Looking for a psychiatrist in Clearwater? You can start this week.
Two named, board-certified psychiatric providers seeing Clearwater and Pinellas County adults by secure Florida telehealth, most within the week, while much of Tampa Bay quotes a three to six month wait. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, PTSD.
- Seen within the week, not the seasonSame-day and next-day openings come up often across two providers.
- The same clinician every visitYou pick your provider before you book. No rotating panel, no next-available lottery.
- Bills insurance, or superbills for PPOSix carriers in-network, more in credentialing, and out-of-network superbills.
Free · Confidential
Request a callback
A patient coordinator calls you within one business day to check openings and confirm insurance. No cost, no obligation.
Got it. We will be in touch.
A patient coordinator will reach out within one business day. If you would rather not wait, call (813) 670-3005.
The wait is the problem. We built the answer to the wait.
Most of Tampa Bay quotes new psychiatric patients a three to six month wait. Two named prescribers, plus statewide Florida telehealth, are a direct answer to the market's single biggest complaint: not enough providers taking new patients. For Clearwater and Pinellas County, that means a first visit measured in days, from home, not months.
Request a callbackSearch "psychiatrist Clearwater" and you get directories and national chains that will not tell you who can actually see you this week.
Ascend Mind and Body provides psychiatry for Clearwater and Pinellas County adults through two named, board-certified providers, Anna Stouffer, PMHNP-BC and Margot Krahn, PMHNP-BC. Care covers diagnostic evaluation and medication management for depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and OCD, delivered by secure Florida telehealth, with an in-person option at the Wesley Chapel flagship about 50 minutes across the bay. Most new patients are seen within the week, and we bill insurance. Call (813) 670-3005 or request an appointment online.
Most searches for "psychiatrist Clearwater" land you on a national directory or a large chain: Psychology Today, Zocdoc, or a multi-location group with dozens of names and no way to see who has a real opening. Directories are fine for browsing, but they cannot tell you who is accepting new patients this week or whether the person you reach is a psychiatrist, a PMHNP, or an intern. This page answers those questions directly, with two real names and an honest account of their credentials, because that is the information that actually helps you decide.
Here is the part almost no competitor states plainly: your two providers are board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, not MDs. In Florida, a PMHNP evaluates, diagnoses, and prescribes, including controlled substances, and does the same core clinical work of psychiatric assessment and medication management that most people picture when they search for a psychiatrist. If seeing an MD specifically matters to you, we will tell you that up front rather than blur the distinction the way volume clinics tend to.
Fast psychiatry access for Clearwater
Most new Clearwater and Pinellas County patients are scheduled within the week, and same-day cancellation openings come up regularly across our two providers. Tampa Bay's typical industry wait for new-patient psychiatry runs three to six months, so even a standard within-the-week booking is unusually fast for this market. Call (813) 670-3005 in the morning to ask about the soonest opening.
When people search "psychiatrist Clearwater" or "same day psychiatry near me," they are usually not shopping casually. They have run out of a medication, a prior provider has closed or dropped their plan, symptoms have escalated, or they finally decided to act and do not want to lose that momentum to a five-month queue. We built the schedule around that reality.
Two things make genuine speed possible here. First, two named prescribers instead of one: Anna Stouffer and Margot Krahn together carry the new-patient capacity that is the whole bottleneck in this market. Second, telehealth removes the geography constraint entirely, so an opening on either provider's calendar is reachable from anywhere in Florida, including every Pinellas ZIP code, without a drive across the bay. When you call, we tell you the soonest real opening across both providers rather than routing you to a waitlist.
What "same-day" does not mean: it is not an urgent-care or crisis service. Psychiatric medication started carelessly under time pressure is worse than a short, deliberate wait. If you are in immediate danger, call 988 or 911 now; that is an emergency, and a scheduled evaluation is not the right tool for it. For everything short of an acute crisis, fast access to a thorough first visit is exactly what we are set up to provide.
What actually gets you seen sooner
-
1
You call, we check both calendars
We quote the soonest real opening across Anna and Margot, not a generic waitlist date. Morning calls are best for same-day.
