You can find our current price list here.

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.

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.

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.

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.