Child and adolescent psychiatry across California — careful evaluation and conservative medication management for ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and depression. Parents in the room, schools in the loop, and a plan the whole family understands.
Medication postureConservative · highest bar for kids
Initial visit60 min · parents included
In-networkAetna · Cigna · UHC · Carelon
01/ What parents notice firstFAMILY EXPERIENCE
01
Homework that should take twenty minutes takes two hours — and ends in tears.
02
The teacher emails started in October and haven't stopped.
03
The kid who used to light up is flat, or wired, or angry — and you can't tell if it's a phase or a problem.
Most parents wait longer than they need to — not from neglect, but because the signal is genuinely hard to read. Kids are moving targets: development, school pressure, friendships, screens, sleep. A careful evaluation separates what's a season from what's a pattern, and names what's actually going on.
You're not overreacting. You're not failing as a parent. You're watching something real — and it has a name more often than parents expect.
02/ What I work on with kids & teens6 PRESENTATIONS
ADHDevaluation · school struggles · medication when warranted·
No referral needed. Confirmation within 24 hours, directly from me. If you're not sure this is the right kind of help, email first — I'll give you a straight answer.
~ 2 min
02 · EVALUATION
Sixty minutes, family included.
History from the parents, time with your child, and both perspectives on what's changed — home, school, sleep, friendships. Teens get their own airtime; younger kids are seen with a parent present.
60 min
03 · A FAMILY PLAN
A plan everyone understands.
What we're treating, what we're watching, and what happens next — explained to the parent and the kid in language each can use. School coordination and therapist collaboration when helpful. Follow-up scheduled before we hang up.
ongoing
04/ On medication and kidsTHE HIGHEST BAR IN THE PRACTICE
Prescribing for a child gets a higher bar than anything else I do: a clear diagnosis, clear target symptoms, the lowest effective dose, and parents who understand exactly what we're trying and why.
Sometimes medication is the right tool — untreated ADHD and depression carry their own costs, and the evidence for careful treatment is strong. Sometimes the right move is structural: sleep, school supports, therapy first. When medication isn't warranted, I say so plainly. When it is, we start carefully, watch closely, and adjust based on what your child actually experiences — with a follow-up rhythm tight enough to catch problems early.
No child in my practice is ever on medication a parent doesn't fully understand.
The standard
05/ Common questions from parents6 ANSWERS
Good — that caution is appropriate, and I share it. Medication is never the automatic answer. The evaluation comes first, the diagnosis has to be clear, and non-medication options are always on the table. If we do use medication, we start at the lowest effective dose with close follow-up, and you'll understand exactly what we're trying, what to watch for, and how we'll know if it's working. You can change your mind at any point.
For psychiatric evaluation and medication management, yes — and for many families it works better: no car ride, no waiting room, and kids are often more themselves at home. Teens in particular tend to talk more freely from their own space. What you need: a private room, a device with a camera, and a parent nearby for younger children.
Parents are part of every treatment plan — you'll always know the diagnosis, the plan, and anything that touches safety. Teens also need room to speak honestly, so part of each visit is theirs. The rule I set on day one, with everyone in the room: what your teen tells me stays between us unless it involves safety — and safety concerns always come to you, immediately.
Yes. Diagnosis documentation and clinical letters supporting 504 or IEP processes are part of the work, and with your consent I'll communicate with school staff directly when it helps. I don't perform the school district's own assessments — but I make sure the clinical side of the paperwork is done properly and promptly.
No. Reluctance is normal — most teens don't want to be evaluated, and I don't need instant rapport to do a careful workup. The first visit leans on parent history and low-pressure conversation; most teens engage once they realize I'm not there to lecture them. If your teen genuinely won't participate after a fair try, I'll say so and we'll talk about what makes sense instead.
Perfectly — that's the most common arrangement. The therapist keeps the therapy; I handle evaluation and medication, and we coordinate with your consent. If your child doesn't have a therapist and needs one, I'll refer to people I trust and we'll work as a team.
06/ Insurance & investmentIN-NETWORK VIA ALMA
F10 Psychiatry is in-network with most major commercial plans through Alma — including Aetna, Cigna, Optum / UnitedHealthcare, and Carelon. Also accepting Oscar, Oxford, Meritain, Sutter Health Plan, UMR, Surest, AllSavers, and others.
Initial Evaluation
$425
60 min · self-pay rate
Follow-Up
$295
30 min · self-pay rate
Most families with in-network coverage pay a copay or coinsurance per visit. Send a message to confirm your specific plan — I'll give you a straight answer before you book.
Start with a careful conversation.
Sixty minutes with you and your child. Your questions answered, a real read on what's going on, and a plan the whole family understands.