-
2
Telehealth removes the drive
Any opening is reachable from anywhere in Florida by secure video, so a Clearwater or Dunedin address never adds days.
-
3
We confirm insurance before you sit down
The coordinator verifies your plan on that first call, so a coverage surprise does not stall your start.
-
4
You keep that same provider
The clinician who sees you first is the clinician you keep. Fast access does not mean a revolving door afterward.
Illustrative
Meet your Clearwater psychiatric providers
Clearwater and Pinellas County patients choose between two named, board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, both available via secure Florida telehealth, with an in-person option at the Wesley Chapel flagship across the bay. You know who you are seeing before you book, and you keep seeing that same clinician at every visit. There is no rotating panel and no next-available lottery.
- Board-certified PMHNP-BC
- Florida-licensed APRN
- Full prescriptive authority
- Two providers, doubled capacity
Anna Stouffer, PMHNP-BC
Anna Stouffer, PMHNP-BC is a dual board-certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensed in Florida, holding certification as both a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC). She holds a Master of Science in Nursing and has more than a decade of clinical experience, starting in family medicine before specializing in psychiatry. That dual background matters: she reads the physical-health picture, thyroid function, sleep, chronic pain, and medication interactions, alongside the psychiatric one, rather than treating mental health in isolation. Her focus is adult outpatient psychiatry, depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and OCD, with a pragmatic, evidence-based prescribing style. In her words: "I believe every patient deserves to be heard, not rushed." Anna also provides in-person ketamine-assisted therapy at Wesley Chapel for patients who have not responded adequately to standard antidepressants; that program is separate from medication management and requires an in-person visit.
Margot Krahn, PMHNP-BC
Margot Krahn, PMHNP-BC is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Florida-licensed APRN with 12 years of clinical experience. She works with adults experiencing ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar-spectrum conditions, and trauma-related symptoms, and describes her approach simply: "Every person deserves care that feels personal, respectful, and genuinely supportive. Meaningful change is always possible." Patients often describe Margot as someone who listens closely, explains things clearly, and brings a steady, calming presence to each visit. Having two named providers rather than one is the direct, practical reason same-day and next-day openings are realistic here instead of theoretical.
What "PMHNP-BC" means, and why we say it out loud
Credential letters are not decoration. They tell you exactly who is treating you and what authority they hold, and most competitors are vague about it on purpose.
- PMHNP-BC is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: a graduate-trained APRN who evaluates, diagnoses, and prescribes psychiatric medication, including controlled substances when clinically appropriate.
- APRN is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. In Florida, an APRN practices under a prescriptive-authority framework overseen by the Florida Board of Nursing.
- FNP-BC, which Anna also holds, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, the reason she can weigh medical and psychiatric factors together.
- MD or DO psychiatrist is a physician. Neither of our two providers is a physician. If that specifically matters to you, tell us and we will be direct.
We lead with this because a person searching for a "psychiatrist in Clearwater" deserves to know what they are getting before the first bill, not to discover it in the exam room. PMHNPs deliver the core of outpatient psychiatric care, diagnostic evaluation and medication management, and both of ours carry the licensure and prescriptive authority to do it fully. The honesty is the point.
Want to be matched to Anna or Margot?
(813) 670-3005Ready to be seen this week?
Tell us what is going on and we will match you to Anna or Margot and check the soonest opening across both. The first conversation is information, not a commitment.
Florida telehealth statewide, with an in-person option at the Wesley Chapel flagship across the bay.
Conditions we treat for Clearwater patients
Anna and Margot treat adult depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar I and II, PTSD, OCD, and perinatal mood disorders through diagnostic evaluation and medication management. They do not provide ongoing care for primary substance use disorders, active psychosis, or eating disorders that require a higher level of care; if that is the presenting need, we will say so and point you to the right level of care.
-
DepressionMost common
Major depressive disorder, persistent low mood, and postpartum depression, evaluated and managed with medication.
Read more -
Anxiety
Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety, often with a daily SSRI or SNRI and a clear plan.
Read more -
Adult ADHD
Evaluation for symptoms missed earlier in life, plus stimulant and non-stimulant management within federal rules.
