Question 1

Is Golden Life Standard Health a telehealth-only practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every appointment is delivered virtually so you can begin care from a private space, your home, parked car, or quiet office, without the friction of travel. The clinical depth is identical to in-person psychiatry: the same intake, the same assessments, the same medication decisions, the same follow-up cadence. Most of our patients tell us it actually feels more personal because there is no waiting-room stress and no rushed hand-off, just protected time with the clinician.

Question 2

Who do you treat?

Accepted Answer

Adolescents, young adults, working adults, and older adults across mood disorders (depression, bipolar spectrum), anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, OCD-adjacent presentations), ADHD, trauma-related conditions, sleep concerns, perinatal mental health, and substance use challenges. We regularly co-manage complex cases with therapists, primary care physicians, and OB-GYNs. If our team is not the best fit for your situation, we will connect you with a colleague or specialty program who is, no discharge into the void.

Question 3

How fast can I be seen?

Accepted Answer

Most patients are booked into a first evaluation within 5-7 days of reaching out. Evening slots (until 8:00 PM ET) and Saturday appointments are available. If you are experiencing an urgent but non-emergency change (worsening symptoms, medication access issue, etc.) let our care coordinator know when you book and we will do our best to expedite.

Question 4

Do you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we accept most major commercial plans including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Optum, plus Medicare and Maryland Medicaid. Because plan networks change quarterly, we always run a real-time benefits check before your first visit so you know your copay, coinsurance, and deductible position exactly. Coverage can be verified in under a minute on our Insurance page.

Question 5

What if I do not have insurance?

Accepted Answer

We offer transparent self-pay rates that are collected securely through Stripe at booking. Standard rates are $180 for a new-patient psychiatric evaluation (60 minutes) and $95 for a follow-up medication visit (30 minutes). If cost is a barrier, please reach out; we hold a limited number of sliding-scale slots each month for patients who need them.

Question 6

Do you prescribe medication?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our board-certified psychiatric clinicians (MD and psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioners) prescribe and manage the full range of psychotropic medications when clinically appropriate. We take shared-decision-making seriously: we will walk through the evidence, alternatives, expected timeline, common side effects, and monitoring plan before any prescription is sent to your pharmacy. Nothing gets rubber-stamped.

Question 7

Do you prescribe controlled substances?

Accepted Answer

We follow current DEA guidance and Maryland state regulations. Certain controlled medications (for example, some ADHD stimulants and benzodiazepines) can be initiated or refilled via telehealth under specific conditions, while others may require additional steps such as an in-person visit with a partner clinician. Your clinician will explain what applies to your specific situation during the evaluation and will never leave you guessing about a refill plan.

Question 8

What technology do I need for a visit?

Accepted Answer

Any device with a working camera, microphone, and a stable internet connection: a phone, tablet, Chromebook, or laptop all work. There is no app to download. About an hour before your visit we email you a secure, one-click link. Click it, allow camera and microphone access when your browser asks, and you are in. If technology is a challenge we can also do phone-only visits when clinically appropriate.

Question 9

Is my information confidential?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Our video, messaging, and file uploads all run on HIPAA-aligned infrastructure with encryption in transit and at rest. Only members of your direct care team can see your records, and every access is logged. See our Privacy & Security page for the full technical detail. We do not sell data. We do not train AI on your notes. We do not use your visit for marketing.

Question 10

What documents do I need for my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

A government-issued photo ID, your insurance or Medicaid card (if applicable), and a list of any current medications with dosages. If you have recent lab work, prior psychiatric records, or a therapist's letter of referral, upload those too, they make the first visit far more efficient. Everything can be uploaded securely at booking, no email attachments or scanning required.

Question 11

How long is a first appointment vs. a follow-up?

Accepted Answer

A new-patient evaluation is 60 minutes. That length lets us take a proper history, discuss goals, review any prior treatments, and build a plan you actually agree with, rather than a rushed 15-minute check-box exercise. Follow-up medication visits are 30 minutes. If you need more time for a follow-up (life change, medication change, therapy coordination) just tell the coordinator and we will schedule a double slot.

Question 12

Do I need to live in Maryland?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our clinicians are licensed to practice in Maryland and, per state regulations, you must be physically located in Maryland at the moment of each visit. This applies even to a brief travel day. If you split time between states, tell us at booking and we will map out a coverage plan (either coordinating with a clinician in your other state, or pausing until you are back).

Question 13

Do you offer therapy?

Accepted Answer

We are a psychiatry practice, so our clinicians provide medication-focused care with supportive counseling during each visit. For weekly talk therapy (CBT, DBT, EMDR, couples work, etc.), we partner with a curated network of Maryland-licensed therapists and will provide a warm introduction, no cold Google searches needed.

Question 14

Can I change or cancel my appointment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Reach our care coordinator at care@goldenlifesh.com or (443) 891-4248 at least 24 hours before your visit and we will reschedule with no fee. Late cancellations or no-shows may be assessed a fee (disclosed at booking) so we can keep same-week openings available for other patients.

Question 15

How do refills work between visits?

Accepted Answer

During your visit your clinician will send prescriptions directly to your pharmacy of choice, usually with enough refills to bridge until your next scheduled follow-up. If something changes (side effect, dose adjustment, pharmacy switch) send a secure message and our team responds within one business day.

Question 16

What if I am in crisis?

Accepted Answer

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911 right away. This website and our clinical inbox are not designed for real-time emergency response. Once you are safe, we are happy to be part of the follow-up care plan and will make time to see you as soon as possible.

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