Second Opinion

Are you feeling stuck? Are you on medications and not sure why? Have you wondered if there
might be another medication or a better treatment option? Are you looking for a second
opinion or thinking about switching to a new psychiatrist?

Despite a doctor’s best intentions and best efforts there are cases when patients do achieve
their goals or experience the progress they have hoped for.

For these reasons, our top psychiatrists provide a “second opinion”.

Why Would I Want a Second Opinion?

Maybe you are looking for a fresh start. Maybe you wonder if your mediation(s) and treatment
plan is working as effectively as possible. Maybe you are not feeling heard by your current
psychiatrist or feel like you are on different pages.

In these cases, the psychiatrists at Mental Health and Wellness Solutions offer a one-time
comprehensive evaluation to confirm, clarify and/or establish an accurate diagnosis or
diagnoses. The benefit of seeking a “second opinion” is that there is no obligation to have
additional follow up appointments. Patients leave with a full understanding of the
recommended next steps, and They may choose to continue with their current treatment
provider or establish care with a new doctor at Mental Health and Wellness Associates.

What is the Second Opinion Visit Like?

Seeing our top psychiatrists at Mental Health and Wellness is likely a similar experience to other
mental health professionals that you may have seen in the past. Our psychiatrist begins the
psychiatric evaluation by discussing what brought you to the office, in other words, “what you
will be working on together”. Next, your doctor will ask you a series of questions that help them
to get up to speed regarding your mental health, general health, and family history etc. The
assessment generally lasts between 50 and 60 minutes.

Can You Diagnosis Me in One Appointment?

Every patient is unique and comes with a history of different symptoms, life experiences,
treatment failures, treatment successes and treatment options that have not been tried in the
past. With some of the best psychiatrists in California, our doctors use their experience, training
and knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders to help determine an accurate
diagnosis or diagnoses.

Even if a diagnosis seems obvious, our team always rules out other conditions like depression,
bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, psychosis, addiction and certain medical conditions, as these conditions influence which medications, and/or non-medication treatment options, that would
be most effective. In most cases, you will receive a good working diagnosis by the end of the
initial session. Although, it can take several follow up sessions in some cases to further clarify
and confirm the official diagnosis.

How Does My Diagnosis Affect My Treatment Plan?

The treatment plan and recommendations that you will receive from your psychiatrist at
Mental Health and Wellness solutions is based on many factors. These include the severity of
your symptoms, how much your condition is impacting your ability to function at work and/or
home and your history of previous treatments.

Additionally, every patient has unique preferences about medication, what types or
medications and other treatments they would prefer and these are used to individualize your
treatment plan. The psychiatrists at Mental Health and Wellness Associates use a holistic,
biological, psychological and social approach to customize your recommendations to best help
you reach your individual treatment goals.

For these reasons, our top psychiatrists provide a “second opinion”. Mental Health and
Wellness Associates was founded in Santa Monica, CA and have some of the best psychiatrists
in California.

If you are interested in becoming a new patient, and live anywhere in California, use the “book
online” button below to speak with a member of our team.