Read more -
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar I and II, with mood-stabilizer management and the bloodwork monitoring some medications require.
Read more -
PTSD
Trauma-related symptoms managed with medication and coordinated with trauma-focused therapy when indicated.
Read more -
OCD
Medication management for obsessive-compulsive disorder, best paired with ERP-based therapy.
Read more
If what you are experiencing feels like an immediate danger to yourself or someone else, call 988 or 911 now. For everything short of that, a first evaluation is simply information, not a commitment.
Depression, including postpartum
We treat the full range, from a first major depressive episode to persistent low mood that has lasted years, plus postpartum depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, combining medication with psychotherapy tends to outperform either alone for moderate to severe depression, which is why we coordinate with therapy rather than treat medication as the whole answer. Antidepressants generally take four to six weeks to reach full effect, and we set that expectation at the visit where a medication is prescribed rather than leaving you guessing. For postpartum depression and anxiety, we account for breastfeeding status when relevant and coordinate with your OB or midwife. If symptoms ever include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, that is an emergency: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Anxiety and panic disorder
Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorder are among the most common reasons Pinellas County adults reach out. The NIMH lists anxiety disorders among the most prevalent mental health conditions in U.S. adults. Treatment typically combines a daily SSRI or SNRI with a clear plan for any as-needed medication, and responds especially well when paired with CBT-based therapy. Because panic symptoms can mimic a cardiac event, we ask about any prior cardiac workup at your evaluation before assuming a panic diagnosis.
Adult ADHD
Adult ADHD evaluation for people who suspect they have had symptoms since childhood but were never formally diagnosed is one of our most common visits. The evaluation includes a structured symptom history, a functional-impact assessment, and a rule-out of other conditions before any medication is discussed. Stimulant medications (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta) are Schedule II controlled substances. Whether one is appropriate, and whether your evaluation happens in person or by telehealth, is a decision your provider makes. An in-person visit at the Wesley Chapel flagship is available. We tell you upfront which path your situation calls for.
Bipolar disorder
We evaluate and manage bipolar I and bipolar II, where accurate diagnosis matters enormously because an antidepressant given without a mood stabilizer can worsen a bipolar course. Certain mood stabilizers, particularly lithium and valproate, require baseline and periodic bloodwork; we coordinate those labs through your primary care provider or a local Pinellas lab and review the results with you at follow-up. Getting the diagnosis right is exactly the kind of work that a rushed fifteen-minute med check tends to miss, which is one reason our visits run longer.
For a deeper look at any single condition, see: depression, anxiety, adult ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and OCD.
Medication management, explained honestly
Actual Ascend office
Most new Clearwater and Pinellas County psychiatric patients are scheduled within the week, by secure Florida telehealth.
Medication management is diagnosis first, then a medication chosen for your specific presentation, then follow-up to see whether it is working and adjust. No single medication is guaranteed to work, and individual responses vary; the plan is a starting point you refine together, not a one-and-done prescription.
Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs)
First-line for most depression and anxiety presentations. They typically take four to six weeks to show their full effect, though sleep or appetite can improve sooner. We start at a sensible dose, check in on tolerability, and adjust rather than assuming the first choice is the final one. If an adequate trial does not help, we switch rather than wait indefinitely.
Stimulant and non-stimulant ADHD medication
Stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta) work within hours of the first dose and are highly effective for adult ADHD, but as Schedule II controlled substances, whether one is appropriate and whether your evaluation happens in person or by telehealth is a decision your provider makes. An in-person visit is available at Wesley Chapel. Non-stimulant options exist for patients who prefer or need them. We are transparent up front about which path your situation requires before you pay for anything.
Mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder
Lithium, valproate, and certain antipsychotics are used for bipolar I and II and can take one to several weeks to reach a therapeutic effect. Some require baseline and periodic bloodwork, which we coordinate through your primary care provider or a local Pinellas lab and review with you at follow-up. Accurate diagnosis comes first, because an antidepressant used alone in bipolar disorder can worsen the course.
