Frequently Asked Questions

What are the visit costs?

Initial visits (60-90 minutes) are $500. Thirty minute follow up visits are $200. Sixty minute follow up visits are $275. Dr. Bliss offers a discounted rate of $350 for an initial session for undergraduate and graduate students that can show proof of current enrollment. Teachers and medical residents that show proof of employment are also offered the discounted rate of $350 for an initial appointment. If you have been seen by Dr. Bliss in the past year, you do not need to be seen for an initial visit. If the rates are prohibitive for you, please ask to be added to a list in case sliding scale exceptions become available in the future.

Will I be charged for not showing to an appointment or a late cancellation?

Patients have up until 24 hours before their scheduled appointment time to cancel to avoid paying a cancellation fee. The cancellation fee is half of the appointment cost (e.g. $250 for an initial visit or $100 for a thirty minute follow up visit.) If there is an emergency or illness that prevents a patient from attending an appointment, the late cancellation fee will be waived for a maximum of three occurrences. Patients are given up to 15 minutes past their appointment time to show for their appointment. If a patient shows up after 15 minutes but within the appointment time, it will be at Dr. Bliss’s discretion and availability if patient can still be seen that day. She will try her best to accommodate, providing it does interfere with the care of others. If a patient does not show to a visit without calling ahead or notifying the office, it will be considered a “no show” and he will be charged the full amount of his visit. After three consecutive no shows, a patient will be dismissed from the practice and given a list of referrals. If a patient’s payment method fails, the patient will be asked to provide an alternate form of payment before she is able to book another appointment.

Does Dr. Bliss accept insurance?

Presently, Dr. Bliss is considered “out of network,” which means she does not accept insurance. At the conclusion of a visit, a patient may request a superbill that she can submit to her insurance company. The intention is for Dr. Bliss to spend less time and resources on billing insurance companies and more time on direct patient care.

Are there any discounted rates available?

Dr. Bliss offers a discounted rate of $350 for an initial session for undergraduate and graduate students that can show proof of current enrollment. Teachers and medical residents that show proof of employment are also offered the discounted rate of $350 for an initial appointment. If you have been seen by Dr. Bliss in the past year, you do not need to be seen for an initial visit. If the rates are prohibitive for you, please ask to be added to a list in case sliding scale exceptions become available in the future.

What should I expect at my initial visit?

An initial visit can last anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the complexity of the presenting problem/s. If possible, please prepare a list of medication names that you have tried in the past and/or are taking currently ahead of time. Your pharmacy may have records of past medications if you have trouble recalling their names or what dates you were taking them. If this is your first time seeking help from a mental health professional, it is understandable to feel anxious or even forget why you have made the appointment. Sometimes writing out a list on paper or in your phone is helpful to ensure that all your concerns and questions are addressed. You are permitted to bring another person to your visit if it would help you feel more comfortable to have someone else present.

Are there any special policies for minor patients?

Dr. Bliss takes on patients under 18 years old on a case-by-case basis. Patients under 18 years old are asked to have at least one parent or guardian present during the initial visit. Typically, caregivers are interviewed first with patient present and then the patient is offered time to speak with Dr. Bliss alone. The patient must be observed, however briefly, during every visit. It is best if parents attend follow up visits. If parents are not present, they will asked to be available via phone for the duration of the visit. They will be contacted during the appointment time if any medication changes are necessary. No medications will be started or changed without consent of a parent or guardian. For controlled medications, all legal guardians must provide consent prior to initiation. If a parent cannot be reached during the appointment time, he or she will likely be asked to make another follow up appointment.

Minor patients have a right to confidentiality with some notable exceptions: if they are having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, if an adult is hurting or threatening them, or if they are experiencing psychosis. Adolescents who do not feel that their information is confidential will often not disclose drug use, sexual activity, gender dysphoria, or other topics that could be critical to their diagnosis and safe treatment.

If parents are in the process of separating or are already divorced, Dr. Bliss asks that both be present for the initial visit. In the case of an acrimonious divorce, Dr. Bliss may refuse to see patients without both parents present. Dr. Bliss dismiss patients whose parents are unable to speak civilly to one another or to keep the patient’s wellbeing as a priority and focus of sessions.

Please note that while Dr. Bliss has training for and experience with treating children and adolescents, she does not have the additional two years of training required for a fellowship or subspecialty. Children under the age of six and complicated cases will likely be referred out to a physician with the appropriate level of training. 

What should I know about telehealth visits?

