Wait, you're a psychiatrist, you're not a therapist, and YOU can't offer therapy, right?
No, actually, I am a therapist, and the bulk of my practice is providing psychotherapy. I have been trained in many types of therapy, from play therapy and narrative therapy to psychodynamic psychotherapy and couples therapy. I can and do work with people in psychotherapy. In fact, I would be a good fit for people wanting psychotherapy with or without medication management.
Wait, how DO you WORK WITH adults if you're a child and adolescent psychiatrist?
I am trained in adult psychiatry as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. A good portion of the people I see are adults. My child and adolescent psychiatry training actually gives me broader perspectives that help me to better understand the adults I see.
WHAT SYMPTOMS OR CHALLENGES CAN YOU HELP PEOPLE TREAT?
I offer psychotherapy (with or without medication management) to treat: depression, anxiety, relationship issues, couples' challenges, stressful life transitions, professional and personal challenges, grief and loss, and overall to help people understand themselves and their lives better.
Wait, you're a psychiatrist, so aren't you just going to prescribe medication?
Not necessarily. Medication may or may not be part of treatment. I will discuss this with individuals and families during the initial evaluation. I also offer psychotherapy and couples therapy and can refer to other providers if I am not the best fit for your needs.
I already have a therapist, can I still work with you to have you prescribe medications?
Typically no, since my practice is a psychotherapy practice. However, I can and do provide medication management, if needed, for patients I see in therapy.
If I come see you, are you going to call my partner and boss and tell them?
I maintain the strictest confidentiality and talk with outside providers and individuals (doctors, family members, or others) only with a person's consent. Typically, only in cases of emergency would I have to break a person's confidentiality.
I HAVE A CHILD WHO IS OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE, AND I AM CALLING FOR MY CHILD. WILL YOU SEE MY CHILD, AND WILL YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT MY CHILD AFTER THAT?
I am certainly willing to talk with you to get a sense of whether I might be able to help. After that initial call, if your child is over 18 years of age, please have your child contact me directly so that I can see if I might be a good fit. It is possible that, with your child's consent, the parent(s) and I might talk after my first session with the adult child, but thereafter I would maintain a private, adult therapy for a patient over 18 years of age.
What if you are not the right fit for me?
If I am not the right fit for you, I will provide you with names of other providers who might be able to offer you the help that you need. My main goal is for people to get the help that they need. If I am not able to offer that, I will refer you to other providers who hopefully can help.
What are your fees?
Please contact me to discuss my fees and services.
Do you take insurance?
I do not accept insurance, Medicare, or Medi-Cal, and I am not a member of any managed care provider panels. I am considered an "out of network" provider. However, I provide invoices that individuals and families can submit to their insurance carriers for "out of network" reimbursement if that is an option for them.
Can I get reimbursed by my insurance company if I see you and try to use my insurance?
Possibly. I recommend first checking with your insurance carrier to see if the carrier offers out of network benefits and then clarifying with them their rate of reimbursement. I provide individuals and families with itemized invoices that include charges, payments, procedure codes, and diagnostic codes. Most insurance companies require this information for reimbursement, and individuals and families can then submit a copy of these invoices, along with claim forms, to their health insurance companies for possible partial reimbursement.
How do I contact you about a forensic case and your forensic psychiatry practice?
Please contact me via the telephone number below.
Are you the same Dr. Bender who has HOSTED GQ’s THE BREAKDOWN AND HAS A YOUTUBE CHANNEL, written books, and presented AT San Diego Comic-Con International and other POPULAR ARTS CONVENTIONS on mental health, comic books, and OTHER media?
Yes. You can find videos I have hosted as well as articles that I have co-authored in media outlets such as Newsweek, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post, by a quick web search.