Controlled substances and telehealth rules
Schedule II to V medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate, following all applicable state and federal rules. We will not promise a controlled-substance prescription sight unseen, and we cannot simply refill a prior prescription without an appropriate evaluation, because both Florida and federal rules require it. What we will do is tell you the honest path before you commit.
Ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression
For a small subset of patients with treatment-resistant depression who have not responded adequately to standard antidepressants, Anna Stouffer offers in-person ketamine therapy at Wesley Chapel. Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance used off-label for treatment-resistant depression and select indications under physician supervision. It is not a first-line option, individual responses vary, and it is never presented as a guaranteed fix. It is a separate program from routine medication management and requires an in-person visit.
Why we do not do 15-minute med checks
Some practices under volume pressure compress follow-ups to ten or fifteen minutes, enough to ask "how is the medication" and adjust a dose, not enough to catch a side effect a patient assumed was unrelated or to notice a medication that only partially worked before it was stopped. Our follow-up visits run 20 to 30 minutes and initial evaluations run 60 to 75 minutes, because psychiatric care rewards depth over speed and getting it right the first time beats a series of quick corrections.
Is telehealth psychiatry as effective as in-person care?
For diagnostic evaluation and ongoing medication management, the clinical consensus is yes, with a narrow set of exceptions around certain controlled-substance prescribing.
The American Psychiatric Association has published guidance affirming that telepsychiatry is an appropriate and effective way to deliver outpatient psychiatric care for most adults. The diagnostic interview, the medication discussion, the follow-up symptom check, and the clinical relationship itself all translate to video without meaningful loss. What genuinely requires in-person care is narrower than people assume: a physical exam when one is clinically indicated, certain lab draws, and any situation needing a hands-on safety assessment during an active crisis, which belongs in an emergency department rather than a video visit.
What telehealth demonstrably improves is access: time to first appointment measured in days instead of months, consistency of seeing the same prescriber, and reach for people whose schedule, mobility, or transportation would otherwise put psychiatric care out of reach. In a market like Tampa Bay, where in-person backlogs commonly run three to six months, that access difference is often the difference between getting treated and not.
The in-person option: Wesley Chapel
The Wesley Chapel flagship at 27724 Cashford Circle, Suite 102 is about 50 minutes from Clearwater across the bay via the Courtney Campbell Causeway and I-275, with free parking, and it is where both providers hold their primary in-person schedule. Patients who want the option of face-to-face visits, or who want in-person ketamine therapy on the same day as a psychiatric follow-up, use Wesley Chapel for those visits and telehealth for routine medication management. Most Clearwater patients stay on telehealth for every visit; the drive is entirely optional.
What you need for a telehealth visit
A reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and a private space. Sessions run on Zoom for Healthcare under a signed Business Associate Agreement, which meets HIPAA's technical safeguards for protected health information, with encryption on the call. We collect a backup phone number before every visit, so if your video drops we call the backup number and finish by phone; Florida rules permit audio-only visits when video is not feasible and you consent. Florida law also requires you to be physically located in Florida during the session, and your provider confirms that at the start of each visit.
Insurance and access, stated plainly
Psychiatry at Ascend bills insurance. Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, TRICARE, ChampVA, and AARP are in-network. Medicare, Medicaid, and Humana are in active credentialing, so their status can change; call to confirm yours. Out-of-network PPO patients receive superbills that typically reimburse 50 to 80 percent. We will not tell you a plan covers something it does not.
In-network carriers
- Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, TRICARE, ChampVA, and AARP are in-network for psychiatric care.
- Medicare, Medicaid, and Humana are in active credentialing; call (813) 670-3005 to confirm current status for your specific plan before you book.
- Out-of-network PPO plans are supported with itemized superbills you submit for reimbursement.
How superbills actually work
A superbill is an itemized receipt with your diagnosis code, the procedure (CPT) code, the date of service, and what you paid. You submit it to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. It is not a guarantee of payment: typically only PPO and POS plans have out-of-network mental health benefits, HMO plans generally do not, and your specific plan sets the reimbursement percentage and any out-of-network deductible. Many PPO plans reimburse 50 to 80 percent once that deductible is met. Call the number on the back of your card and ask, "What are my out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits?" before you book.
