Questions we hear most often

A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with specialized training in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment — including the ability to prescribe medication. The key difference from a psychiatrist (who holds an MD) is educational pathway: PMHNPs complete a nursing degree followed by a graduate-level psychiatric specialty program. In practice, PMHNPs and psychiatrists provide very similar care. Nicholas holds his PMHNP certification and has extensive clinical experience in both therapy and medication management.

Northwest Psychiatry currently accepts clients in Maine. We are expanding to Washington State in 2027. All appointments are conducted via telehealth, so you can be seen from anywhere in a state where Nicholas is licensed.

No — telehealth law requires that you be physically located in a state where your provider is licensed at the time of the appointment. Because Nicholas is currently licensed in Maine, you must be in Maine during your visit. If you travel out of state, please contact us at (360) 342-6445 so we can reschedule for when you return. If you anticipate an extended stay in another state, reach out and we'll discuss your options.

Yes. Northwest Psychiatry sees clients from age 5 to 85 — children, adolescents, and adults. For a client under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs the consent forms on the client's behalf. To ask about care for a child or teen, call (360) 342-6445 or email Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org.

Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, takes a person-centered, evidence-based approach to psychiatric care. That means treatment is always tailored to you as an individual — your history, goals, values, and preferences — rather than fitting you into a standard protocol. Care often integrates medication management with therapeutic techniques drawn from CBT, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed practice. Nicholas believes strongly in shared decision-making: you are an active partner in your own treatment, not a passive recipient. The goal is not just symptom relief, but meaningful improvement in your quality of life.

Both. Northwest Psychiatry offers a combined approach to psychiatric care — Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, is trained in both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Depending on your needs, your care may focus primarily on medication management, therapy, or an integrated blend of both. Many clients benefit most from a combination: medication to address neurobiological factors, and therapy to build skills, process experiences, and work toward meaningful goals. The balance is discussed openly and adjusted over time based on what's working.

Yes. As a licensed PMHNP in Maine, Nicholas can prescribe the full range of psychiatric medications, including controlled substances such as stimulants (for ADHD) and benzodiazepines (for anxiety and related conditions), when clinically appropriate. Controlled substances are evaluated carefully based on your diagnosis, history, safety profile, and relevant state prescription monitoring requirements, and are monitored closely throughout your care.

The easiest way to request a refill is through your client portal. Sign in, go to the Medications tab, and press 'Request refill' on the medication's card. Add any relevant notes (e.g., running low, questions about side effects) and submit. Your provider will review the request and you can track its status on the same Medications tab, where your open requests are listed. For urgent needs, call (360) 342-6445.

Refill requests submitted through the client portal are typically reviewed within 1–3 business days. If your medication is running low, submit your request at least a week before you run out to avoid a gap. For urgent situations, call the office at (360) 342-6445.

Contact us as soon as possible. If you're experiencing a severe or life-threatening reaction, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. For non-emergency side effects, send a message through your client portal or call (360) 342-6445. Do not stop taking a prescribed medication abruptly without guidance — some medications require a gradual taper.

In many cases, yes — if the clinical picture is clear and medication is indicated, Nicholas may prescribe during or following the initial psychiatric evaluation. However, some situations require additional assessment or follow-up before prescribing, particularly for controlled substances or complex presentations. This will always be discussed openly with you.

Yes — prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice. You'll provide your preferred pharmacy during your intake process. If you need to update your pharmacy at any time, send a message through your client portal or call (360) 342-6445. Controlled substance prescriptions may be subject to additional requirements depending on your pharmacy and state regulations.

Prior authorization (PA) is a requirement from some insurance plans that a medication must be approved before they'll cover it. If your insurer requires a PA for a prescribed medication, our office will initiate the process on your behalf — you do not need to handle it yourself. PA reviews typically take a few business days, though timelines vary by insurer. If your medication is urgent and a PA is pending, call us at (360) 342-6445 and we'll work with you to bridge the gap if clinically appropriate.

