Initial Psychiatric Evaluation
70 minutes
The comprehensive initial evaluation includes:
Detailed psychiatric history and symptom assessment
Complete medical and endocrine history review
Discussion of previous treatments and medications
Physical health screening relevant to psychiatric symptoms
Diagnostic formulation
Treatment plan development
Laboratory test ordering (when indicated)
Laboratory tests are billed separately by the laboratory and may be covered by your insurance.
Follow-Up Medication Management
25 minutes
Follow-up appointments include:
Medication adjustment and optimization
Symptom monitoring and response assessment
Side effect management
Review of laboratory results (when applicable)
Ongoing treatment planning
Visit frequency is individualized based on your clinical needs. Some patients are seen monthly, others quarterly, depending on symptom stability and treatment complexity.
Insurance & Reimbursement
Cancellation Policy
Geographic Coverage
Telehealth Platform
Scheduling
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Out-of-Network Benefits:
While Dr. Gardner does not accept insurance assignment, many patients receive partial reimbursement through their out-of-network benefits.
We provide detailed superbills that include:
Diagnosis codes (ICD-10)
Procedure codes (CPT)
All information needed for insurance submission
Documentation for HSA/FSA reimbursement
To check your out-of-network benefits:
Call the number on your insurance card
Ask about "out-of-network behavioral health benefits"
Inquire about your deductible and reimbursement percentage
Ask if pre-authorization is required (usually not for out-of-network)
Many patients find their out-of-network benefits cover 50-80% of costs after meeting their deductible.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Psychiatric services are HSA and FSA eligible. You can use these tax-advantaged accounts to pay for your appointments.
We require 48 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, or missed appointments, will be charged the full session fee.
We understand that emergencies happen. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to reschedule.
California Residents
Dr. Gardner provides telepsychiatry services to patients throughout California, including:
San Diego and San Diego County
Santa Rosa and Sonoma County
San Francisco Bay Area
Los Angeles and Orange County
Sacramento and Central Valley
All other California regions
Out-of-State Patients
According to California medical licensing law, patients residing outside California must be physically located in California for their appointments with Dr. Gardner. The appointment can be conducted via telehealth while you are in California.
All appointments are conducted through our HIPAA-compliant telehealth portal, ensuring:
Privacy and security of your sessions
High-quality video and audio
Easy access from any device (computer, tablet, smartphone)
No special software installation required
You will receive secure login instructions after scheduling your appointment.
To schedule an appointment:
Phone: 707-575-7647
Contact Form: [Link to contact page]
For scheduling inquiries, please use the contact form or call the number above. Our scheduling coordinator, Vanessa, will assist you.
Before Your Appointment:
Complete intake paperwork (sent electronically)
Gather relevant medical records if available
List all current medications and supplements
Prepare questions or concerns you'd like to discuss
During Your Appointment:
70-minute comprehensive evaluation
Discussion of symptoms, history, and concerns
Review of potential laboratory testing
Initial treatment recommendations
Questions and discussion time
After Your Appointment:
Written treatment plan summary
Laboratory test orders (if applicable)
Prescriptions sent to your pharmacy (if applicable)
Follow-up appointment scheduled