No jargon. No condescension. Just the things people actually want to know before they pick up the phone.
Prospective patients often reach out with similar questions before their first appointment. To save you time, we have grouped the most common ones below by topic. If you do not see your question, or need some clarification, please get in touch.
A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is a board-certified advanced practice nurse who specializes in mental health. PMHNPs can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and manage psychiatric medications, and provide therapy. In Virginia, PMHNPs can practice independently or under the supervision of a psychiatrist, and provide psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy for adults across Virginia.
Alice Tran is a PMHNP-BC, meaning she has passed the national board certification exam in psychiatric mental health nursing administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
PMHNP stands for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. BC stands for Board Certified, meaning the provider has passed a national certification exam in their specialty. It is the standard credential for psychiatric nurse practitioners and indicates a level of demonstrated competency beyond the graduate degree alone.
Both can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe psychiatric medication. The main difference is educational pathway: psychiatrists complete medical school (MD or DO) followed by a psychiatry residency; PMHNPs complete nursing school and a specialized graduate program in psychiatric mental health. In Virginia, PMHNPs can practice independently or under the supervision of a psychiatrist in outpatient settings.
For most adults seeking psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and therapy, the clinical experience is very similar. Many patients find PMHNPs more accessible, with shorter wait times and more appointment availability.
A psychiatrist (or PMHNP) is a medical provider who can diagnose conditions and prescribe medication. A therapist, which includes licensed counselors, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and psychologists, provides talk-based therapy but generally cannot prescribe medication.
These roles complement each other well. Many people benefit from seeing both: a prescriber for medication management and a therapist for ongoing talk therapy. If you are seeing a therapist and want to explore medication, or vice versa, Alice is glad to coordinate with your existing provider.
In most cases, no. You can book an appointment directly without a referral from your primary care doctor. Some insurance plans may require a referral for coverage, it is worth checking your specific plan. Alice Tran's practice does not require a referral to schedule.
Alice treats a wide range of mental health conditions in adults ages 18 to 60, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD and trauma, OCD, insomnia, postpartum depression, burnout, grief, panic disorder, and identity or cultural stress. She also supports adults navigating life transitions, relationship stress, and adjustment challenges.
See the full Conditions page for details on each, including what symptoms look like and how they are treated.
Alice does not offer complimentary consultations before the first appointment. The initial evaluation is itself the starting point: it is a full 60-minute appointment where you share what is going on, and together you figure out the right path forward. You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or the right words.
If you have specific questions before booking, you are welcome to reach out by email or phone and we will do our best to help.
A first appointment is typically 60 minutes and is called a psychiatric evaluation or intake. Alice asks about your current concerns, your mental health history, any prior treatment, family history, current medications, sleep, relationships, and goals. There is no right way to show up, you do not need to know your diagnosis going in or have the right vocabulary.
At the end of the visit, you will have a care plan. That might include a diagnosis, a medication recommendation, a therapy referral, or a combination. The plan is built with you, not handed to you.
To get an ADHD diagnosis as an adult in Virginia, you schedule an appointment with a psychiatric provider. The evaluation involves a detailed conversation about your symptoms: when they started, how long you have had these patterns, and how they affect your daily life and work. Your provider may also ask you to complete standardized screening questionnaires and may request input from family members or others who know you well.
There is no single test for ADHD. It is a clinical diagnosis based on your history and presentation. In most cases, a thorough psychiatric evaluation is sufficient to make the diagnosis.
What if my case is more complex?
In some cases, your provider may recommend a referral to a psychologist for comprehensive neuropsychological testing. This involves a series of standardized tests that measure attention, memory, processing speed, executive functioning, and other cognitive abilities. A neuropsychological evaluation can be especially helpful when:
Neuropsychological testing typically takes several hours and results in a detailed report with diagnostic conclusions and personalized recommendations.
What happens after diagnosis?
If ADHD is confirmed, your provider discusses treatment options, which typically include medication, behavioral strategies, or both. Many adults benefit from a combination approach. Alice provides adult ADHD evaluations and can prescribe stimulant medication via telehealth under current Virginia regulations.
That is exactly the kind of question a psychiatric evaluation is designed to answer, and the honest answer is: it depends. Medication is appropriate for some people and not others, and that depends on the severity of your symptoms, how long they have been present, how much they interfere with your life, and whether other approaches have been tried.
