Booking, forms, the 60-minute evaluation, in person in Fairfax or by video, and what happens after. You do not need to have everything figured out before you arrive.
Booking takes about five minutes online or by calling (703) 791-9099 or texting (703) 791-9031. No referral is needed. When you book, choose in person at the Fairfax office or a secure video visit; either can be changed later. New patients are typically seen within one to two weeks.
After booking, you will receive intake forms by email through a secure patient portal. These forms ask about your medical history, current symptoms, medications, and what brings you in. Plan about 20 minutes to fill them out.
Completing the forms ahead of time means your appointment is focused entirely on you, not on paperwork. The more detail you include, the better prepared Alice will be to help you in that first session.
If you are not sure how to answer a question on the intake form:
Do your best and leave a note. It is fine to write "not sure" or "will explain in appointment." The forms are a starting point, not a test.
Your first appointment is a comprehensive evaluation of up to 60 minutes, in person or by video. Alice will lead the conversation, but it is collaborative. Sometimes a clear picture emerges in the first visit; other times understanding develops over two or three appointments, and that is a normal part of careful care. Here is a general sense of what the visit covers:
You do not need to have the right words or the right answers. Say what you actually experience, even if it feels hard to articulate. Alice is trained to ask the right follow-up questions to help you get to the heart of what is going on.
A tip from the provider:
The most useful thing you can do before the visit is think about how your symptoms affect your daily life, not just how they make you feel in the moment. "I have been anxious" is less useful than "I have been waking up at 3am for three months and cannot stop thinking about work." Specifics help.
At the end of your first appointment you will have a clearer picture of what is going on and a plan for moving forward. This may include:
If you came for an ADHD evaluation, the path is a little different. The second visit is dedicated strictly to the ADHD clinical interview, and no medication is started at that visit. The third visit covers the diagnosis and treatment plan. The full process is explained in How an ADHD evaluation works.
If you have questions after your visit, you can reach out through the patient portal. Responses to non-urgent messages are typically within 24 to 72 business hours.
That is extremely common and not a problem. Alice asks specific questions that most people find much easier to answer than open-ended ones. You do not need to arrive with a prepared speech.
If nothing treatable is found, you will leave with that clarity, which is also valuable. But people rarely seek a psychiatric evaluation when they are functioning well. If you are here, something is worth looking into.
No. Alice's practice is a judgment-free space. The things that feel most shameful to say out loud are often the most clinically important. The appointment is confidential, and the more honest you are, the more useful it is.
Treatment is always collaborative. Medication is never prescribed without discussion, and you are never required to take anything. Your preferences and concerns are part of every treatment decision.
Everything is listed on the rates and insurance page. The short version:
| Initial evaluation | Up to 60 minutes. $400 self-pay, or your in-network copay. |
| Follow-up visit | 30 minutes. $200 self-pay, or your in-network copay. |
| Insurance | Most major plans are in network. Check the current list before booking. |
| Missed visit or late cancellation | $100 with less than 24 hours notice. |
| Forms and letters | $150 per 15-minute increment. |
A Good Faith Estimate is available on request for self-pay patients, as required by the No Surprises Act.
The initial evaluation is up to 60 minutes. Follow-up visits are 30 minutes. Some evaluations take two or three visits before a full picture emerges, and there is no pressure to cover everything in the first hour.
Either. Visits are in person at the Fairfax office or by secure video from anywhere in Virginia. Video visits are not conducted by telephone. Many patients do the first visit in person and follow-ups by video, or the reverse.
No. You can book directly online or by phone. If you have a primary care provider or therapist, records from them are welcome but not required.
The self-pay rate for the initial evaluation is $400 and follow-ups are $200. Most major insurance plans are in network. Missed visits and cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are $100. The current insurance list is on the rates page.
Sometimes. If medication is appropriate and you agree, a prescription is sent electronically to your pharmacy. If the picture is not yet clear, or the visit is the first step of an ADHD evaluation, medication is discussed at a later visit. Nothing is prescribed without your input.
In person in Fairfax or by video across Virginia · No referral needed · Typically available within 1 to 2 weeks