Telehealth visits are performed through an encrypted, HIPPA-compliant telemedicine platform. Patients must be within the State of Louisiana at the time of the visit. To the best of your ability, please make sure you have a strong internet or cell signal and that you can speak comfortably and privately for the entire length of the appointment time. The website allows you to test your audio and visual functioning ahead of the visit. If there are others within earshot of your telehealth appointment, it is your duty to inform Dr. Bliss who is around so that she can help keep your information protected. Patients must be visible on screen and refrain from activities like driving, shopping, answering emails, or texting during session.

Does Dr. Bliss diagnose and treat ADHD?

Dr. Bliss diagnoses and treats Attention-Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and recognizes that having the right medication can make a significant difference in the life and career of someone with the disorder. However, there is a lot of misinformation about the disorder circulating online and often there are better explanations for poor motivation or disorganization that ADHD that need to be ruled out. Our modern lifestyles and our overreliance on technology has left a lot of people dissatisfied with their level of attention and their ability to do tedious or unpleasant tasks. When stimulant medications like Adderall or Vyvanse are prescribed inappropriately, it puts those with the disorder at a further disadvantage and causes unnecessary risk of harm. Dr. Bliss asks that all her patients with ADHD not simply take medication, but also learn and practice techniques that will make them more successful. All patients who seek an ADHD diagnosis and treatment with a stimulant are required to have the following:

1)    An in-person visit at least once per calendar year. This is required by law for the prescription of controlled substances.

2)    Documentation of the disorder by a physician or psychologist prior to 12 years old OR an interview with a parent or family member who can attest to symptoms being present before 12 years old.

3)    An interview with a spouse, parent, therapist, or family member that can speak to current functioning.

4)    A negative urine drug screen. A drug screen that returns positive for cannabis is not an automatic disqualifier, but treatment will be delayed until three months sobriety and repeat testing. Please note that a medical marijuana card does not provide exemption from this policy. Additional drug testing may be requested at random in the future at Dr. Bliss’s discretion.

5)    A method of taking blood pressure during or before virtual visits.

Does Dr. Bliss treat anxiety with benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, like Xanax or Klonopin, can be a great rescue tool for panic attacks in the appropriate patient, but they need to be prescribed carefully to prevent dependence and abuse. Imagine that a plane is in a nosedive. Does the pilot immediately put on a parachute and abandon the plane? No, she tries her best to right the plane with the tools given to her in training. Only when she fails at those methods, should she resort to the parachute. If a patient feels his life is in a nosedive and has no prior training, benzodiazepines can help in the short term while another medication is started, and he learns distress tolerance and anxiety relief strategies. The goal of treatment is to understand the source and triggers for anxiety and panic attacks and to use coping strategies. Dr. Bliss does not prescribe benzodiazepines for insomnia, except in extreme cases in the short term. All patients who elect to start or continue a benzodiazepine require the following:

1)    An in-person visit at least once per calendar year. This is required by law for the prescription of controlled substances.

2)    A commitment to learning coping strategies and techniques.

3)    A negative urine drug screen. A drug screen that returns positive is not an automatic disqualifier, but treatment will be delayed until three months sobriety and repeat testing. Please note that a medical marijuana card does not provide exemption from this policy. Additional drug testing may be requested at random in the future at Dr. Bliss’s discretion.

Will Dr. Bliss help complete forms or write letters?

If you wish to have Dr. Bliss complete a form or write a letter, please let her know as soon as possible and arrange for a visit to discuss the request. A one- or two-page form may be completed easily during a patient visit, but longer forms or letters may require up to two weeks to complete. For forms, please ensure that you have filled out any information that only you can answer ahead of time. For letters, please make sure you have the addressee’s full name, title, address, and email address. If there is specific language needed or certain items that need commentary, writing a short paragraph or bullet point list will aid Dr. Bliss in getting the request handled as expediently as possible.

How do I request my patient records?

Please submit record requests in writing by emailing your name, date of birth, and outlining what records you are requesting, where you would like them sent, and what format you would prefer. If the records are being sent by post, you will be charged the cost of postage. The costs are as follows:

Cost per Page

$1.00 for pages 1-25

$0.50 for pages 26-500

Legally, healthcare providers are obligated to provide medical and billing records within 15 days of a request and to keep a copy of medical records for six years from the date the patient was last treated. Psychotherapy notes are kept separate from the medical and billing notes, and patients do not have a right to access these. If you wish to amend your medical or billing record, please provide the request in writing. If Dr. Bliss declines to amend the record, your statement of disagreement will be added to your record.