Frequent Asked Questions

Scheduling Your AppointmentYosemite Psychiatry & Wellness uses Headway for appointment booking, insurance, and billing. Our clinical intake forms and medical information are completed separately through Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness.Before scheduling, please have the following available:A valid photo ID for the patient (or parent/guardian, if applicable)Your current insurance cardA valid credit or debit card to be kept securely on file. Your card will only be charged for patient-authorized balances or in accordance with our practice policies, including applicable late cancellation, no-show, or administrative feesFor the best experience, we recommend completing the forms on a desktop or laptop computer rather than a mobile device.Step 1: Book Your Appointment Through HeadwayBook your appointment through Headway, then follow the prompts to complete your registration. Headway will collect your insurance and billing information and ask you to review and sign their required forms.Step 2: Complete Your Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness Intake FormsAfter booking, you will receive a separate email from Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness <no-reply@optimantra.com> with our new patient intake forms. These forms are detailed and may take some time to complete. We appreciate your patience, as this information allows your provider to review your history and prepare for your appointment.Completed intake forms are required within 48 hours of requesting an initial appointment. Failure to complete the required paperwork within this timeframe may result in your appointment being canceled or rescheduled to allow adequate time for review before your visit.Please send in any previous psychological, ADHD, autism, or other diagnostic testing or evaluation reports prior to your appointment.Your Initial ConsultationPlease check for an email from "Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness" <no-reply@optimantra.com> for your telehealth video link.Your first appointment typically lasts 75 minutes and is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of your mental health concerns, medical history, current symptoms, medications, lifestyle, sleep, relationships, strengths, and treatment goals.This visit may include:A comprehensive psychiatric evaluationDiscussion of your concerns and goalsReview of previous treatments, medications and historyDiagnostic impressionsPersonalized treatment recommendationsEducation about your diagnosis and treatment optionsDevelopment of a collaborative care plan, which may include medication, supportive therapy, lifestyle recommendations, referrals, or other evidence-based treatments tailored to your needsPlease note that your initial appointment is a consultation and does not automatically establish a provider-patient relationship. During this visit, you and your provider will discuss your concerns, review treatment recommendations, and determine if they are a right fit for your needs. If you and your provider mutually agree on a treatment plan and ongoing care, a therapeutic provider-patient relationship will be established.Psychiatric care is often longitudinal, meaning that understanding your mental health develops over time. A diagnosis, medication, or prescription may not be provided during the initial consultation. In some cases, additional information, such as prior medical records, laboratory results, collateral information, or one or more follow-up visits, is needed before an accurate diagnosis or safe treatment recommendations can be made. Our goal is to provide safe, thoughtful, evidence-based care rather than rushing to a diagnosis or prescribing medication before it is clinically appropriate.Healing Is a JourneySeeking help is an important first step, and we are honored to be part of your journey. Meaningful improvement rarely happens overnight. Mental health treatment is a collaborative process, and lasting change often develops over months, not after one or two appointments.Talking about your mental health, relationships, or past experiences can sometimes feel uncomfortable or emotionally challenging. These feelings are a normal part of the healing process. You are never expected to share more than you feel ready to discuss, and we will move at a pace that feels safe, respectful, and supportive.Privacy & Online SchedulingFor your convenience, online scheduling and payment services are provided through secure third-party platforms, including Headway, Optimantra and Stripe. Information you submit (such as your name, contact information, and payment details) may be processed within the scope of each company's privacy policy.