Coordinating with your Clearwater primary care provider
Psychiatric medication works best when it is not happening in a silo. Several psychiatric medications interact with common medical conditions and other prescriptions: thyroid dysfunction can mimic or worsen depression, certain blood pressure medications can affect mood, and some antidepressants interact with blood thinners. If you already see an Ascend primary care provider, your psychiatric and primary care charts are connected. If your primary provider is outside Ascend, we request records or send a treatment summary with your written consent so nothing that could affect your overall health falls through the cracks.
How Ascend compares to your other Clearwater options
The tradeoffs are real, and we would rather you know them before you call.
| Option | Named local provider | In-person option | Genuine same or next-day access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascend Mind and Body, Clearwater | Two named PMHNPs you keep | Wesley Chapel flagship | Openings come up regularly |
| National telehealth psychiatry brand | Assigned from a national panel | Video only | Often days, varies by panel |
| Large multi-location Tampa Bay chain | Depends who is assigned | Usually yes | Commonly weeks to months |
| Psychology Today or Zocdoc directory | Depends who you contact | Depends who you contact | No visibility until you reach out |
A national telehealth brand can be quick to sign up for but assigns you a prescriber from a large panel and offers no in-person option. A big local chain may have in-person offices but the same multi-month backlog that sent you searching. A directory can be fast to browse but gives you no visibility into wait times until after you have already called around.
Actual waiting area
Telehealth psychiatry is available across Clearwater and all of Pinellas County; in-person visits are at the Wesley Chapel flagship, about 50 minutes across the bay.
Telehealth across Clearwater and Pinellas County
Ascend does not have a physical Clearwater office. Clearwater and Pinellas County patients are seen by secure Florida telehealth from home. In-person psychiatric visits are available at the Wesley Chapel flagship, about 50 minutes across Tampa Bay via the Courtney Campbell Causeway and I-275, where both providers hold their primary in-person schedule.
In-person option: Ascend Mind and Body, Wesley Chapel
27724 Cashford Circle, Suite 102
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
Psychiatry: (813) 670-3005
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Free parking on site. Get directions.
Drive times to the Wesley Chapel in-person option from Pinellas
| From | Approximate drive time |
|---|---|
| Oldsmar / Safety Harbor | 35 to 45 minutes, the closest Pinellas cities |
| Palm Harbor / Dunedin | 45 to 55 minutes |
| Clearwater / Clearwater Beach | 50 to 60 minutes |
| Tarpon Springs | 45 to 55 minutes |
| Largo / Belleair | 55 to 65 minutes |
| Pinellas Park / Seminole | 55 to 65 minutes |
Because there is no Clearwater office, the practical answer for nearly every Clearwater and Pinellas County patient is telehealth for every visit. The Wesley Chapel drive is reserved for the specific situations that call for an in-person step, like an in-person ADHD evaluation or a ketamine pairing, and Oldsmar and Safety Harbor patients are closest if they do choose to make it.
Areas we serve in Pinellas County: Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Belleair, Oldsmar, Tarpon Springs, Pinellas Park, Seminole, and the surrounding Pinellas County. If you are a Florida resident, your provider can see you by telehealth regardless of neighborhood; the license attaches to the state, not the ZIP code. Ascend's three in-person offices are in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Lakeland, with statewide Florida telehealth for psychiatry and talk therapy serving Clearwater.
Related care: psychiatry in St. Petersburg, Florida telehealth psychiatry, and talk therapy when medication is paired with therapy.
The honest version: what psychiatric medication can and cannot do
Psychiatric medication helps a great many people, but no medication is guaranteed to work for a given person, the right one is often found by adjustment rather than on the first try, and medication works best alongside therapy and honest reporting of how you are actually doing.
We are not going to tell you a pill fixes everything or that any single medication works the same way for every person. Individual responses vary by diagnosis, history, and biology. Antidepressants take weeks to show their effect, some medications require bloodwork monitoring, and controlled substances carry rules we follow rather than route around. What we can tell you is that an accurate diagnosis, a medication matched to your specific presentation, and follow-up that is long enough to catch what a rushed visit misses are the parts most within our control, and the parts we take seriously.
