• 9440 W Sahara Ave Suite 237 A
  • Las Vegas, NV 89117
  • Call us 702-765-4965
  • Email [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand the difficulty in deciding whether it is a wise course to pursue medication as part of your treatment. You should never take medication until you are comfortable and have made a highly informed decision. Not all patients need medication. Because our approach is holistic we recognize not only biological factors that can dramatically influence behavior but also social factors as well. The first visit is an initial evaluation only. At that time the doctor will discuss the pros and cons of a particular treatment with you before a course of treatment is established.

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of behavior, thoughts, and feelings. Psychiatrists give patients their expertise developed through years of medical training and at times, intensive psychotherapy training.

In the past virtually all Psychiatrists offered psychotherapy in addition to medication management. In the more recent past there has been a trend toward only providing medication management due to the restrictive requirements imposed by many insurance companies including a loss of privacy for the patient. Many insurance companies will only reimburse Psychiatrists for short medication visits. As a result many Psychiatrists have stopped providing psychotherapy as it just does not pay to do so. Many studies have shown the efficacy of treatment plans that include both kinds of treatment (medication and talk therapy). At Life Bridge Adults we are able to provide both medication management and psychotherapy.

  • Cognitive Behavior Techniques
  • Family Therapy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Psychopharmacology (Medication Management)

There are too many conditions to name each one but the following list identifies some of the more common disorders we treat:

  • Anxiety
  • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
  • Autism Spectrum
  • Bipolar
  • Depression
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Panic Disorder
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
  • Psychosis

Admittedly, this can be more art than science. We believe you should look at the educational and work experience credentials of the clinician you are considering. Of course you should meet the clinician and make sure she makes you feel comfortable and truly listens to your concerns. Sometime listening to your “heart” or “gut” can be the best indicator. You should never work with a provider that you do not feel 100% comfortable with.

A psychologist has completed post-graduate doctoral studies. A psychologist can provide various kinds of talk therapy, generally referred to as psychotherapy. They help individuals with emotional and behavioral challenges. Frequently psychologists and psychiatrists will work together to provide integrated care.

A psychiatrist has completed medical school and is a medical doctor in the same way your family physician is a doctor. Since psychiatrists are medical doctors, they can recognize when psychological difficulties may be due to seemingly unrelated medical illnesses. They can also collaborate effectively with physicians in other specialties to coordinate care as a team endeavor. 

Psychiatric training requires 4 years of medical school, at least 3 and sometimes 4 years of approved psychiatry residency training that includes medicine, neurology, and general adult psychiatry. There can be as many as 9 years of study and specialized practice after an undergraduate degree is obtained. During the general psychiatry training years, the physician becomes competent in the fundamentals of the theory and practice of psychiatry.

An Inpatient Clinic is for patients that need more intense care and treatment including, among other things, staying overnight in a facility for one more nights. Some inpatient clinics are stand-alone while others are part of a larger hospital. As a general rule inpatient clinic facilities are for those whose condition is severe.

An Outpatient Clinic will see a patient for a “visit”. A visit may include an initial evaluation that can last for an hour or more and/or a follow up visit that is an hour or less. The frequency of these visits are generally every two weeks or monthly. Generally, outpatient clinics are for patients that are able to manage their challenges such that they do not require overnight hospitalization. Life Bridge Psychiatry is an Outpatient Clinic.

A Psychiatrist can address concerns about what is considered “normal” and what is not. Factors such as environment, personality, and developmental stage are all conditions that are thoroughly considered. The following behaviors should indicate consideration for further evaluation by a Psychiatrist:

 

  • Inability to cope with problems
  • Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
  • Frequent physical complaints
  • Sexual promiscuity
  • Prolonged negative mood usually accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping
  • Thoughts of death
  • Recurrent nightmares
  • Thoughts of causing harm to oneself or others
  • Self destructive behavior and habits (excessive smoking, alcohol or drug abuse)
  • Frequent outbursts of anger and aggression
  • Threats to run away
  • Aggressive or non-aggressive violation of the rights of others
  • Theft & vandalism
  • Strange thoughts, beliefs, feelings, or unusual behaviors

Yes. While we can provide both psychotherapy and medication management, we routinely see patients for medication management alone when they are already being seen by a therapist. We support and respect the existing relationship patients may have with other professionals who are treating them. We frequently coordinate care with other providers in order to deliver the best integrated care possible.

Yes. Please click here to go to our site for children/adolescents

The first appointment with us will include a thorough Initial Evaluation to assess and diagnose the patient. This is an in-person meeting between you and the clinician. The first initial evaluation appointment is up to 60 minutes. Follow up appointments are generally 20-30 minutes but can be extended to an hour if the circumstances require it. 

Please contact the office directly (702-000-0000) for up-to-date information regarding our fees.

Since we don’t accept insurance directly, we are able to hold your information in the strictest confidence. Strict privacy laws govern the communication between you and our providers. We may not share your private information with anyone for any reason except under these extenuating situations:

  • Suspected abuse
  • Patient threatens serious bodily harm to another party
  • Patient intends to harm herself/himself

Payments are due at the time of service. A block of time is reserved for your appointment and we will not book any other patients during this time.

If you need to cancel please give at least 2 business days of advance notice. Business days are considered the weekdays between Monday and Friday. This approach allows us to provide you the best patient experience possible while ensuring that other patients won’t infringe upon our ability to give you our full attention during visits. If all parties approach the relationship with a high degree of mutual respect, visits will almost always be highly productive.