Finding the Right Psychiatrist in Cincinnati: A Step-by-Step Guide

You’ve made the decision to see a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation, and now you don’t know where to start. Finding a psychiatrist can be overwhelming, so I’d like to help walk through how I help clients find and schedule with the right person who can help.

Leveraging Referrals: Your First Step in Finding a Psychiatrist

The easiest way to find a psychiatrist is to get a referral from one of your other providers. Often a primary care office will have someone they regularly refer to, or have a list of doctors. Your therapist might have someone they like, or know who is in the area, who is taking new patients, and who to stay away from. You can also ask your OBGYN! They treat a lot of anxiety and depression, and will usually have a psychiatrist they’ll send patients to if their symptoms aren’t getting better. 

Navigating Insurance: Ensuring Coverage for Your Mental Health Needs

If you need to use your insurance, you will want to make sure the psychiatrist is In-Network. You can call the number on the back of your insurance card, and they’ll give you a list of who is nearby. While you’re talking with them, verify how much you’ll pay out of pocket for the appointments. You can also do a search on your insurance company’s website by location. This will give you options to start narrowing down. 

Utilizing Online Resources: Tips for Finding Psychiatrists Near You

Look for “psychiatry near me,” or by region like “psychiatrist Oxford Ohio” or “psychiatry in Cincinnati.” This will bring up a list to review. Remember, not everyone reviews their psychiatrist so don’t let the lack of reviews dissuade you! It does help though to see if they have good reviews, and especially if they have a website. You might also see Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (NP) or Physicians Assistants (PA) in the list as well.

Making the Call: Steps to Schedule Your First Appointment

Once you have a name or a list of names, start calling. You want to ask, “Are you taking new patients?” first, and then “How soon is your next available appointment?” With a shortage of psychiatrists, some practices have waiting lists of a couple of months. If that’s the case, decide whether you can wait that long and keep trying other offices if you can’t. 

Ask about the fee.

While many psychiatrists take insurance, some do not. That doesn’t mean you can’t use your insurance, though! If you have Out of Network benefits, then you may be able to get reimbursed.  Ask if they provide a receipt for insurance. If paying out of pocket, ask what the fee is for the first appointment, and then for follow-ups. You can ask how often you’ll typically see the doctor so you can plan for that financially. 

Review your options and schedule.

You might call a few places to get an idea about the practice and availability. When you’re ready, book your first appointment! The initial assessment will be a longer appointment (around an hour), so plan around that. Understand that you might not get your ideal appointment time, but once you’re in the system, follow-up appointments are easier to schedule. Those are typically 15 minute med checks. 

Exploring Telehealth Options: Accessing Psychiatrists from Anywhere

Psychiatrists in private practice, as well as those using online platforms like Teladoc or Doctor on Demand, are available via telehealth. They will be licensed in your state, but might live elsewhere. The benefit of this is they’re easier to get into and the scheduling is easy for you without the drive. The downside is that they can be harder to get ahold of if it’s through one of the apps. It’s been hit-or-miss for me to collaborate with those types of providers, so consider that. You can also get started online while you’re waiting for an in-person appointment. Laws and clinic policies vary on prescribing controlled substances (typically used with ADHD, panic disorder, or insomnia) via telehealth.

I hope this makes it easier to get an appointment with a psychiatrist. If you’re having trouble finding someone, feel free to call me at 513-461-2045 or click here to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to help guide you to the right person. If you’re looking for help with online anxiety counseling in Cincinnati, or online therapy in Indiana or Ohio, you can read more about how I help here.