How long is the first appointment?

About an hour. Some are shorter if you arrive with a clear sense of what you're looking for. Some are longer if there's more to unpack.

Will I leave with a diagnosis?

Often yes, sometimes no. We don't rush to a label. If we need a second appointment to be sure, we say so.

Will I leave with a prescription?

Sometimes. If a clear medication path is appropriate and you're ready, you may receive a prescription that day.

Can I bring someone with me?

Yes. Patients sometimes bring a partner, family member, or chosen-family supporter to the first appointment. We will ask before discussing anything sensitive in front of them.

Treatment areas · 01 of 09

Diagnosis

A first conversation that takes time. We use validated diagnostic instruments where they help, and we don't use them as a substitute for listening. Diagnosis here is unhurried because the plan that follows depends on getting it right.

Schedule a consultation ← All treatment areas

Who this is for

Common reasons patients come in.

01
First-time-in-care patients who don't know where to begin
02
People returning to care after a previous provider relationship ended
03
Patients who suspect a previous diagnosis was wrong or incomplete
04
Treatment-resistant cases where standard plans haven't worked
05
Anyone whose existing diagnosis doesn't quite explain what they're experiencing

In practice

What treatment actually looks like.

No mystery, no choreography. Here’s the structure.

01
60-minute first appointment, in person at Park Slope or by telehealth across NY, NJ, CT
02
Thorough history: symptoms, treatments tried, current medications, family history, current life circumstances
03
Validated screening tools where they help (PHQ-9, GAD-7, ADHD-RS, PCL-5, AUDIT, MDQ)
04
Time set aside to talk about what brought you here, not just what's on a checklist
05
Working diagnosis discussed with you, not handed down. Tentative treatment plan with a prescription if appropriate that day

For LGBTQIA+ patients

Specifically, what affirming care looks like for diagnosis.

A complete diagnosis means asking about your context. Family of origin, chosen family, your coming-out trajectory, current legal and work environment, transition status if applicable. For LGBTQIA+ patients in particular, what gets called depression is sometimes grief from family rejection. What gets called anxiety is sometimes hypervigilance from real ongoing threat. What gets called personality issues is sometimes the cumulative effect of minority stress. We name what's actually happening before we treat it. Misdiagnosis is common in our community, and the cost of getting it wrong is years of medication that didn't quite fit.

Common questions