What happens during your first virtual psychiatry appointment?
A practical guide to preparing for a first online psychiatric appointment, what you may discuss, and what happens after the visit.
Read the guideCompassionate psychiatric care
A clearer mind begins with care that truly listens.
AccessMind Psychiatry provides virtual psychiatry and therapy for adults across New York and New Jersey - thoughtful medication management, real conversation, and a plan you help build.
Virtual appointments New York & New Jersey Insurance accepted
Your provider
Steven Smith, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Two ways forward
You do not have to be certain to take a step
Some people are ready to put an appointment on the calendar today. Others want to understand how it works, what it costs, or whether their plan is accepted. Both are a reasonable place to start.
If you are ready
Start your booking
Headway is where appointments, insurance and billing are handled. You will see current availability, add your insurance for a cost estimate, and choose a time that works.
Book an appointmentA short contact step comes first, then Steven’s live Headway schedule.
If you have questions first
Ask before you commit
Plenty of people want to understand how virtual care works, whether their plan is accepted, or what a first appointment is like before booking anything. Send a short note and we will answer.
Ask a questionNo appointment required. Please leave out medical details.
How we can support you
Care built around what you actually need
Some people come for medication management alone. Some want therapy. Many want both, from the same person, without repeating their story twice.
Medication management
Careful prescribing with the goal of using the least amount of medication that genuinely helps. Options are explained, questions are welcome, and the plan is decided together.
Learn moreTherapy
Individual talk therapy drawing on cognitive behavioral, interpersonal and motivational approaches, matched to what you actually want to work on.
Learn moreMental health assessments
A structured first conversation about symptoms, history and goals, so any recommendation rests on a clear picture rather than a guess.
Learn more
“Care should feel collaborative, understandable and manageable.
Virtual care across New York and New Jersey
Your provider
Steven Smith, PMHNP-BC
Steven is a double board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner with roughly five years of nurse practitioner experience, including hybrid palliative and psychiatric care before completing his psychiatric training.
Before nursing, he was a firefighter. He is a veteran and a retired first responder, and he brings that background into the room: he has sat with people in genuinely hard moments, and he does not startle easily.
His approach is collaborative by design. You will be asked what you want out of treatment, and the plan gets built from there - not the other way around.
PMHNP-BCFamily Nurse Practitioner backgroundVeteranRetired firefighter
What guides the care
Four things you can count on
01
Decisions made with you
Steven does not hand down a plan. You are part of choosing what to try, what to change and what to stop.
02
Calm in hard moments
A retired firefighter and veteran, he has spent years with people on their worst days. That steadiness carries into every appointment.
03
The whole person
Sleep, work, relationships and physical health all shape mental health. The conversation covers more than a symptom list.
04
No judgment, ever
Whether this is your first appointment or your fifteenth year of treatment, you will be met where you are.
How virtual care works
An appointment that fits into your actual day
Every appointment happens by secure video. No commute, no waiting room, no rearranging your week around a drive across the city.
You join from home, from a parked car between shifts, or from anywhere private where you can talk freely and you are physically located in a state where Steven is licensed.
- Scheduling, reminders and billing handled through Headway
- Add your insurance in Headway to see an estimate before you book
- Prescriptions sent to the pharmacy you already use
- Follow-up visits are usually shorter than the first one
Paying for care
Check coverage before choosing a time
AccessMind accepts insurance through Headway. Participation and your estimated cost depend on your plan and the state where you receive care, so Headway confirms the details before you book.
AetnaAnthemBlue Cross and Blue ShieldCarelon Behavioral HealthCigna and Evernorth
Check your own plan before you book
Plan participation can differ by state and can change over time. The Headway profile always shows the current list, and adding your insurance there gives you a cost estimate before you commit. Self-pay is also an option.
Who Steven works with
Adults who are tired of white-knuckling it
Anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, mood concerns, stress and burnout, emotional regulation, grief and life transitions. First responders and veterans. People transferring care from another prescriber who want continuity without starting over.
Common questions
The things people ask first
Do I need a referral to book?
No. You can start booking without a referral from another provider, then choose a time through Headway.
Can I be seen if I live in New York but work in New Jersey?
What matters is where you are physically located during the appointment, and Steven is licensed in both states. If you split time between them, mention it when you book so scheduling is set up correctly.
I already take medication. Can Steven take over prescribing?
Yes. Transferring care is common. Bring your current medications and doses to the first appointment so nothing gets disrupted while care moves over.
Do I have to take medication?
No. Medication is one option among several, and the goal is to use the least amount that genuinely helps. Some people work with Steven for therapy alone.
Patient resources
Understand the process before you begin
Carefully sourced, plain-language guides about virtual appointments and psychiatric medication management.
How does psychiatric medication management work?
Learn what psychiatric medication management includes: evaluation, shared decisions, monitoring, follow-up, side-effect discussions, and safe medication changes.
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Read the guideHow to safely transfer mental health care to a new virtual provider
A practical checklist for moving psychiatric care to a new virtual provider without losing medication history, records, or continuity.
Read the guideUnderstanding teen psychiatric medication management online
What families should verify before choosing online psychiatric medication management for a teenager, including credentials, monitoring, consent, and urgent support.
Read the guideOnline psychiatrist in New York: cost, insurance, and your first visit
What New York adults should know before booking online psychiatric care, including provider credentials, insurance estimates, cost questions, and first-visit preparation.
Read the guideOnline medication management in New York: how it works and what to ask
A practical guide to online psychiatric medication management in New York, including evaluation, medication lists, monitoring, side effects, and follow-up questions.
Read the guideClinical review
Medically reviewed by Steven Smith, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, board-certified and licensed to provide care in New York and New Jersey. Last reviewed August 24, 2026.
View credentials and licensure
Next step
Take the next step when you feel ready
If you would like to schedule, Headway handles booking, insurance and billing. If you have questions first, send them over and we will get back to you.