To provide the highest quality patient care and protect your privacy, Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness is a phone-free practice. The best way to reach us is through your secure patient portal or by email at hello@yosemitepsychiatry.com. This allows us to spend more time caring for patients, maintain accurate documentation, and respond thoughtfully to your questions. All non-urgent communication for current patients should be sent through our secure patient portal on Optimantra, where messages become part of your confidential medical record. Portal messages are intended for non-urgent questions, such as medication refill requests, brief follow-up questions, or appointment-related concerns. Please allow up to 3-7 business days for a response. Messages are reviewed during regular business hours and are not monitored evenings, weekends, or holidays.If you would prefer to speak by phone, you may request a phone call through the patient portal or by email, with a brief description of your needs, and we will gladly call you if appropriate.If your concern requires medical decision-making beyond a brief message, you may be asked to schedule a follow-up appointment. Administrative requests such as forms, letters, or disability paperwork may require additional processing time and may be subject to applicable fees.If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or call or text 988 if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, a mental health crisis, or need immediate support. If you believe you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 immediately.

Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness provides secure telepsychiatry services to patients throughout California allowing you to receive high-quality psychiatric care from the comfort and privacy of your home.While telehealth is an effective and convenient option for many patients, it does have certain limitations. For example, some aspects of a physical examination cannot be performed remotely, and federal or state regulations may affect the prescribing of certain controlled medications. When clinically appropriate, laboratory testing, or coordination with your primary care provider may be recommended.In-person appointments is currently on waitlist for select patients in the Mariposa, Ahwahnee, Oakhurst, and Coarsegold region. If you are interested in being added to the in-person waitlist, please email hello@yosemitepsychiatry.com with your name and a brief description of your needs. We will contact you as appointments become available. We look forward to expanding in-person availability as our practice grows.We are excited to expand telepsychiatry services to Oregon and Arizona in Winter 2026.

When you cancel or reschedule less than 48 hours prior to your appointment, or do not show up for your appointment, you prevent someone else from seeking treatment.  You also place a financial burden on the practice.  As a small practice, we can’t stay in business and provide care, if patients repetitively miss, reschedule at the last minute, or continuously cancel appointments.             We hope that you understand why we must put this policy in place. Multiple reminders, in different modalities, are sent to you to remind you of your upcoming appointment. If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, we require at least 48-hour notice (weekends not included). If your appointment is on a Monday, the cancellation must be made by the same hour on the preceding Thursday.  We do offer telehealth appointments.If you do not show up to your appointment, you will not get any refills until you see your provider.   TERMS FOR DISCHARGE FROM THE PRACTICE: Within one calendar year – FOUR (4) - less than 48-hour cancellations, less than 48-hour rescheduling of your appointment, or failure to show up to your appointment will be grounds for dismissal from the practice with a referral to another practitioner.HOW THE FEE WORKS — CASH-PAY AND INSURANCE CLIENTS:Missed-appointment fees are billed directly to credit card on file. Insurance plans do not pay for appointments that did not happen, so this fee is always your direct responsibility, regardless of your coverage.The fee amount is listed on our current Fee Schedule and is charged to the card on file per our Credit Card on File Consent.Medi-care clients: this policy is applied equally to all clients of the practice, as Medicare rules require.Medi-cal clients: where a state Medicaid program limits or prohibits missed-appointment fees, this policy applies only as your state's rules allow.The fee must be resolved before your next appointment is scheduled.

