Frequently Asked Questions

Our practice serves the mental health needs of adults and teens 16+. Erin Klender in the Charlotte office sees 13+. The Charlotte office is located at 903 Northeast Dr #102 Davidson, NC 28036 The Raleigh office is located at 8300 Health Park, Suite 201. Raleigh, NC 27615

An ideal psychiatric provider is one that your child feels that they can relate to who also has the specialized training to help them navigate the really hard stuff. We are board certified in Psychiatric care for adolescents and complete extensive annual training to provide the safest care possible. We can talk about whether medication makes sense and discuss all available options. Ultimately you, the parent make the final decision on treatment. We work closely with you to get your teen feeling themselves again. Depending upon the impact of your relationship with your teen or how their struggles might be impacting the family as a system, we may recommend family therapy sessions. Additionally we get to know your teen and can recommend a therapist we feel they would connect with. Upon booking, your teen will be sent a comprehensive questionnaire. You are welcome to assist them in adding any pertinent information you would like us to know before the appointment. We ask that at least one adult be present for the session in order to discuss concerns and review the proposed treatment plan at the end. We have experience partnering with co-parents, Pediatricians, and Child/Adolescent Therapists. Our goal is to advocate on behalf of your child for their improved mental wellbeing and success in life.

Our medication policy is designed with your health and safety as our utmost priority. We aim to provide you with the highest standard of care in managing your medications effectively. Medication Management During Office Visits: To ensure the best possible care, we kindly request that requests for medication changes and prescription refills be handled during your scheduled office visits. Please make it a practice to bring your current medication list to each appointment. Typically, our provider will prescribe medications to cover your needs until your next scheduled visit. We strongly recommend scheduling your follow-up appointment before leaving your current visit to prevent any interruptions in your medication regimen. Requesting Medication Refills: When requesting medication refills check with your pharmacy first, as many refills can be authorized with a simple request to your pharmacist. If needed please message your provider on Spruce.

When you book an appointment, you will receive a text message from SPRUCE HEALTH. This is our HIPAA secure messaging which allows you to communicate directly and securely with your provider. You can download the Spruce health app to your phone and quickly request refills, ask questions about the plan, or request follow up appointments.

Please encourage your friends, family members, and clients to self schedule on our website CommonGroundPsych.com. After requesting an appointment they will receive a 'New Client Questionnaire' which will allow them to specify who referred them. We love collaboration with therapists, primary care providers, and specialists. Please leave a voicemail or text @ 704-237-0752 if you'd like to collaborate on a mutual client. We do not require an ROI for medical providers (as this is considered continuity of care) but if you are a therapist you may attach an ROI to your email (which is secure). You can directly email us at Debbie@CommonGroundPsych.com (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill office) or Erin@CommonGroundPsych.com (Charlotte/LKN office).

Common Ground Psychiatry is in-network with the majority of Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna plans. We expect to be contracted with CBHA mid 2025. If you have other health benefits we will provide you with a 'Superbill' which you are welcome to submit to your insurance company for consideration for out of network reimbursement. Once approved, they would send the reimbursement directly to you. Please note we are not in-network with Medicaid or Medicare. Due to restrictions we cannot accept clients for self pay that have Medicaid. Please remember that your insurance contract is between you and your insurer. We do check benefits as a courtesy prior to your first appointment, however insurance companies do not guarantee payment when they quote benefits. It is ultimately your responsibility to understand your plan benefits. You should contact your carrier directly to ensure you are aware of any limitations to your coverage. If your insurance company pays only part of your bill or rejects a claim, you are financially responsible for the remaining balance. Full payment of co-pays and co-insurance are due at the time of service. We do not carry balances. Outstanding balances must be satisfied prior to additional services being scheduled.

We offer different types of services, which have different self-pay rates: Intake Session (up to 60 minutes): $310 Follow up visits (up to 25 minutes): $180 Extended follow up visits (up to 40 minutes): $210

If you have not had a medical exam in the last year, we will suggest scheduling a check-up with a primary care provider and are happy to provide recommendations. It is important to ensure that there are no medical reasons for symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue and insomnia. If you have had a check-up recently, occasionally we may need to order additional blood tests, but that depends on the symptoms and treatment plan. If you are doing well on your current psychiatric medication and your last labs were normal, additional testing may not be necessary.