Yes — in the Medications tab, press the 'Download signed order (PDF)' button on any current medication. Each press creates a fresh, signed copy on the practice's letterhead with its own serial number, so a pharmacy can check it with us. For most medications the page is a signed prescription your pharmacy can use as a backup to the electronic one (they may confirm it with the practice before filling). For a controlled medication — a stimulant or a benzodiazepine, for example — the page is marked as a record copy that a pharmacy cannot fill from: those prescriptions have to reach the pharmacy electronically or on a page the prescriber has signed by hand, so this copy is for your own records. Medications you no longer take don't have one. If the button says a copy isn't ready yet, send us a message and we'll sort it out.

Request an appointment through our online form at northwestpsychiatry.org/waitlist — submit your information, including your insurance plan if you have one. We reach out within a few business days; first appointments are typically scheduled within 1–2 weeks for non-urgent requests. The first appointment is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation (typically 60–75 minutes), which serves as the foundation for your care plan.

Follow-up appointments are typically 20–30 minutes. Frequency depends on your individual needs and treatment phase — early in treatment or when adjusting medications, appointments are often monthly. As your care stabilizes, visits may shift to every 6–8 weeks or quarterly. Your provider will recommend a schedule that makes clinical sense for you and adjust it as your needs change.

Established clients can request new appointments directly from the client portal — no need to go to an external site. Sign in at northwestpsychiatry.org/portal, go to the Appointments tab, and click 'Request appointment.' You'll choose the visit type, the format (telehealth or in person), a time from your provider's real openings, and — if you like — a line about what you'd like to focus on. Your care team reviews the request, and you get an email and a notification in the portal when it is confirmed (or if it can't be, so you can pick another time). Whenever the practice confirms, moves or cancels one of your visits, the same email and portal notification tell you, naming the date and time. New clients request their first appointment at northwestpsychiatry.org/waitlist.

Established clients can reschedule through the patient portal. Sign in at northwestpsychiatry.org/portal, go to the Appointments tab, find your upcoming appointment, and click 'Reschedule.' A form will appear where you can select a new date and time and optionally add a note explaining the reason. Your current visit stays on the calendar until your care team approves the change; you'll get an email and a portal notification when it is decided. You can also call our office at (360) 342-6445 to reschedule. Please give at least 24 hours' notice when possible to avoid a late-cancellation fee.

Northwest Psychiatry retains medical records in accordance with Maine state law, which requires that adult client records be kept for at least 7 years from the date of the last service. Records for clients who were minors at any point during treatment are kept until the client's 25th birthday or 7 years from the last service — whichever is later. During this period, you retain your HIPAA right to access your records. After the retention period expires, records are securely destroyed in compliance with HIPAA guidelines.

Northwest Psychiatry specializes in a broad range of psychiatric conditions across the lifespan (ages 5 to 85), including: Major Depressive Disorder and persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Bipolar Disorder (I and II), OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), Insomnia and sleep disorders, and mood dysregulation. Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, also specializes in treatment-resistant presentations and complex cases involving multiple co-occurring conditions. If you're unsure whether your situation is a good fit, call (360) 342-6445 or send a message — we're happy to talk through it.

Yes — depression is one of the most common conditions treated at Northwest Psychiatry. Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, offers comprehensive evaluation and evidence-based treatment for Major Depressive Disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), and treatment-resistant depression. Treatment typically includes medication management, individual therapy focused on evidence-based approaches (CBT, behavioral activation), and personalized goal-setting. All care is delivered via secure telehealth, so you can start treatment from home anywhere in Maine. Learn more at northwestpsychiatry.org/depression-treatment-maine.

Yes. Northwest Psychiatry provides evaluation and treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and related anxiety conditions. Treatment is individualized and may include psychiatric medication management, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, mindfulness-based approaches, and goal-oriented coping strategies. All visits are via telehealth. Learn more at northwestpsychiatry.org/anxiety-medication-management-maine.

Yes. Northwest Psychiatry provides comprehensive ADHD evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management for adults — and, because the practice sees clients from age 5 to 85, for children and adolescents as well, with a parent or legal guardian signing consents for a minor. Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, takes a thorough approach to ADHD assessment — reviewing symptom history, functional impairment, and ruling out contributing or co-occurring conditions. Stimulant and non-stimulant medications are available when clinically appropriate, along with psychoeducation and individualized goal-setting. All care is via telehealth. Learn more at northwestpsychiatry.org/adhd-psychiatry-maine.

