www.psychologytoday.com, where you can filter by insurance, in-person or virtual sessions, specialty, and more.

Why do I need to set up a patient portal (Breeze) account?

 

We ask all patients create an account in our Breeze patient portal.

Breeze is where you can:

  • Communicate securely with your provider outside of appointments

  • View your prescribed medications

  • Access billing and account information

  • Manage upcoming appointments

After creating your account, be sure to download the app: “Breeze for Patients” from the App Store or Google Play for easy access on your mobile device.

When I send a message to my provider on Breeze when can I expect a response?

 

Per our practice policies, please allow up to 2 business days for your provider to respond to:

  • Secure messages

  • Prescription refill requests

Our providers are actively seeing patients during business hours. They review and respond to messages during lunch and at the end of the day.

Once you send a message through Breeze, there is no need to call the office with the same request. Rest assured, your message will reach your provider.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

I need a letter written by my provider or a form filled out, can this be done during my regular follow up?

 

We’re happy to help with letters and forms, but please know that these requests require a separate appointment. Your regular follow-up visit is 20 minutes long and focused on medication management. Because our providers are seeing patients throughout the day, they use their breaks and after-hours time to catch up on messages and refill requests.

We receive a lot of form and letter requests each day. To make sure your provider has the time and focus to complete yours properly—and to avoid delays for other patients—we kindly ask that you schedule a dedicated appointment for these needs.

This helps us support our providers’ work-life balance so they can continue giving great care to you and others. Thanks so much for understanding!

How to cancel an appointment?

 

Need to cancel? No problem! Ensure you are cancelling at least 24 business hours notice to avoid a fee. Per our policies, here are the two reliable ways to cancel an appointment:

  1. Call our main office at 919-589-1204 during business hours

  2. Cancel directly through the Breeze patient portal (see instructions)

 

Please don’t do the following:

  • Do not message your provider — they may not see it in time, and our admin team handles re-scheduling

  • Do not reply to the (784) text reminder — it's an automated system and not monitored​

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We appreciate you following these steps to help us stay organized and on time for all our patients!

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1. Locate the appointment you need to cancel under the appointments tab. 
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2. Select "Cancel/Reschedule Appointment"
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NOTE: if the "Cancel/Reschedule Appointment" button is gone, it is less than 24 hrs to your appointment, a cancellation fee will apply. 
Why do I need to have a credit card on file?

 

To make billing as simple and secure as possible, we require all patients to keep a credit card on file.

Having a card on file allows us to:

  • Quickly process any copays, deductibles, or balances after insurance has processed your claim

  • Reduce paperwork and delays in billing

  • Ensure that your account stays up to date without the need for repeated reminders or manual payments

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This policy helps us stay focused on providing you with high-quality care—without billing disruptions.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

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Why do I pay more while using my insurance VS paying the self pay rate?
 

1. Contracted Insurance Rates Are Often Higher
Insurance companies negotiate different rates with providers. These are often higher than the discounted self-pay rates, For example:

  • BCBS 20-min visit: ~$200+

  • Aetna 20-min visit: ~$140

  • Self-pay 20-min visit: $150 (flat rate)

If your insurance contracted rate is higher than the self-pay rate and you haven’t met your deductible, you are responsible for the full contracted rate, which is often more expensive than self pay.

 

2. Deductibles Must Be Met First
If your plan has a high deductible, you have to pay all the costs up to that amount before insurance starts helping:
Until the deductible is met, you pay 100% of each visit at the contracted rate.

After it’s met, insurance starts to cover visits — sometimes fully, sometimes partially (via coinsurance).

So, if your deductible is $2,000 and you’ve only met $200, you’ll keep paying full contracted prices until the rest is met — which can cost more than the self-pay rate in the short term.

 

 3. Self-Pay = Flat Discounted Rates
Self-pay patients don’t deal with deductibles or coinsurance. Instead, they get flat discounted rates up front — cheaper per visit if your deductible hasn’t been met yet.
Our self pay rates are as follows: 

  • New patient appointment - $300

  • 20 min follow up - $150

  • 40 min follow up.- $200

 

 4. You Can’t Switch Mid-Year
If you choose to go self-pay, the practice must keep you as self-pay for the rest of the calendar year — even after you meet your deductible. This rule avoids complications with insurance rules and billing audits.

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How do I connect to my virtual appointment?

 

The morning of your appointment, you’ll receive a text message reminder with the link to your virtual session. This link never changes—it’s the same for all of your visits with your provider.

You can also find your provider’s virtual appointment link at the top of our website under “Virtual Appointment Links.” Feel free to bookmark the link on your computer or phone for easy access.

You may join your session using a cell phone, computer, or tablet. Internet access is not required if you are using cellular data on your phone.

 

For patients under 18: A parent or legal guardian must be present during the session. They don’t need to be in the same location—our platform supports 3-way video calls.

 

Important:
While our patient portal, Breeze, may offer a video session option, please do not use it. We do not conduct appointments through Breeze due to previous connection issues.
Always use the link sent via text the morning of your appointment.

Phone: 919.589.1204

Fax: 919.589.1264

Mon - Thu: 8:00 am - 4pm

Fri appt hours- inquire about

Sat- Sun: Closed

 

Raleigh Wellness and Behavioral  Health does not have after-hours answering services or emergency care. If you feel as though you or someone you know may be in a crisis or emergency situation please call 911 and report to the nearest emergency department for evaluation.

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Raleigh Psychiatry - Medication Management - Behavioral Health - Virtual Mental Health - New Patients Welcome

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