Getting Started

  • Getting started with Affinity is simple. You can submit a form on our website, email us at contactus@affinityalexandria.com, or call us at (703) 828-8308. Our intake team will reach out to understand your needs and how we can best support you.

  • You will need to complete the intake paperwork 48 hours prior to your appointment. This ensures we have time to verify your insurance and complete your chart. Kindly remember to upload your driver’s license and insurance card.

    If paperwork isn’t completed within 48 hours prior to your appointment, your initial appointment will need to be rescheduled.

  • Your initial appointment with a nurse practitioner is typically 60–90 minutes. This extended time allows for the opportunity to slow down and understand the full picture, including your mental and physical health, medical history, medications, lifestyle, experiences, symptoms, and goals. We'll use what we learn to determine an appropriate diagnosis and develop a personalized plan for your care.

    Your follow-up appointments will typically last 20-30 minutes.

  • Our priority is making sure you receive the care that's right for your needs. If we determine you would benefit from a different level of support or a different type of specialist, we'll help connect you with appropriate resources or providers. 

  • The Spruce app is a secure healthcare app that established patients in our practice can use to communicate with our staff and share documents, labs and other files. 

Insurance & Fees

  • Yes. Affinity Health & Wellness is in-network with Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and CareFirst. We typically are not in network with HMO plans or Anthem Healthkeepers, as well as Medicare or Medicaid.

  • Please call your insurance company or check their website to determine if your provider is listed as an in-network provider with your specific insurance plan.

  • Yes. We accept out-of-network or self-pay clients. You can also submit an invoice (or “superbill”) to insurance for out-of-network benefits or reimbursement. Contact your insurance and see what services they may reimburse you for by using CPT codes. 

  • The initial visits and full psychiatric evaluations are $350, and follow-up visits are $195.

  • If Affinity is in-network, you are responsible for your co-pay on the day of your visit. We then submit the claim to your insurance company for processing. Any additional patient responsibility (ie deductibles) will be determined by your insurance company, and then collected.

    For self-pay patients, payment is due in full on the day of your appointment.

  • Yes. A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to cancel a scheduled appointment. Otherwise, a no-show fee of $100 will be charged. 

  • Yes. We offer both in-person appointments and tele-health visits, giving you flexibility to choose the format that works best for your needs and circumstances.

  • Currently, Affinity Health & Wellness provides care to patients who live in Virginia and Washington, DC. We hope to expand our services soon to include patients who live in Maryland.

Mental Health Care

  • We provide care for a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, depression, OCD, insomnia, PTSD, adjustment disorders, perimenopause, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. We take time to understand your individual experience and determine what type of care is appropriate for you.

  • Yes. We do not treat psychosis, mania (bipolar I) and severe depression. Referrals to a higher level of care will be made in these cases.

  • If you meet criteria for ADHD, we offer FDA cleared, in-office computerized testing to support an ADHD diagnosis. However, some patients may require full neuropsychological testing with a psychologist and would be referred. 

  • No. Patients will not be prescribed a controlled stimulant for ADHD unless they have one of the following:

    1. A letter documenting their ADHD diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP).

    2. Neuropsychological testing documentation

    3. An evaluation with our provider and completion of our in-office computerized testing (TOVA).

  • Yes. Our Women’s Health nurse practitioner can prescribe contraception, as well as HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

  • New patients are seen back every 2-4 weeks until their symptoms are stable. Patients on controlled substances will be seen every 30-60 days. All others will typically be seen every 3-6 months.

  • Affinity’s focus is on psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, medication management, and other forms of clinical mental health care rather than ongoing psychotherapy. However, we work closely with many therapists. We can refer you to trusted therapists and other providers in our network.

  • Yes. Comprehensive labs are encouraged and will be ordered for you early in your treatment  unless you have already completed these within the past year with another provider.

Medication Management

  • Medication management is the ongoing process of determining whether psychiatric medication is appropriate, monitoring how it's working, and making adjustments as needed.

    At Affinity, medication is one tool within a personalized approach to mental health care. We consider your symptoms, health history, other medications, lifestyle, goals, and individual circumstances when developing and monitoring your treatment plan.

  • Yes. Our psychiatric nurse practitioners can evaluate whether medication is appropriate and prescribe and manage most psychiatric medications as part of an individualized treatment plan.

  • Most medications can be prescribed for 90 days at a time with refills as appropriate.  However, a prescription every 30 days is needed with controlled medications, such as stimulants.

  • There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The length of time you spend on medication is individualized, and depends on your diagnosis, symptoms, treatment goals, response to medication, and individual circumstances.

    We regularly evaluate how you're doing and work with you to determine whether continuing, adjusting, or eventually tapering medication is appropriate.

  • Some psychiatric medications may be appropriate during pregnancy or while trying to conceive, while others may carry risks or require additional consideration.

    We carefully consider your mental health, medical history, pregnancy or family-planning goals, and the potential benefits and risks of treatment.

    When appropriate, we also collaborate with your OB/GYN or other healthcare providers to support coordinated care.

  • Tell us. Finding the right medication and dose can take time, and your experience matters. Our goal is for you to feel heard and taken care of in this process.

    We actively work with you to monitor how you're responding to treatment and can discuss adjustments, alternative medications, or other approaches when something isn't working well or you're experiencing unwanted side effects.

Care & Ongoing Support

  • Medication management is an ongoing process. We'll stay connected through regular appointments and communication to understand how you're feeling, monitor your response, discuss any side effects or concerns, and make adjustments when appropriate. Your care plan may also evolve to include therapy, coaching, referrals, or other forms of support.

  • Our patients can communicate with their care team through the Spruce patient portal. This allows you to communicate questions or concerns between appointments. Your care team will respond within 24-48 hours.

    Urgent visits will be made available to our patients, when possible.

  • We believe mental health care works best when the people involved in your care can work together. With your written permission, we can collaborate with your therapist, primary care provider, OB/GYN, or other members of your healthcare team when coordination would support your care. We also maintain a network of trusted providers who can offer additional expertise or services when needed.

  • Not necessarily. In general, we have found the combination of medication and coaching for executive functioning to be really beneficial. ADHD medication can help focus and concentration. However, coaching helps you learn better strategies for organization, time management, planning, follow-through, and navigating everyday demands.

    For some patients, combining the two can provide additional support; for others, medication alone may be the right fit.