At a glance
- Who it's for
- People ages 5 to 65. A parent or guardian joins visits for patients under 18.
- Where
- In person at our Sugar Land, TX office, or by secure video for people located in Texas, Idaho, Arizona or Maryland.
- Provider
- Victor Onodjacha, MSN, PMHNP-BC: a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, not a physician.
- First step
- A psychiatric evaluation. Send a one-minute request or call.
- Cost
- Many major plans, checked before your first visit, or self-pay. Insurance and fees
- Not for emergencies
- Call or text 988, or call 911.
How do I get started as a new patient?
There are three steps between reaching out and sitting down for your first visit. None of them require you to have a diagnosis or to know exactly what kind of help you need.
- Send a request or callFill out the short form on our request an appointment page, or call (346) 855-6216. Tell us in a sentence or two what you are looking for and whether you prefer an office visit or video.
- We check your insurance and explain the paperworkWe look at your coverage before the first visit so cost is not a surprise. Before the appointment we send your intake and assessment forms through our secure patient portal, and you complete and return them there. Plans and self-pay details are on our insurance page.
- Come to your first evaluationYour first appointment is a psychiatric evaluation of about 60 minutes. It takes place at the Sugar Land office or by secure video. Follow-up visits are about 30 minutes.
What happens at a first psychiatric evaluation?
A first visit is a conversation, not a test you can pass or fail. You meet with Victor Onodjacha, MSN, PMHNP-BC, who leads the clinic and sees patients at every visit, so you will not be handed from one provider to another.
He will ask about what you have been experiencing and when it started, your medical and mental health history, medications you take, family history, and how sleep, work, school and relationships are going. Standard screening questionnaires are used where they are useful. You can read more on our psychiatric evaluation and diagnosis page.
Victor reads the intake forms you completed in the patient portal before you meet. Before the visit ends, we share our impressions and talk through a treatment plan with you. You are welcome to ask questions, say what you are and are not comfortable with, and take time to think.
What should I bring to my first visit?
A little preparation makes the visit more useful. Have these ready, whether you are coming to the office or joining by video:
- A photo ID
- Your insurance card
- A list of your current medications and doses, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements
- Prior records if you have them, such as past evaluations or hospital discharge papers
- The names of your other providers, such as your primary care provider or therapist
- A short written list of the concerns and questions you most want to cover
How do I get ready for a video visit?
Video visits cover the same ground as office visits. A few minutes of setup beforehand helps the time go to your care instead of to technical problems.
- Choose a private, quiet space where you can talk openly without being overheard.
- Use a stable internet connection, and test your camera, microphone and sound ahead of time.
- Set your phone, tablet or computer on a steady surface with light on your face.
- Be physically in Texas, Idaho, Arizona or Maryland at the time of the visit. Our pages on telehealth in Texas, Idaho, Arizona and Maryland explain more.
- Do not join while driving.
What if the new patient is a child or teenager?
The clinic sees patients ages 5 to 65. When the patient is a minor, a parent or guardian must be present at every appointment, in the office or on video.
Parents often know details that a young person may not think to mention, such as early development, school reports and family history. It helps to bring any school or prior evaluation records you already have. A young person is also given room to speak for themselves.
What happens after the first visit?
You leave the first visit knowing our impressions and the options we discussed. If you decide to continue, follow-up visits of about 30 minutes are used to check how things are going and to adjust the plan with you. With your permission, we can coordinate with your therapist or primary care provider.
If medication is one of the options, the decision is made together after the evaluation. Not every medication can be prescribed at every kind of visit, and some may require an in-person appointment. We explain what applies to you, and our medication management page describes how follow-up works. Please do not start, stop or change a medication on your own before talking with your prescriber.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Please give at least 24 hours' notice by phone, voicemail or the patient portal. A late cancellation, a missed visit, or arriving more than 15 minutes late carries a fee that insurance does not pay, and a credit or debit card is kept on file. The fees and the exceptions for emergencies are set out in the cancellation policy on our insurance and fees page.
How is my privacy protected, and what if I need help right now?
What you share with us is part of your health record and is handled as protected health information. Our Notice of Privacy Practices explains how your information may be used and the rights you have over it.
DanShalom Behavioral Clinic is not an emergency service, and our website, email and text line are not monitored for emergencies. If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 if there is immediate danger. Our crisis resources page lists more places to turn.
Questions patients ask
Do I need a referral to become a new patient?
Most people can contact the clinic directly without a referral. Some insurance plans do ask for one before they will cover a visit with a mental health provider, so it is worth checking with your plan. When we review your coverage before the first visit, we can tell you what we find.
Can I bring a family member or friend to my first visit?
Yes, if you would like to. A trusted person can offer support, help you remember what was discussed, and sometimes add helpful details. You can also choose to speak with your provider alone for part of the visit. For patients who are minors, a parent or guardian must be present.
Will I leave the first visit with a diagnosis or a prescription?
It depends on what the evaluation shows. We share our impressions at the end of the visit, but sometimes more information is needed before a diagnosis is clear. Medication is one possible option, never a given, and any decision about it is made with you after the evaluation.
What if I do not have my old records?
Come anyway. Prior records are helpful but not required. Bring what you can, especially a list of your current medications and doses and the names of providers who have treated you. If more information would help, we will talk with you about how to request it.
Can my first visit be by video instead of in person?
Yes. A first evaluation can take place by secure video as long as you are physically located in Texas, Idaho, Arizona or Maryland at the time of the visit. Some situations are better suited to an office visit in Sugar Land, and we will tell you if that applies to you.
References
Published by DanShalom Behavioral Clinic. Last updated .