Yes. Trauma-informed psychiatric care is a core specialty at Northwest Psychiatry. Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, provides evaluation and treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, and trauma-related mood and anxiety symptoms. Treatment may include medication management, trauma-focused therapeutic approaches, and — for eligible clients — adjunctive remote neurofeedback (Myndlift). All visits are via telehealth. Learn more at northwestpsychiatry.org/ptsd-telepsychiatry-maine.

Yes. Northwest Psychiatry provides psychiatric evaluation and ongoing medication management for Bipolar Disorder I and II. Accurate diagnosis is essential — Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, takes time during the initial evaluation to carefully assess mood history, episode patterns, family history, and treatment history. Mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and adjunctive medications are available as clinically appropriate. Regular follow-up and close monitoring are an important part of bipolar care.

Yes. Sleep disorders — including chronic insomnia, insomnia comorbid with anxiety or depression, and sleep disruption related to PTSD — are commonly addressed at Northwest Psychiatry. Treatment approaches include behavioral interventions (CBT-I principles), sleep hygiene guidance, and medication management when appropriate. Neurofeedback (Myndlift) may also be considered as an adjunctive treatment for insomnia in eligible clients.

All video visits use Doxy.me — a HIPAA-compliant video platform with nothing to download and no account to create. You join from your client portal: press the 'Join video visit' button on your Home tab when your appointment is coming up, or open Appointments, then the Telehealth sub-tab. On a computer or an Android phone the visit opens right there on the page. On an iPhone or iPad, and in the Northwest Psychiatry app, the same button opens the visit in your browser (Safari on Apple devices) in its own tab, because that is where the camera and microphone work best — keep the portal open behind it; it stays signed in for the whole visit, and it steps out of the waiting room so you are never in the call twice. Either way, allow camera and microphone access when asked, then wait in the virtual waiting room until your provider admits you. You'll need a device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or a strong signal) and a private space. Test your setup any time with the 'Test camera & mic' button on the Telehealth sub-tab.

Yes. Nicholas can send an activity — a drawing game, a shared whiteboard, a board game — onto your Telehealth screen while your visit is open, which is often how a session with a younger client gets going. It appears on its own: you do not have to watch for a message, open a link, or leave the call. If the video is on the same page, the activity appears above it on a computer and you scroll between the two; on a phone you can tap between "Game" and "Video" without dropping the call. If your visit is running in your browser instead (as it does on an iPhone or iPad), the activity is waiting on the portal page behind it. There is an "Open full screen" link that opens the activity in its own browser tab if you would rather it filled the screen — switch back to see the video. A few activities cannot run inside the portal — those say so and open in their own tab, and you should keep this browser tab open so your video visit stays connected. Activities are optional; tell Nicholas if you would rather not use them.

If you experience technical issues, first try refreshing your browser or switching to a different device. If problems persist, call our office at (360) 342-6445 and we'll switch to a phone consultation or reschedule without penalty. Technical difficulties are never held against you — they happen.

Yes. Research consistently shows that telehealth psychiatric care produces outcomes equivalent to in-person treatment for the vast majority of conditions. Many clients actually prefer the convenience and comfort of being seen from home, and some find it easier to open up in a familiar environment.

Yes, if you use the Northwest Psychiatry iPhone app and the practice has connected health data turned on. In the portal, open the Settings tab → Connected health data and turn on the categories you want to share: sleep (time asleep, bed and wake times, and sleep stages, time awake and time in bed where your device records them), heart (resting heart rate and heart-rate variability), activity (steps, exercise and stand minutes, mindfulness minutes, and time in daylight), and body measurements (weight and waist). Then, in the iPhone app, tap Connect Apple Health and allow those categories on Apple's screen — two separate permissions, both required. Only daily summaries are shared, never continuous readings, workouts, or your location, and the app never writes anything to Apple Health. What you share is stored on your chart as context for your care. Today the charts on your Progress tab and on your chart beside your medication changes draw time asleep, resting heart rate, HRV, and steps; the newer summaries (sleep stages, exercise, mindfulness and daylight minutes, and body measurements) are stored but not yet charted. Nothing you share is used for diagnosis, advertising, or AI features, and it is never sold. Turn a category off any time to stop sharing, and delete what was already shared from the same card.