What is not helpful is guessing. A proper evaluation gives you real information about your specific situation, so you can make a real decision. Alice will be direct about whether she thinks medication makes sense, and if not, what else might.
It is more than okay, it is more common than you might think. Many adults seek psychiatric care for the first time in their 30s, 40s, or later. The first appointment is not a test to pass. There is no way to do it wrong. You show up, you talk, and you leave with more clarity than you had before.
Alice provides supportive therapy and psychotherapy woven into every appointment. This is not a separate therapy session, it is part of the psychiatric visit itself. It draws on principles from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, and trauma-informed care, tailored to what is most useful for you at that point in treatment.
Alice does not offer standalone talk therapy as a separate weekly service. If you are looking for dedicated weekly therapy, she is glad to coordinate with a therapist or provide a referral recommendation.
Medication management is the ongoing process of evaluating, prescribing, and adjusting psychiatric medication. It is not a one-time prescription, it is a series of regular appointments where your provider checks how the medication is working, whether there are side effects, whether the dose needs adjustment, and how your overall mental health is doing.
Follow-up visits are typically 30 to 50 minutes. They happen monthly at first, then less frequently once treatment is stable. Alice uses medication management visits to check the full picture, not just whether the medication is "working," but how you are actually doing.
Yes. In Virginia, licensed psychiatric providers can prescribe medication via telehealth, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and stimulant medications for ADHD. Stimulant prescriptions (for ADHD) may require additional documentation under current federal regulations, but they can be prescribed via telehealth under existing law.
Research consistently shows that telehealth psychiatric care produces outcomes comparable to in-person care for the vast majority of conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and medication management. For most outpatient psychiatric care, the quality of the conversation matters far more than the physical location.
Many patients also find that being in their own environment makes it easier to talk openly. And the removal of the commute barrier means people actually show up consistently, which matters more than most people realize.
Not necessarily, and this is worth discussing directly at the start of treatment. Some psychiatric conditions call for a defined course of medication (for example, a first episode of depression). Others are better managed with ongoing treatment, the way a chronic physical condition might be. Alice discusses duration at the beginning, not years later after the fact.
Anxiety is a normal human emotion, the stress response that helps you prepare for a presentation or respond to a difficult situation. An anxiety disorder is when that response becomes persistent, disproportionate, or disruptive enough to interfere with daily life. Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias are all clinical conditions that respond well to treatment. The distinction matters because anxiety disorders benefit from psychiatric care in a way that normal situational stress may not.
Yes. Our practice provides evidence-based treatment for ADHD, which may include stimulant or non-stimulant medications when clinically appropriate.
Important: Stimulant medications cannot be prescribed to patients currently prescribed benzodiazepines, buprenorphine, or opioid pain medications.
ADHD Medication Policies
Transferring care: New controlled prescriptions may only be issued after the PDMP confirms at least 30 days have passed since your last controlled medication fill.
No early refills. Appointments must be scheduled 5 to 7 days before you run out.
Monthly visits required for continuation and refill of controlled medications.
PDMP checked at every visit. Urine drug screening may be required at the initial evaluation and during ongoing treatment.
Long-acting stimulants trialed first. Extended-release formulations are preferred for their steadier effect and lower misuse risk. Dosing will not exceed FDA-approved guidelines.
Cardiovascular monitoring required, including monthly blood pressure checks. An EKG may be required in some cases.
Yes. The following are outside the scope of this practice:
Medications Not Prescribed
Long-term use of benzodiazepines: Klonopin, Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Halcion, and others.
Multiple controlled substances together: this practice does not prescribe to anyone currently taking more than one controlled substance.
Immediate-release stimulants as first-line: long-acting formulations will be trialed first if ADHD medication is indicated.
Addiction treatment medications: Acamprosate, Disulfiram, Naltrexone, Buprenorphine, Methadone, Naloxone, Nalmefene, Modafinil, Baclofen, and Vigabatrin are not prescribed. Tapering and detoxification services are not provided.
Additional Policies
Virginia PMP reviewed: this practice may review the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program, a statewide database tracking dispensed controlled substances. By establishing care, you consent to your prescription history being accessed when clinically appropriate.
Refills require recent visits: refills will not be provided if a follow-up has not been completed within the past three months, or within the timeframe in your treatment plan.
Treatment plan compliance expected: patients are expected to take medications as prescribed, attend follow-ups, and avoid duplicate prescriptions. Failure to follow recommendations may result in discontinuation of care.
