Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are delivered by secure video, and are held to the same clinical and licensing standards as any other outpatient psychiatric care. You need to be physically located in California at the time of your appointment, because our providers are licensed here.

Yes. Clear Path providers are licensed prescribers and can prescribe and manage psychiatric medication following a clinical evaluation. Prescribing decisions are always made by your provider based on that evaluation, and some medications may not be appropriate for treatment by video.

Care delivered by video is subject to the same licensing, clinical and record-keeping requirements as care delivered any other way. Every Clear Path provider holds an active California license, and license details are published on our providers page so you can verify them yourself with the state licensing board.

Look for an active license in your state, a clear statement of who provides the care and what their credentials are, a structured follow-up schedule rather than one-off appointments, and transparency about insurance and costs before you book. Be cautious of any service that suggests in advance which medication you will receive.

Appointment availability varies with demand and with the provider you are matched to. You will see the earliest available times when you book, and completing your intake beforehand means the first appointment is spent on clinical care rather than paperwork.

Most major plans cover psychiatric care delivered by video the same way they cover any other outpatient visit. We accept Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Aetna, Optum and Cigna/Evernorth, and we verify your benefits before your first appointment so you know your costs up front.

Yes. Our providers are licensed in California, so you need to be physically located in the state at the time of your appointment. You can join from home, from work, or anywhere else in California that is private enough for a clinical conversation.

Your first appointment is a full psychiatric evaluation, usually 60 minutes. Your provider reviews your history, current symptoms, any medications you take, relevant medical background, and what you want from treatment. You leave with a discussion of your diagnosis, a treatment plan, and a follow-up scheduled.

Follow-ups are scheduled rather than ad hoc. Your provider reviews your symptoms using validated rating scales, screens for side effects, adjusts your dose where indicated, and reviews any lab work relevant to your medication. Every follow-up is a live video appointment, not a message thread or a form.

No. An evaluation is a clinical assessment, not a route to a particular medication. Your provider may recommend medication, may recommend therapy, may recommend both, or may refer you elsewhere if a different level of care is more appropriate. Prescribing decisions follow the evaluation and are made on clinical grounds.

Some medications, including controlled substances, may not be appropriate for treatment by telehealth, and the federal and California rules governing telehealth prescribing continue to change. Your provider will discuss what is clinically appropriate and what can be prescribed under the rules in force at the time. Clear Path does not promise that any specific medication will be prescribed.

Clear Path does not provide emergency or crisis services, and appointments are scheduled in advance. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are in emotional distress, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day. If there is immediate danger to life, call 911.