Sign in on any device, open the Appointments tab, and look under the Appointment reminders row. If reminders are on for more than one device you will see a line saying so — open it and turn off the one you no longer use. Each is listed by the date reminders were turned on and the date it last received one, which is how you tell them apart. Turning one off stops us sending to it. If it is a device you do still use, nothing more will arrive there until you turn reminders on again from that device.

There is no password — the portal uses one-time email codes instead. Go to northwestpsychiatry.org/portal, enter the email address the practice has on file, and we'll send you a 6-digit code; type it in and you're signed in. Codes expire after 15 minutes — just request a new one if it lapses. If a code doesn't arrive within a couple of minutes, check your spam folder and make sure you used the address we have for you. New clients receive a secure onboarding link (or an invite code — see the next question) that walks through profile setup first. Until your care relationship is established you'll see a limited view where you can complete your intake, which helps your provider prepare for your first visit; full portal features unlock once you're an established client. If you've lost access to your email account itself, or you believe your access should already be active, call (360) 342-6445 or email Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org and we'll help after verifying your identity.

Sign in at northwestpsychiatry.org/portal with the email address the practice sent the code to. If we don't yet have a record under that address you'll land on a screen saying we couldn't match it — choose "Have an invite code?" there, enter your full name and the code, and it sets up your account and starts your intake. A code works only for the address it was issued to, only once, and it expires after 30 days, so ask us for a new one if yours has lapsed. If you are already a client, you do not need a code at all — just sign in with the address we have on file. And if we already have a record for you but your portal access is closed, a code will not reopen it: call (360) 342-6445 and we'll do that for you.

The portal sidebar is organized into six groups. Home: your at-a-glance dashboard (upcoming appointment with a join button, anything waiting on you, latest activity) and Messages (secure messaging with your care team). To-Do: everything waiting on you — forms to sign, assigned worksheets and screenings — plus the pre-session Check-in. My care: Appointments (request, reschedule or cancel a visit, and a Telehealth sub-tab to join your video visit), My Treatment (your diagnoses and treatment goals, and where you review and sign your treatment plan), Safety Plan (your personal plan plus any provider-assigned structured plans), Medications (current prescriptions with side-effect tracking, refill requests and a downloadable signed copy of each order), and My Record (clinical notes, visit summaries, lab results, and your intake). Wellness: Assessments (screenings like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, plus your Daily log, Cycle tracker and Journal), Progress (trends and your wellness snapshot), Library (worksheets, educational videos, and resources), Games & Tools (the practice's own games and activities), and — if you're enrolled in the Myndlift program — Neurofeedback. Documents & billing: Documents & Forms (your documents, consents, form requests, and records-release requests) and Billing (insurance on file or self-pay status, superbill requests). Settings: your profile and contact details, insurance, pharmacies and allergies, notifications, and sign-in & security — and Help, where every one of these answers is searchable.

The Appointments tab is located under 'My care' in your portal sidebar. Its Schedule sub-tab shows all of your upcoming appointments and a full history of past sessions with Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC — each entry displays the date, time, and visit type (Initial Evaluation, Follow-Up, Medication Management, etc.) along with a status label. You can request a booking, reschedule, or cancellation directly from the portal against your provider's real availability — each is confirmed by your care team, and you'll get an email and a portal notification when it's decided. If the practice confirms, moves or cancels a visit from its side, you are told the same way, with the date and time. The Telehealth sub-tab is where you join your video visit.

The My Treatment tab is located under 'My care' in your portal sidebar. It shows your current diagnoses (and any past ones), the treatment goals you and your provider have agreed to work toward, and your treatment plan when there is one ready for you to review and sign. Consent agreements and other documents your provider needs you to sign live under Documents & Forms — Consents. Your intake questionnaire is separate again: it is the Intake sub-tab of My Record. The Forms sub-tab is the opposite direction — that is where you ask your provider to complete a form FOR you (FMLA, disability, school, insurance) and download it once it is ready. Anything you sign is saved automatically and visible to your provider.