The safety and care of our clients is our number one priority!Controlled substances are prescribed sparingly in this practice in an effort to keep you safe.  They are also highly regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Our prescribing of such medications is monitored, and providers are held accountable for prescribing practices. State laws require that additional measures be taken when prescribing controlled substances.  We want our clients to know how seriously we take the prescribing of these types of medications.  A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications that are designated by law.Many of the medications prescribed for ADHD, Anxiety, and Insomnia are drugs that are considered controlled substances.  Some examples in each category include:ADHD Medications:Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate) Ritalin (Methylphenidate)Adderall (Dextroamphetamine / Amphetamine) or (Amphetamine Salt Combo)Vyvanse  Anxiety Medications:Xanax (Alprazolam)Ativan (Lorazepam)Valium (Diazepam) Klonopin (Clonazepam) Tranxene (Clorazepate)Insomnia Medications:Ambien (Zolpidem) Restoril (Temazepam)Lunesta (Eszopiclone)Belsomra (Suvorexant)Sonata (Zaleplon)It is the expectation of this practice that the controlled medication will be taken as prescribed and not self-adjusted.  This means you will not increase or decrease your dose or stop taking it without talking to your prescribing provider.  Self-adjusting prescribed psychiatric medications can be dangerous and can lead to seizures, or death.  Mixing these controlled medications with other substances such as alcohol, narcotics (pain pills), muscle relaxers, or other controlled substances can also lead to death.Self-adjusting controlled substances will be considered non-compliance. This type of non-compliance will result in discharge from our practice, as it places a huge liability on our ability to safely manage your care.CONTROLLED MEDICATIONS WILL NOT BE REFILLED EARLY.  It is your responsibility to take them only as prescribed.  Insurances will also not pay for them to be filled early.  Please do not call the office asking for them to be refilled early.CONTROLLED MEDICATIONS WILL NOT BE REPLACED.  It is your responsibility to make sure that your medication is kept in a secure place to prevent loss or theft.  If you report to our office that your controlled medication(s) has been lost, misplaced or stolen, it will not be replaced.Monitoring of controlled substances is maintained through the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.  As is required from providers, we obtain, review, and monitor Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs in various states.  This includes monitoring for multiple controlled substances prescriptions, multiple providers, usage of multiple pharmacies, and any activity that could be suspicious for misuse.  We work closely with pharmacies, as they will often call us if they suspect misuse.We expect full disclosure from you on any controlled substances you obtain from other sources (even the Emergency Department) while under our care.  If it is identified that this information has been hidden or omitted by you, it is grounds for immediate discontinuation of any controlled substances or any type of medications prescribed by our providers as well as possible immediate dismissal from Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness.Changes in your dosages of controlled substances will not occur between scheduled appointments, nor will they be adjusted before your current prescription is due to be refilled.  If you come to our practice already on controlled substances from another provider, that does not mean that we will automatically assume these same or even similar medications.  Our providers reserve the right to complete their own assessment and make treatment recommendations based on their professional judgment.  Our practice does not prescribe exceedingly high doses of controlled substances and we are not obliged to assume such from other providers.  If it is felt that such a medication could benefit you, you will be tapered down to a dose that is considered safe or placed on another alternative medication that may not be a controlled substance. Clients may be asked to obtain either a Urine or Blood drug screen prior to any controlled substance being prescribed.  Random such testing is also obtained at different intervals throughout treatment.  Completion of such screens is ultimately the personal and financial responsibility of the patient these medications are prescribed for.  Such screens help to determine the presence or absence of controlled substances.  Testing negative for prescribed controlled substances or positive for additional controlled or illicit substances not prescribed by our providers will be considered a breach of the controlled substance policy and grounds for immediate discontinuation of the drug prescribed and/or from the practice.We appreciate your assistance in this matter, as we take this policy very seriously.  These types of drugs are addictive and have a high rate of misuse/abuse.  In addition, many of these medications are intended for short-term use only.  It is our goal to keep you, our client, as safe as possible.

The provider-patient relationship may be ended when you request to discontinue care, when treatment goals have been achieved and ongoing psychiatric care is no longer needed, or when another provider or level of care would better meet your needs.Yosemite Psychiatry & Wellness may also discontinue care when continued treatment is no longer clinically appropriate or when practice policies are repeatedly not followed. This may include repeated missed appointments, persistent unpaid balances, or repeated failure to follow treatment or practice policies. When appropriate, you will be given notice and an opportunity to address these concerns.Certain circumstances may result in immediate termination, including threats or violence, harassment or abusive behavior, fraud or falsification, prescription diversion, serious violations of a controlled-substance agreement, or other conduct that makes continued treatment unsafe or inappropriate.When clinically and legally appropriate, approximately 30 days of transition care and reasonable referral resources will be provided to support continuity of care. Emergency, unsafe, or exceptional circumstances may require a different process.