If you're experiencing persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or other distressing emotions that interfere with your daily life, or if you're struggling with mental health conditions such as depression or bipolar disorder, seeking either therapy or psychiatric evaluation can be beneficial. A mental health professional can help determine the best course of action.

The duration of therapy can vary widely depending on individual needs and goals. Some people may benefit from just a few sessions, while others might engage in therapy for months or even years. Regular assessment by the therapist helps determine the appropriate length of treatment.

In a therapy session, you can expect to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe, confidential environment. The therapist will listen, provide support, and may offer strategies or techniques to help you cope with challenges. The focus and process can vary based on the therapeutic approach being used.

In a therapy session, you can expect to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe, confidential environment. The therapist will listen, provide support, and may offer strategies or techniques to help you cope with challenges. The focus and process can vary based on the therapeutic approach being used.

Ballen Medical & Wellness is a cash pay clinic and does not accept insurance, but superbills for potential re-imbursement are available upon request.

We realize the costs of healthcare can be a hardship, but unfortunately working with insurance companies prevents us from providing the level of care the majority of our patients seek from us. Here are some of the primary reasons we have chosen to be a private pay clinic:

• Many of our patients have already tried options through their insurance plans but still need help feeling better.
• Insurance companies take control out of your hands and ours. We work together with you to decide the plan of care that’s right for your needs. Under insurance, they might refuse that plan, or make us try alternatives for weeks or even months before we can do the treatments we believe are best for you. We prioritize what we think will work best — they prioritize what is most cost effective for them.
• Insurance companies are rarely up-to-date on the latest advances in mental health care and wellness. For example, we treated depression with ketamine for years before insurance companies began to consider ketamine treatment.
• Working with insurance companies takes a lot of time away from our patients. The time spent on insurance paperwork and dealing with denied claims adds up to hours per week that our practitioners can’t see patients.
• Most insurance companies dictate a lower standard of care than we believe in. For example, they would reduce many of our 30-minute follow-up appointments to 15-minutes.
• Insurance companies have to juggle multiple factors, such as their entire coverage pool of patients, when determining your care. Because we don’t accept insurance, we can focus on one patient at a time.

If you’ve been experiencing symptoms like ongoing depression, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, or any other mental health issues that are impacting your daily functioning and quality of life, consulting with a psychiatrist or mental health provider can help determine if medication may be an appropriate option. Certain diagnoses like major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia often benefit from medication.

There are a few main classes of psychiatric medications: antidepressants treat depression and anxiety, anti-anxiety meds like benzodiazepines treat anxiety and panic specifically, mood stabilizers treat bipolar disorder, stimulants treat ADHD, and antipsychotics treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. Within each class, there are further sub-types like SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs for antidepressants. Each medication works a bit differently in the brain.

Side effects vary for each medication but may include weight gain/loss, nausea, headache, drowsiness, insomnia, agitation, reduced sex drive, and more. Some rare but serious risks are increased suicidal thoughts in youth on antidepressants and tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movement) from antipsychotics. A good psychiatrist will closely monitor side effects and adjust meds to minimize risks.

This varies greatly from patient to patient. In some cases, medication can just  be a temporary bridge to bring you relief while other treatment options take root.

For conditions like major depression or anxiety, medications may only be needed short-term for acute symptoms. For recurrent or chronic conditions like bipolar disorder, longer term usage is often necessary to manage symptoms, though dosages can be re-evaluated. Some patients only need medications during episodic flare ups.

Track your symptoms and any side effects to determine if a medication is helping relieve your mental health issues without causing problematic side effects. Your doctor can provide questionnaires or apps to help monitor. Be patient – it can take 4-6 weeks to fully feel the effects. Contact your doctor with your observations to see if dosage adjustments or a different medication is needed.

Never abruptly stop a psychiatric medication – notify your doctor right away if you have any concerning side effects. Some mild side effects dissipate in the first few weeks. But if any side effects are severe or persistent, your doctor can prescribe additional medications to counteract them or switch you to a better tolerated drug. Dosage adjustments can also help.

Most psychiatric meds like antidepressants and mood stabilizers are not addictive, though stimulants and benzodiazepines do carry a risk for addiction and should be closely monitored. Some medications can cause physical dependence where stopping abruptly could lead to withdrawal symptoms – so adhering to your doctor’s tapering guidance is important if discontinuing.