1. Your appointment request will be forwarded to your clinician. 2. Within 24 hours you will receive a text and email confirming your appointment. 3. You will receive a link to a 'New Client Questionnaire and Consents' which can be completed on your desktop, laptop, or mobile phone. Our questionnaire was thoughtfully designed to ensure we leave no stone unturned in learning about you and your unique needs. Please allow around twenty minutes to complete this. 3. Check your texts for an invite to Spruce Health which is our secure messaging app. Please accept this invite! Going forward all communication between you and your provider will be secure through this HIPAA compliant app.

At Common Ground Psychiatry we understand that humans are not all the same. We tailor medication plans based on a thorough understanding of all the things (genetics, environment, lifestyle) that make you YOU. For some genetic testing is not needed, for others it uncovers insights about their body’s blueprint that is useful in guiding medication decision making. You can trust your provider to have an honest conversation if this is a tool that will be useful for you. If you decide this is service you would like to pursue we will guide you through the process, helping to interpret the results and translate them into actionable steps for your unique wellness journey.

Yes, we offer online sessions through a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform (which means that your confidentiality is protected in an online environment). We can see clients throughout the state of North Carolina via telehealth! Telehealth visits have many benefits and have been proven to be just effective as in-person sessions. You can see your provider on a lunch break, close the door to your office, or wherever is most comfortable for you. Our clients can also choose an in-office visit and if they find their day quite busy, have the option to easily convert their appointment to telehealth.

It is important that you regularly attend your scheduled appointments, but we are aware that sometimes life can get in the way. That’s why there is no fee for appointments cancelled with a 48-hour notice. For any appointment that is cancelled without 48 hours’ notice, you will be charged a cancellation fee (standard rate of session). You can cancel via phone or by using the Spruce Health app. Please understand that we are not able to bill insurance companies for missed or cancelled appointments.

A few minutes prior to your telehealth visit please open your Spruce app. Message your provider 'Ready' Your provider will call you via video on the Spruce app when they are available to start the visit Please note, due to licensing laws you must be physically located in NC at the time of your visit.

During the initial session, you and your provider will take the first steps in establishing a relationship that will become the foundation of your work together. You will begin to share your story, what brought you into the office, and your personal goals for treatment. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable during this initial appointment. Your provider will guide you in this process by asking you questions to gather relevant information that can be used to make treatment goals and, more importantly, to help you feel safe and secure with the therapeutic process and to get to know you. This is also a time where you can ask any questions you might have about the therapeutic process, confidentiality, office policies, etc.

The frequency of appointments will vary depending on your needs and treatment plan. In general, adolescents are seen more frequently than adults in the beginning phases of treatment. The standard interval for follow up is every 2-3 months but is customized to your needs. As treatment progresses and symptoms improve, appointments may become less frequent. You have a direct link to your provider via the Spruce app in between appointments if you need to adjust your appointment. Please note that clients prescribed controlled substances must be seen at least every three months and at minimum once per year for an in office visit. This is a legal requirement as well as a standard for excellent patient care. Please contact us at info@commongroundpsych.sprucecare.com if you have questions!

If you are in North Carolina and experiencing a psychiatric emergency or crisis, there are several options you can consider: 1. Call 911: If you believe the situation is life-threatening or an immediate emergency, call 911. They can dispatch emergency personnel to assist you. 2. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. They can provide support and connect you to local resources. 3. Crisis Text Line: Text "HOME" to 741741. This is a free, 24/7 crisis support service that connects you with a trained crisis counselor via text message. 4. Charlotte area mobile crisis: 704-566-3410 Option 1 Raleigh area mobile crisis: 877-626-1772 They offer immediate and intensive support to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, including de-escalation techniques and emotional support. They can assess to determine the severity of the crisis and the appropriate level of care needed, which may include referrals to other mental health services or hospitals if necessary. 5. Emergency Room: If you are in immediate danger or crisis, you can go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Hospitals are equipped to handle psychiatric emergencies. Please note that as stated in our policies our office is not equipped to handle psychiatric emergencies. If you find yourself or a family member under emergency care please request your provider notify us by calling 704-237-0752. It is important that we have the opportunity to collaborate with them.