Frequently Asked Questions

Complete the contact form on our Contact page or email us at office@montereybaypsychiatry.com. Tell us a bit about who needs care and what's bringing you in. We'll respond within one business day to discuss next steps and scheduling.

Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks. We keep waitlists short by design — one of the key reasons Monterey Bay Psychiatry was founded was to improve access to timely psychiatric care in the Monterey Bay area.

We see patients ages 5 to 85. Our provider is dual-certified in both pediatric and psychiatric nursing, which means we have specialized expertise across the lifespan — from young children through older adults.

Both. We offer in-person appointments in Monterey, CA and telehealth appointments for patients throughout all of California. Many patients choose telehealth for follow-up appointments and come in person for their initial evaluation — though telehealth is available for all appointment types.

We are currently a self-pay (cash-pay) practice. We are actively credentialing with Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield and will begin accepting these plans once credentialing is complete. Existing patients will be notified when this happens.

Yes — we provide detailed superbills (itemized receipts with diagnosis and procedure codes) upon request. If you have a PPO plan, you may be able to submit your superbill to your insurance company for partial reimbursement for out-of-network psychiatric care. Contact your insurance provider directly to ask about your out-of-network benefits before your first appointment.

Psychiatric Evaluation: $350 | ADHD Evaluation: $500 | 60-minute Follow-up: $325 | 30-minute Follow-up: $225 | Brief Follow-up: $175. All fees are due at the time of service. See our Services & Pricing page for full details.

We require 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Late cancellations and no-shows are subject to a cancellation fee. Your appointment time is reserved specifically for you — if you need to make changes, please let us know as early as possible.

Yes — ADHD evaluation and treatment is one of our core specialties. We offer comprehensive ADHD evaluations for children, teens, and adults. The evaluation includes a clinical interview, validated rating scales, developmental and medical history review, and a diagnostic assessment. ADHD evaluations are 75–90 minutes and are priced at $500.

No referral is required. You can contact us directly to schedule. Some schools and employers may have specific requirements for documentation — if you need a particular format of report, let us know when you reach out so we can discuss what we can provide.

Yes. Our provider holds an active DEA registration and is licensed to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, including stimulant medications used in ADHD treatment (such as Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin). Prescriptions are sent electronically to your pharmacy.

Yes — for patients under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present for all appointments. For initial evaluations especially, parental input is critical to a thorough assessment. For older teens, we may also include time to speak with your teen privately, with parental consent.

We see children as young as age 5. Our provider's dual certification in pediatric nursing gives us specialized expertise in evaluating and treating psychiatric conditions in young children — including early-onset ADHD, anxiety, and behavioral challenges.

We can provide documentation of diagnoses and treatment that may be relevant to school-based support plans. We don't typically attend IEP meetings directly, but we're happy to communicate with school teams by phone or letter with your written consent.

Prescriptions are sent electronically (e-prescribe) directly to your preferred pharmacy. For controlled substances like stimulants, we are required to send prescriptions electronically under California law — no paper prescriptions for Schedule II medications.

In most cases, yes — with appropriate medical history and a completed initial evaluation. We will not refill controlled substances without conducting our own evaluation first. Please bring a list of your current medications to your first appointment, and have your previous provider send records if possible.