When to consider adjusting the plan
- After an adequate medication trial, you notice no meaningful improvement in the symptoms you came in for.
- Side effects are outweighing the benefit, or are significant enough that you want to stop.
- A new symptom has appeared, or an old one has escalated, since your last visit.
- You do not feel able to be honest with your provider about how the medication is actually going.
None of these mean psychiatric care has failed; they usually mean the current medication or dose has, and adjusting or switching is a normal part of the process, not a last resort. If a presenting need is outside our scope, such as a primary substance use disorder, active psychosis, or an eating disorder needing a higher level of care, we will say so and point you to the right level of care rather than take on what we cannot do well.
FAQs about psychiatry in Clearwater
Still deciding? These are the questions Clearwater patients ask most before they call.
Does Ascend Mind and Body have a psychiatrist for Clearwater?
Yes. Psychiatric care for Clearwater and Pinellas County is provided by two named, board-certified providers, Anna Stouffer, PMHNP-BC, and Margot Krahn, PMHNP-BC. Ascend does not have a physical Clearwater office; most patients are seen via HIPAA-secure Florida telehealth from home, and an in-person option is available at the Wesley Chapel flagship, about 50 minutes across the bay via the Courtney Campbell Causeway and I-275.
How fast can I get a psychiatry appointment in Clearwater?
Same-day and next-day openings come up regularly across our two psychiatric providers, and most new patients are scheduled within the week regardless. Call (813) 670-3005 in the morning to ask about same-day availability. Tampa Bay's typical industry wait for new-patient psychiatry runs three to six months, so even a standard within-the-week booking is unusually fast for this market.
Do I have to go to Wesley Chapel, or can I stay in Clearwater?
You can do all of your psychiatric care, from the initial evaluation through every follow-up, from home via Florida telehealth, and most Clearwater and Pinellas County patients do exactly that. In-person visits at the Wesley Chapel flagship, about 50 minutes across the bay via the Courtney Campbell Causeway and I-275, are available for patients who prefer face-to-face care or want to pair a visit with in-person ketamine therapy. You can mix telehealth and in-person from visit to visit.
Who are Anna Stouffer and Margot Krahn?
Both are board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC) licensed in Florida with full prescriptive authority for psychiatric medications, including controlled substances when clinically appropriate. Anna Stouffer is also board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) with more than a decade of clinical experience. Margot Krahn has 12 years of clinical experience and a lifespan-care background. Both are named providers, not a rotating panel: you know who you are seeing before you book, and you keep seeing that same clinician.
Is Anna Stouffer or Margot Krahn a psychiatrist (MD) or a nurse practitioner?
Both are board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC), not physicians. In Florida, an APRN can evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe, including controlled substances, under a prescriptive-authority framework overseen by the Florida Board of Nursing. We use the word psychiatrist in our page title because that is the term most people search, and PMHNPs perform the core clinical work of diagnostic evaluation and medication management. If seeing an MD-credentialed psychiatrist specifically matters to you, tell us and we will be direct about that.
What insurance does Ascend psychiatry accept in Clearwater?
Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, TRICARE, ChampVA, and AARP are in-network. Medicare, Medicaid, and Humana are in active credentialing; call (813) 670-3005 to confirm current status for your specific plan. Out-of-network PPO patients receive superbills that typically reimburse 50 to 80 percent depending on the plan.
What conditions do Anna Stouffer and Margot Krahn treat?
Depression (major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, postpartum depression), anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety), adult ADHD, bipolar I and II, PTSD, OCD, perinatal mood disorders, and treatment-resistant presentations that may benefit from ketamine therapy at the Wesley Chapel clinic. Neither provides ongoing care for primary substance use disorders, active psychosis, or eating disorders requiring a higher level of care.
Can Ascend prescribe ADHD medication or other controlled substances via telehealth?