Many evidence-based non-drug options exist like psychotherapy, light therapy, meditation, yoga, exercise, nutrition changes, supplements, neurofeedback, and more. An integrative approach may combine medication with various therapies for more comprehensive results.

Choosing the right medication requires some trial and error guided by a psychiatrist. They will match a medication to your symptoms, diagnosis, medical history, genetics, side effect risk factors, and previous medication responses. Dosage fine tuning and monitoring is key to optimizing results. Be patient and keep your doctor informed each step.

Try not to miss doses, as consistency is important for efficacy. But if you occasionally miss a dose, do not double up. For most medications, just resume your normal dosing schedule – check with your doctor if unsure. If you frequently miss doses or stop abruptly, notify your doctor, as tapering guidance or other adjustments may be needed to avoid instability.

Cost varies greatly by medication, dosage, insurance, and region. Generics tend to cost under $100 per month, while branded drugs can range from $200-600 without coverage. GoodRx.com provides pricing comparisons. Your doctor can suggest cost effective options. Many pharmaceutical companies also offer discount cards for brand name medications.

Initially follow-ups are usually every 2-4 weeks to assess effects and dosage needs. Once stabilized on an effective medication routine with minimal side effects, appointments may space out to once every 1-3 months for ongoing monitoring and prescription refills. More frequent visits may be needed if issues emerge.

Psychiatrists (MDs) specialize in prescribing psychiatric medications. In some states, like Colorado, psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs) can also prescribe. Primary care doctors may prescribe basic psychiatric meds but do not specialize in mental health treatment like psychiatrists.

Never stop a psychiatric medication abruptly – tapering down slowly under a doctor’s supervision is crucial to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor can create a gradual tapering schedule for you. Timeframes vary drastically, so setting realistic expectations about the process is important. Supportive therapies during tapering can also help manage symptoms.

The cost of treatment varies based on your needs. At minimum, you will need an initial evaluation with one of our psychiatric providers. If you receive a prescription medication, then regularly scheduled follow-up appointments will also be necessary. For more details on pricing and packages, please give us a call.

We treat all types of chemical and process addictions, including alcohol, opioids, prescription medications, illicit drugs, as well as behavioral addictions like gambling, shopping, porn, and gaming.

Yes. We can provide all major MAT options, as well any other prescription medication you need on your path to recovery.

We aim to make starting the recovery process as quick and seamless as possible and will do our best to accommodate your schedule and needs to the extent we can. Although it depends on various factors, many of our clients are able to begin our outpatient treatment programs within 1-3 days of their initial consultation.

Our programs utilize traditional interventions like licensed addiction counseling and medication-assisted treatment as well as holistic alternatives like NAD+ therapy, ketamine treatment, and nutrient optimization. We customize treatment plans with options that best fit each client’s needs and preferences. You can choose to make your treatment more holistic or more traditional at any time.

Yes, we have a 10-day NAD+ outpatient detox program that allow clients to safely withdraw from substances like alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines as comfortably and safely as possible. Treatment is monitored by our expert nursing team and includes comfort meds as needed, as well as supporting therapies like nutritional optimization and ketamine treatment, and licensed addiction counseling.

Absolutely. After care is essential to maintain sobriety. We provide licensed addiction counseling, psychotherapy, CBT, relapse prevention education and more.

Ballen Medical & Wellness is a self-pay clinic and does not accept insurance, but superbills for potential re-imbursement are available upon request.

We realize the costs of healthcare can be a hardship, but unfortunately working with insurance companies prevents us from providing the level of care the majority of our patients seek from us.

Additionally, many of our patients appreciate the added levels of privacy and discretion that come from using self-pay rehab options.

