Clear answers before you begin care.

Novascend serves adults age 18 and older who are physically located in California at the time of their appointment. Each inquiry is reviewed to determine whether the practice is an appropriate clinical fit.

Submit an appointment request through the website. After reviewing your information, the practice will provide availability, required forms, fees, and the next steps.

Your appointment request helps us understand your concerns, location, service needs, and appropriate level of care. When Novascend is not the right fit, you may be encouraged to seek another provider or a higher level of support.

Your first visit is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. We review your concerns, symptoms, health history, medications, daily functioning, safety, and treatment goals before discussing recommendations.

Yes. New patients are asked to complete required intake, consent, privacy, and screening forms before the appointment. Completing them in advance allows more time to focus on your concerns and goals.

Consider seeking support when anxiety, depression, mood changes, stress, sleep concerns, difficulty focusing, or emotional distress begin affecting your health, work, relationships, or daily life.

Services may include psychiatric evaluations, medication management, telehealth psychiatry, Dialysis & CKD Mental Health support, mobile psychiatry when available, and private-pay concierge case management.

A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is an advanced-practice clinician with specialized education and training in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Depending on state law and clinical circumstances, psychiatric nurse practitioners may evaluate symptoms, diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medication, provide education, and offer supportive therapeutic interventions.

A therapist is a mental health professional who primarily provides psychotherapy or talk therapy. Therapists can help people understand emotional challenges, improve coping skills, change unhelpful patterns, and work toward personal goals. Most therapists do not prescribe medication.

Supportive therapeutic interventions may be incorporated into psychiatric visits when appropriate. Patients needing regular, structured psychotherapy may be encouraged to work with a licensed therapist in addition to psychiatric care.

Yes. Secure telehealth appointments are available for adults located in California when telehealth is clinically appropriate. You will need a private setting, reliable internet, and a device with a camera and microphone.

Yes. Novascend has a focused interest in supporting adults living with chronic kidney disease or receiving dialysis who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, sleep concerns, treatment fatigue, grief, stress, or adjustment difficulties.

Concierge case management is a private-pay support service that may assist with care organization, resource navigation, provider communication, appointment preparation, and agreed follow-through. It is not psychotherapy or emergency care.

Mobile psychiatry may provide services in appropriate care settings, including dialysis centers, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, or other approved locations. Availability and eligibility may vary.

Follow-up frequency depends on your symptoms, medications, treatment stage, safety needs, and clinical progress. Your provider will recommend a schedule based on your individual care plan.

Medication may be recommended when clinically appropriate following a thorough evaluation. Prescribing decisions are individualized and based on your symptoms, diagnosis, health history, safety, treatment goals, and informed agreement.

Not automatically. The first visit focuses on evaluation and diagnostic clarification. Medication may be discussed or prescribed only when enough information is available and it is considered clinically appropriate.

Novascend does not provide routine long-term benzodiazepine management. Benzodiazepines are considered only sparingly and when clinically appropriate. Controlled medications, when prescribed within the practice’s current scope and policies, are generally limited to a 30-day supply and require appropriate monitoring and follow-up.

A request for a particular medication does not guarantee that it will be prescribed.

Medication continuation is not automatic. Your provider will review your history, diagnosis, response, safety, monitoring needs, and available records before deciding whether continuing a medication is clinically appropriate.

Laboratory testing, medical records, pharmacy history, or coordination with another clinician may be requested when needed to support safe diagnosis and prescribing.

Insurance participation may change as payer credentialing and contracting are completed. Review the current fees and insurance page before scheduling for the latest information.

Private-pay appointments may be available. Current fees and payment requirements are provided before the visit so you can make an informed decision before scheduling.

A superbill may be available for eligible clinical services upon request. You may submit it to your health plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement are not guaranteed.

Concierge case management is offered as a private-pay service. It may not be covered by insurance, and a superbill may not be available for non-clinical coordination services.

Appointments canceled late or missed without adequate notice may be subject to a fee. Review the current office policies page for cancellation and rescheduling requirements.

Your privacy is important. Information is handled according to applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements. Limited exceptions may apply when disclosure is required for safety, treatment operations, payment, or by law.

Routine communication may be available through approved secure systems. Messaging is not intended for emergencies, urgent clinical decisions, medication changes, or concerns that require an appointment.

No. Novascend is not an emergency, crisis, or 24-hour response service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for a life-threatening emergency. Call or text 988 for immediate mental health crisis support.

No. Website forms, email, portal messages, and voicemail are not monitored continuously and should never be used for an emergency or immediate safety concern.