Yes, when clinically appropriate. Schedule II to V medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate, following all applicable state and federal rules. Stimulant medications for ADHD (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta) are Schedule II controlled substances. Whether one is appropriate, and whether your evaluation happens in person or by telehealth, is a decision your provider makes. An in-person visit at the Wesley Chapel flagship is available. We tell you upfront, before you pay for an evaluation, what your situation is likely to involve.
How long does it take for psychiatric medication to start working?
It depends on the medication class. Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) typically take four to six weeks to show their full effect, though some improvement in sleep or appetite can appear sooner. Stimulant ADHD medications work within hours of the first dose. Mood stabilizers can take one to several weeks to reach a therapeutic effect. We explain the expected timeline for your specific medication at the visit where it is prescribed.
What if the medication does not work or I have side effects?
Individual responses to psychiatric medication vary and no medication is guaranteed to work for a given person. If a medication is not helping after an adequate trial, or side effects outweigh the benefit, we adjust the dose or switch medications at your follow-up. You can also contact our office between visits if side effects are significant.
Can you refill a prescription from my previous psychiatrist without a full new evaluation?
Not automatically. Florida and federal rules require an appropriate clinical evaluation before prescribing, especially for controlled substances. In most cases this means our standard 60 to 75 minute initial evaluation, during which we review your prior diagnosis, medication history, and current symptoms before continuing or adjusting the prescription.
What Clearwater ZIP codes and neighborhoods do you serve?
All of Clearwater, including Downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Countryside, plus nearby Pinellas cities such as Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Belleair, Oldsmar, Tarpon Springs, Pinellas Park, and Seminole, and the surrounding Pinellas County. If you are a Florida resident, your provider can see you by telehealth regardless of neighborhood; the license attaches to the state, not the ZIP code.
What happens if my video call disconnects mid-appointment?
We collect a backup phone number before every telehealth visit. If your video connection drops, we call the backup number and complete the visit by phone. Florida telehealth rules permit audio-only visits when video is not feasible and you consent.
Is telehealth psychiatry private and secure?
Yes. We use Zoom for Healthcare under a signed Business Associate Agreement, which meets HIPAA's technical safeguards for transmitting protected health information, with encryption on the video call.
Can I switch from another Clearwater psychiatric provider to Ascend?
Yes, this is common. Bring your current medication list and, if possible, a summary of your diagnosis and treatment history from your previous provider to your initial evaluation. With your written consent, we can also request records directly. There is typically no gap in care if you schedule your first Ascend appointment before your current medication runs out.
Do you treat postpartum depression or anxiety in Clearwater?
Yes. Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are evaluated and treated with medication that accounts for breastfeeding status when relevant, and we coordinate with your OB or midwife when appropriate. If symptoms include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, that is an emergency; call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
What does an initial psychiatric evaluation in Clearwater actually cover?
A 60 to 75 minute session covering a diagnostic interview, full psychiatric and medical history, family history, prior treatment history including what worked and what did not, symptom rating scales appropriate to the presenting concern, a discussion of treatment options with their risks and benefits, and a working diagnostic impression. If medication is part of the plan, the prescription is sent to your pharmacy via ePrescribe before you log off.
Does Ascend offer psychiatry in Spanish or other languages in Clearwater?
Clinical visits are conducted in English. Free language assistance services and auxiliary aids are available for administrative and intake purposes; call (813) 670-3005 to arrange support.
Still have a question? Talk it through with our team.
(813) 670-3005Sources
- American Psychiatric Association, Telepsychiatry and outpatient psychiatric care
- National Institute of Mental Health, Depression
- National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety Disorders
- National Institute of Mental Health, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bipolar Disorder
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances
Last medically reviewed by Anna Stouffer, PMHNP-BC on 2026-07-06.
This page is educational and does not replace an individualized clinical evaluation. Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance used off-label for treatment-resistant depression and select indications under physician supervision; individual responses vary and outcomes are not guaranteed.
Start with a conversation, not a five-month wait
Tell us what is going on and we will match you to Anna or Margot and check the soonest opening across both. Most new patients are scheduled within the week, by secure Florida telehealth across Clearwater and Pinellas County.
In crisis right now? Call or text 988 anytime. Psychiatry appointments are not an emergency service.