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Here are some of the primary reasons we have chosen to be a private cash-pay clinic:

• Many of our patients have already tried options through their insurance plans but still need help feeling better.
• Insurance companies take control out of your hands and ours. We work together with you to decide the plan of care that’s right for your needs. Under insurance, they might refuse that plan, or make us try alternatives for weeks or even months before we can do the treatments we believe are best for you. We prioritize what we think will work best — they prioritize what is most cost effective for them.
• Insurance companies are rarely up-to-date on the latest advances in mental health care and wellness. For example, we treated depression with ketamine for years before insurance companies began to consider ketamine treatment.
• Working with insurance companies takes a lot of time away from our patients. The time spent on insurance paperwork and dealing with denied claims adds up to hours per week that our practitioners can’t see patients.
• Most insurance companies dictate a lower standard of care than we believe in. For example, they would reduce many of our 30-minute follow-up appointments to 15-minutes.
• Insurance companies have to juggle multiple factors, such as their entire coverage pool of patients, when determining your care. Because we don’t accept insurance, we can focus on one patient at a time and do what’s in your best interest.

We take client privacy extremely seriously and follow all HIPAA laws. We never disclose the reason someone is seeking treatment with us. Also, because we provide many different services for mental health and wellness, you will have a high level of discretion. There are no signs mentioning addiction at our facility, and other patients will not know whether you’re coming in for a wellness infusion or something more serious.

Yes, many of our clients have co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety and PTSD in addition to addiction. Our psychiatric providers can treat both conditions together through integrated counseling, medication management, and more holistic options as desired.

Our integrative approach combines traditional and holistic therapies for more customized and comprehensive treatment. We also offer flexible outpatient programs as an alternative to rigid inpatient rehab. We’re known for success in even challenging and difficult cases, and we will work tirelessly to make sure you have the care you need. Additionally, our programs are significantly more affordable and flexible than residential programs and IOPs. If you don’t need around-the-clock care and wish to be treated like an adult without judgment or shame, we are a great choice for your addiction recovery care. Last but not least, you have a strong voice in your care — we do not have a one-size-fits-all approach, and ultimately you are in charge of what services you would like your plan to include.

A specialist will contact you to learn about your history and goals. There is no commitment, enrollment fee, or obligation through this free consultation. We simply aim to determine if our programs are a good fit, and if not, we can make trusted referrals to help you get the care you need as soon as possible.

We have one of the leading integrative mental health and wellness teams in Denver. Our staff includes psychiatric practitioners, medication management prescribers, licensed addiction counselors, psychotherapists, integrative wellness specialists, and RNs. Despite the associations some have with words like “holistic,” our team is highly experienced and has worked in a variety of settings such as emergency care. We have several prescribers on the team (nurse practitioners) as well as an MD (Dr. Ballen). For more on the certifications and education of each team member, please visit here.

We can provide packaged addiction recovery plans as well as a la carte pricing. We’ll put together a personalized plan based on your input after your complimentary consultation. In general though, doing outpatient recovery like ours is a significantly smaller financial commitment than residential and IOP programs. For more details on pricing and packages, please give us a call.

We combine psychiatry, medication management, and talk therapy with holistic options to treat all of you — not just your symptoms.

IV infusions for wellness involve administering vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous drip. This method allows for quicker absorption and higher bioavailability compared to oral supplements, which can support various health goals like hydration, energy boost, immune support, and detoxification.

IV infusions can offer a range of benefits depending on the nutrients used. Commonly reported advantages include improved hydration, increased energy levels, enhanced immune function, faster recovery from physical exertion, relief from migraines, and improved skin appearance. Customized infusions can target specific health needs.

An IV infusion session typically takes between 30 to 60 minutes. The frequency of sessions depends on individual health goals and needs. Some people may benefit from weekly infusions, while others might only require them monthly or as needed for particular issues like fatigue or dehydration.

While IV infusions are generally safe when administered by medical professionals, potential risks include infection at the injection site, allergic reactions to the components, or complications from overhydration or electrolyte imbalances. It is important to discuss your health history with a qualified provider before proceeding.

Individuals who may benefit from IV infusions include those seeking enhanced wellness, athletes looking for improved recovery, individuals with certain nutritional deficiencies, or those recovering from illness or surgery. However, people with certain medical conditions, such as heart or kidney disease, should consult their healthcare provider before receiving an IV infusion, as it may not be appropriate for them.

Ballen Medical uses the following pharmacies to fulfill prescriptions for treatments done in-facility:

Olympia Pharmacy

Vertisis Pharmacy

Please click the links to be directed to the respective pharmacy contact us page if you need any other information regarding our partner pharmacies.

We combine psychiatry, medication management, and talk therapy with holistic options to treat all of you — not just your symptoms.