Clinical judgment applies: all prescribing decisions are made at the provider's professional discretion. Patients may seek a second opinion at any time.
All visits are virtual and require both audio and video. Before your appointment, you will receive a link to join. You can also find this link in the patient portal. Please make sure you are in a private area with a good internet connection when it is time to connect.
Outside the Scope of This Practice
Yes. The following services and treatments are not available at this practice. We are glad to provide a referral to an appropriate provider or program if needed.
Services Not Provided
Ketamine, ECT, or TMS: Electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation are not offered.
IOP or PHP programs: Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs are not provided.
Crisis or emergency services: This is not a crisis line or emergency service. If you are in crisis, please call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Detoxification services: Medical detox is not provided.
Forensic or legal evaluations: Court-ordered evaluations or treatments, child custody evaluations, weapons ownership evaluations, workers' compensation evaluations, employment assessments, and SSDI determinations are not offered.
Specialty clearances & letters: Bariatric evaluations, surgical clearances, and service animal letters are not provided.
Medications Not Prescribed
High-dose or combined stimulants: High-dose stimulants or combinations of stimulants and benzodiazepines are not prescribed.
Long-term benzodiazepines: Long-term benzodiazepine prescriptions are not provided.
MAT medications: Medication-assisted treatment such as Vivitrol, Suboxone, or Methadone is not offered. Injectables are not prescribed.
Controlled Substance Policies
Sleep, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating are sometimes treated with medications that, when misused, carry risks including accidents, seizures, accidental overdose, and dangerous interactions with alcohol, cannabis, or other medications. The following policies are in place to support patient safety and responsible prescribing.
No weekend or holiday refills: Controlled substances will not be prescribed or refilled on weekends or holidays. Please allow at least 72 business hours (3 business days) notice for all refill requests.
Regular visits required: A patient must be seen at minimum every 3 months to continue receiving controlled medications. Failure to attend scheduled appointments may result in an inability to refill controlled medications. A bridge prescription may be provided at the provider's discretion to allow time for rescheduling.
Lost or stolen prescriptions: Replacement prescriptions for lost, stolen, damaged, or prematurely used controlled medications are generally not provided. Repeated reports of lost or stolen medications, repeated requests for early refills, evidence of diversion, misuse, or failure to follow the treatment agreement may result in discontinuation of controlled substance prescribing and/or termination of the patient provider relationship.
Medication labeling: Controlled medications are clearly labeled as such. Please ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about your medications.
No opioid pain medications: This practice does not prescribe opiate or opioid pain medications. Patients needing these should contact their primary care physician or a pain management specialist.
See Rates for most updated in network insurances and current fees.
Yes. If you pay out of pocket, Alice can provide a superbill, a detailed receipt with the diagnosis and billing codes your insurance company needs to process an out-of-network claim. You pay at the time of service, submit the superbill to your insurer, and they reimburse you directly based on your out-of-network benefits.
See Rates for the most up-to-date fee information.
Forms can be completed only for established patients.
Short-term disability may be considered for established patients who are enrolled in a psychiatric intensive outpatient program (IOP) that requires time off work. This is at the clinician's discretion. Long-term disability certification is not offered.
Any form requiring an evaluation or more than 15 minutes of the clinician's time will be charged at a rate of $150 per 15-minute increment.
Yes. Everything discussed in your appointments is protected under HIPAA. Your employer has no access to your records. Your insurance EOB will show only "telehealth visit", not a diagnosis, a provider name, or any clinical detail. There are narrow exceptions required by law (such as imminent danger to self or others), which Alice will explain at your first visit.
This is a very common concern in Northern Virginia. The short answer: seeking and receiving mental health treatment does not automatically affect a security clearance, and in fact untreated mental health conditions are more likely to raise concern than treated ones. Alice cannot provide clearance-specific legal advice, but she encourages anyone with this concern not to let it prevent them from getting care they need. The adjudicative guidelines actually view treatment positively.
The best way to check is the online booking calendar, which shows real-time availability. If you do not see a time that works, call or text (703) 791-9099 directly, there are sometimes cancellation openings that are not reflected online.
New patients welcome. Telehealth across Virginia. English & Tiếng Việt.
Book an Appointment →Or call or text: (703) 791-9099 · info@alicetrannp.com
Reviews help other patients find the care they need. If you have had a positive experience, we would be grateful if you took a moment to share it.
We read every review and appreciate every kind word.