Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, I am currently accepting new patients.

You can request an appointment through the Scheduling page on this site, which connects to my online scheduling system.

My practice is telehealth-only — all appointments are conducted virtually through a secure video platform. Because of state licensing requirements, you must be physically located within Washington State at the time of your appointment.

Monica Preder, ARNP, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner specializing in psychiatric mental health care. She has worked in mental health since 2019 and holds a Master's degree in Nursing with specialized training as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Monica is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) who is board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) — not a psychiatrist (MD/DO). PMHNPs are licensed to evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe medication for mental health conditions, and provide many of the same services a psychiatrist does.

I work with adults experiencing a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, psychosis, personality disorders, and difficulties with stress, focus, or emotional regulation, using a thoughtful, conservative approach to prescribing and a holistic, whole-person philosophy of care.

My practice is designed for adults seeking outpatient psychiatric evaluation and ongoing medication management in a telehealth setting. Because I operate as a solo provider, there are some situations that call for a different level or structure of care. My practice is generally not appropriate for individuals with anorexia, individuals who are court-ordered into treatment, or individuals whose symptoms require a higher level of psychiatric care than a solo outpatient telehealth practice can provide — such as intensive case management or frequent crisis intervention. I am able to work with individuals who have substance use concerns, although this isn't an area of extensive specialization for me. If you're unsure whether my practice is the right fit for your needs, please reach out — I'm happy to talk it through with you.

I am in-network with Aetna Health Plans. If you have a different plan, I can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement (this option isn't available for Medicaid or Medicare, which cannot be billed via superbill).

An initial evaluation (approximately 60 minutes) is $200. Follow-up visits (approximately 30 minutes) are $100. Any additional professional services beyond a visit's standard length are billed at $50 per 10-minute increment. Fees are subject to change.

Billing is handled through Tebra. Once Tebra submits your superbill to your insurance and determines your out-of-pocket responsibility (including any copay), payment for that session is expected. If you're being seen as an out-of-network patient, I'll reach out for payment after the visit's CPT codes are sent to Tebra. I accept personal checks and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express); there is a $25 fee for returned checks, and accounts more than 60 days overdue may be referred for collection.

I currently have openings Monday through Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Availability can vary, and specific appointment times can be discussed when scheduling.

Your first appointment is a comprehensive 60-minute psychiatric evaluation. We'll discuss your current concerns, symptoms, medical history, previous treatments, medications, and the biological, psychological, and social factors that may be contributing to your mental health. From there, we'll collaborate on a personalized treatment plan, which may include medication, behavioral strategies, lifestyle recommendations, therapy referrals, or additional medical evaluation.

Follow-up sessions can be scheduled for either 30 or 50 minutes, depending on your needs. Frequency ranges from weekly to annual visits depending on your diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress. If you're prescribed stimulant medication, follow-up visits are required at least every three months.

Cancellations require at least 48 business hours' notice (business hours are weekdays, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.). Missing this window, or not showing up for your appointment, results in a $50 charge for a missed 30-minute appointment or $100 for a missed 50-minute appointment — this fee is waived the first time it happens. You're also welcome to cancel through the online scheduler yourself up until 48 hours before your appointment, without the business-hours restriction. Arriving more than 10 minutes late to a 50-minute session (or 5 minutes late to a 30-minute session) may result in the session being canceled and the missed-appointment fee being charged.

Please review the Services Agreement and Privacy Practices documents under the Policy Info section of this site. You'll need to sign a Signature Sheet confirming that you've reviewed and agree to these documents, which I can send electronically. You'll also need to upload a copy of your driver's license and insurance card (if you're using insurance) through the Tebra Patient Portal before your first session. If your current address is different from the one on your ID, please let me know so your record can be updated.

By your second session, please have any recent lab results sent over, either by you or by another healthcare provider. If you've previously received mental health care elsewhere, I may also ask you to complete a Release of Information (ROI) so I can review those records as part of your assessment. I'll provide any necessary forms.

Depending on your diagnosis and treatment plan, I may ask you to monitor basic health measurements such as weight, blood pressure, and pulse, particularly if you're starting certain medications. A home scale and an automatic blood pressure cuff are helpful if you have access to them. If collecting these measurements presents a challenge, let me know and we'll figure out the best approach together.

Throughout treatment, I may ask you to complete brief, evidence-based questionnaires related to mood, anxiety, attention, or other symptoms. These help us monitor your progress over time and guide treatment decisions.

Federal telemedicine regulations require periodic visits (virtual visits are acceptable) for controlled substance prescriptions — at least every three months for stimulant medications and at least every six months for benzodiazepines. Before prescribing these, I'm also required to check the Washington Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. For certain controlled substances, patients are asked to complete two Releases of Information — one for their primary care provider and one for a trusted contact, such as a family member, friend, or therapist.

Refills are provided during scheduled follow-up appointments. Controlled substances cannot be refilled outside of a scheduled visit unless previously agreed upon. For non-controlled medications, contacting me directly is generally faster than having your pharmacy send a refill request, since it can be sent electronically. In most cases, a scheduled follow-up appointment is needed for refills to be provided.

Information about you is not disclosed without your written consent, with a small number of legally required exceptions (such as safety emergencies or suspected abuse), described fully in my Notice of Privacy Practices under Policy Info. For sending sensitive health information, I strongly recommend using the Tebra Patient Portal — it's HIPAA-compliant and end-to-end encrypted. Regular email and text messaging are not fully secure channels, so I only use those for non-sensitive information, and texting requires your consent first.