Frequently asked questions

After we schedule your appointment, you'll receive a secure video link. At your appointment time, click the link from your phone, tablet, or computer and you'll meet Anthony face to face over video, just like an in person visit, minus the commute. Find a private, comfortable space with a reliable internet connection.

Yes. Research consistently shows that telepsychiatry is as effective as in person care for most conditions, including depression and anxiety. Many patients actually prefer it for the privacy, comfort, and convenience.

You must be physically located in California at the time of your visit. This is a California based telehealth practice.

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We currently treat adults ages 18 and older.

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Insurance participation is being finalized. Please contact us for the most current list of accepted plans. Self pay options are available for everyone.

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Our fee schedule is being finalized. Contact us for current self pay rates for initial evaluations and follow up visits.

Yes, when they are the right fit for your care. Stimulants are at times considered for ADHD, benzodiazepines for anxiety or panic, and sleep medications such as zolpidem (Ambien) for sleep. Any controlled medication is prescribed only after a full evaluation, when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, and with close ongoing follow up.

Prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice. Controlled substances are prescribed when clinically indicated, as described in the question above.

Most daily medications for depression and anxiety take 2 to 6 weeks to show their full benefit, though sleep and appetite sometimes improve earlier. That said, some patients do report feeling a little better sooner, often in the first week or two, even though the full effect takes longer. That early shift is real and worth mentioning to your prescriber. If you notice no change at all after several weeks, tell your prescriber rather than adjusting anything on your own. As needed medications for anxiety work much faster, usually within an hour. You can learn more on our medications page.

Because the same medication can look completely different depending on who made it. Every generic manufacturer uses its own color, shape, and size, so your sertraline from one pharmacy may be a small white tablet and from another pharmacy a large blue oval, and both are exactly the same medicine. That is why pill color alone can never identify a medication, and guessing by color is unsafe because lookalike pills can be totally different drugs. The reliable way to identify a pill is the imprint code stamped on it, matched against the pharmacy label on your bottle. If you are ever unsure what you have, bring the bottle or send a photo of the label, not just a description of the color.

Serotonin syndrome is a rare but serious condition caused by too much serotonin activity, almost always from combining medicines or supplements that raise serotonin. Warning signs that appear together, usually within hours of a new medicine, a dose increase, or a new supplement, include agitation or confusion, sweating, fever, fast heartbeat, tremor, muscle twitching or stiffness, and nausea or diarrhea. Severe cases with high fever, rigid muscles, or confusion need emergency care. The best prevention is telling your prescriber about every medicine, supplement, and over the counter product you take. Read more on our medications page.

Take it when you remember, unless it is close to the time for your next dose. Never take two doses at once to catch up. If you miss more than a day or two, or you are unsure what to do, contact your prescriber or pharmacist before restarting. Some medications cause withdrawal like symptoms when doses are missed, which is another reason to check in rather than guessing.

Nausea, headache, dry mouth, drowsiness or mild restlessness, and changes in sleep or appetite are common in the first week or two and often fade as your body adjusts. Call your prescriber promptly if side effects feel severe, do not ease up, or interfere with daily life. Seek care right away for signs of an allergic reaction, thoughts of harming yourself, or sudden dramatic changes in mood, energy, or behavior, especially in the first weeks of treatment or after a dose change.

It is safest to avoid alcohol. Alcohol can worsen depression and anxiety on its own, increase drowsiness and dizziness from many medications, and interfere with how well treatment works. If avoiding alcohol feels difficult, that is worth discussing openly with your prescriber rather than hiding it.

Not necessarily. Many people take medication for a defined chapter, often 6 to 12 months after feeling better, then taper off slowly with their prescriber if appropriate. Others with recurrent or long standing conditions choose longer treatment, the way someone might stay on medication for blood pressure. The decision is revisited over time based on your history, your response, and your preferences. What matters most is never stopping suddenly on your own.

No. These medications do not create a new personality. The goal is to lift the symptoms that are burying the one you already have. Most people describe feeling more like themselves: clearer, steadier, and more able to enjoy things. If you ever feel flat, numb, or unlike yourself, that is important feedback for your prescriber, and adjustments can usually address it.

Your initial evaluation (about 60 minutes) is a thorough, unhurried conversation: your history, current symptoms, prior treatments, and goals. Together we'll build a treatment plan, and you'll leave knowing exactly what the next steps are.

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Practice hours are being finalized. Evening and weekend availability will be listed here once confirmed.

This practice does not provide emergency or crisis care. If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.

Just head to our contact page and send us a message with your name and the best way to reach you. We'll follow up within one to two business days to schedule your initial visit. Please don't include medical details in your message.