How do I know if I need medication management?
The choice of medication vs other modalities of treatment such as psychotherapy can be determined after initial evaluation. Medication management is offered based on evidence-based medicine rather than experimental or anecdotal reports.
How do I know if I need psychotherapy?
This is also determined after the initial evaluation and would depend on multiple factors including the level of stability, the level of impairment and your personal preference.
Is everyone eligible for psychodynamic psychotherapy?
Not everyone is a good candidate for psychodynamic therapy, multiple factors such as (but not limited to) psychological mindedness and life stability can be involved in making the decision to start this type of psychotherapy which may be anxiety provoking to some
Would I benefit from a combination of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments?
Yes, many people would benefit from both although it would depend on many factors including your availability and time, financial considerations and specific condition you are looking to improve.
How do I know how much time I need for my visit?
While certain situations such as initial evaluation as well as medication management plus psychotherapy require 60 minutes, other situations can be discussed in the context and decided upon on a case-by-case basis. For instance, it is recommended that the second visit for medication management (first follow-up visit after initial evaluation) be 30 minutes as there may be remaining questions about the medication, mode of administration and expectations from it. However, under certain circumstances, it can be decided that more than 20 minutes is not required for the same kind of visit if the condition is straightforward.
Once the stability is achieved, for medication management only visits, more than 15-minute appointments may not be required.
What frequency of visits is required for medication management?
When active medication adjustments are being implemented, meeting within 2-4 weeks is recommended although there are exceptions as some medications take longer to take effect. Once stability/remission is achieved, provided you are not on controlled drugs, quarterly visits (every 3 months) is standard for psychiatry for most cases although there can be exceptions in this category as well.
What is the frequency of visits for medication management and psychotherapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy alone?
Twice weekly or once weekly is recommended, less than once a week is not likely to produce results and twice weekly can lead to more rapid and noticeable results. Consistency in attendance is a major factor in the success of this kind of therapy.
What is the duration of psychodynamic psychotherapy?
While this depends on your availability, generally this type of psychoanalytically informed therapy is long-term, often for years, although variations of this method for short-term (6-12month do exist)
What if I need documentation for my condition to present to work or school, or other types of paperwork?
This can be done in-between visits for a fee or during the visit (longer duration than typical appointment length recommended depending on the amount of paperwork). It is recommended that these tasks be done during the visit, particularly when certain details such as dates are involved. While straightforward types of paperwork such as letter for Emotional Support Animal or requesting accommodations from school for ADHD related issues can be done outside of regular visits, FMLA forms and other kinds of forms requiring dates and other specific information are best completed during the visit to avoid need for revisions which may end up being more costly for you.
What is the fee for each type of visit/service?
The fees based on the type of visit:
- Initial evaluation for 60 minutes: $500
- Second opinion evaluation up to 90 minutes/complex intake requiring review of external documents or collateral information from family member etc: $650
- Medication management + psychodynamic psychotherapy for 60 minutes : $500
- Medication management for 30 minutes : $300
- Medication management for 15 minutes : $220
- Paperwork/documentation in between visits: starting from $80 depending on the number of pages, complexity etc. (it is highly recommended that you consider doing the paperwork during your visit to avoid revisions)
- Two packages are available with 10 and 15% discounts for those who enrol in psychopharmacology + psychotherapy and would prefer advance payment at a discounted fee for 24 sessions withing a 6 month period and 48 sessions within a 12 month period, respectively. For details, please log in to patient portal after your intake appointment. Please do not enrol in these packages until determination for suitability of psychodynamic therapy is completed.
What if I change my mind about continuing the 12 or 24 session packages?
These packages are non-refundable.
It is recommended that you subscribe to these packages only if you are determined to continue psychodynamic psychotherapy for at least 6 months (brief psychodynamic psychotherapy) or (more commonly) for longer term (often times for years).
How should I pay for my visits?
The appointments can be reserved without payment initially although they can only be confirmed once payment is completed 24 hours before appointments. The patient portal is a secure way for paying via debit/credit cards, you may save your information or opt to enter it each time you book an appointment.
If you wish to pay for multiple visits in advance or enrol in the packages (24 and 48 session options), you can also pay by cashier’s, or personal check mailed to:
275 Greenwich St, Apt 9J
New York, NY 10007
Checks should be made payable to either of these:
1. Ramteen Rezai MD Integrative Psychiatry, PLLC
2. Ramteen Rezai, MD
3. NYCity Psychiatry
If you are considering other payment methods such as wiring, please send a bank account information request via email
Will insurance cover any of my costs?
This practice is considered ‘out-of-network’ for all insurance carriers. It will be your responsibility to pay for your visits according to the fee schedule and financial terms of the practice, however a receipt may be provided upon request, if you believe your insurance will cover some of your out-of-network costs, you can subsequently submit the receipt to your insurance carrier and get reimbursed for a percentage of your visit fee based on your agreement with your insurance carrier.
Are there any other hidden costs in addition to the above?
No, however keep in mind that you may have to pay for your medications (a copay if you have a health insurance plan), or other recommended therapeutic services
Can I get a copy of my medical records?
Yes, you own your medical records and can request a copy which can be mailed to you within 10 business days for a fee. The fees consist of $0.75 per page for paper copies + the secure mailing costs (will typically require at least tracking option). For electronic copies the fees would include the cost of labor for copying the records, supplies, etc and will be calculated depending on the requested records. The fees will be collected prior to mailing out the documents. There are rare exceptions to the above depending on your location.
How will I securely receive sensitive health information such as medical records or completed forms/paperwork electronically or via mail?
Compliance with HIPAA is of utmost importance at this practice and every effort will be made for securely transferring sensitive health care information although note that there is minimal risk associated with electronic transfer of information. Regarding using mail services for sending forms or medical recorder, the type of risk is different and it is recommended that expedited courier/post with tracking options and signature upon receipt be used which makes the process more secure.
What if I need translation services for a visit?
You are not responsible for covering the fees for translation services, however, there may be an additional session needed to complete the intake and in case of follow-up, a longer appointment may be required to cover the required time to obtain adequate information for more accurate medical decision making. While professional translation services bound by HIPAA regulations are suggested in many cases, if you prefer a family member to translate for you, you may do so after a consent form is signed for this purpose.