A Release of Information authorizes Northwest Psychiatry to share your medical records with a third party — such as another provider, an insurance company, or a family member you designate. You can submit a new ROI request from the Records release sub-tab of Documents & Forms in your client portal. Your provider will review the request and update its status (pending, approved, or declined). Once approved, records will be shared only as specified in your request.

Yes. The portal is HIPAA-compliant. Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest. There are no passwords to steal or reuse — sign-in uses one-time 6-digit email codes that expire after 15 minutes. Your account automatically signs out after about 30 minutes of inactivity to protect your privacy — especially on shared devices — with a warning 5 minutes before the session ends. Portal sessions also expire on the server after a week without use, you can turn on an email alert when your account is signed in to (at most one every 12 hours, so a busy day does not fill your inbox), and Settings → Sign-in & security shows your recent sign-ins with a one-click 'Sign out everywhere'. That same page lists any device you have allowed to stay signed in without a code, and removes it. Your records are visible only to you and your care team.

The Safety Plan tab holds your own plan, and sometimes a structured one your provider has assigned. Your personal safety plan is the main one: seven steps you write in your own words — your warning signs, what helps when you are alone, the people and places that help, who you can ask for help, professionals and crisis lines, making your surroundings safer, and your reasons for living. You can update it any time, and you can print or save a copy — the crisis numbers are printed on it, so it works without signing in. Your provider may also assign a structured plan for something specific, such as a Violence/Aggression Safety Plan or a Psychosis Safety Plan; those appear on the same tab under "Plans your provider assigned you", with sections to fill in and save. If you would like to review or update either, bring it up at your next appointment or send a message through the portal.

In your client portal, open Appointments in the My care section and select the Telehealth sub-tab — or just use the 'Join video visit' button on your Home tab when your appointment is coming up (the join opens about 30 minutes before the start; the exact lead is set by the practice and shown on the Telehealth sub-tab). On a computer or an Android phone the Doxy.me visit opens right there on the page — no downloads. On an iPhone or iPad, and in the Northwest Psychiatry app, the same button opens the visit in your browser in its own tab, where the camera and microphone work best; the portal page behind it stays signed in for the whole visit. Prefer to keep it on the page anyway? Press 'Show the visit here instead'. You are only ever in the call once: if you open the visit in a new window or another tab, the portal page steps out of the waiting room and offers a 'Rejoin here' button for the way back. In every case, allow camera and microphone access when prompted, then wait in the virtual waiting room — your provider will admit you at your appointment time. For any technical issues, call (360) 342-6445.

The Check-in lets you answer a few short questions about your mood, sleep and concerns before each appointment, so your provider can tailor the session to what matters most right now. You don't have to go looking for it: starting about two days before each session — or as soon as it is booked, if that's closer — a 'Check in before your session' card appears at the top of Home and To-Do with a 'Start check-in' button, and the first time you sign in during that window a pop-up offers 'Check in now' (or 'Not now'; the card stays until you've checked in or the session starts). Your answers are saved as you go, so you can stop and come back on any device. You'll also find it any time as the Check-in sub-tab of To-Do in your portal sidebar.

The Wellness Journal is a private space to write freely — only you can see your entries. Use it to process thoughts between appointments, track patterns, or reflect on your progress. You can choose to share specific entries with your provider if you'd like to discuss them at your next visit. You'll find it as the Journal sub-tab of Assessments, in the Wellness section of your portal sidebar.

Your treatment goals appear on the My Treatment tab, under the My care section of your portal sidebar — the goals you and your provider have agreed to work toward, such as improving sleep, managing anxiety in social situations, or building a consistent daily routine. For each goal you can see its current status, any milestones your provider has set, and add personal notes as you make progress. Your provider updates goals and milestones from their side, and both of you see the same picture.

Under Library in the Wellness section of your portal sidebar. The Resources sub-tab holds materials your provider has selected specifically for you — psychoeducation handouts, relaxation guides or reading recommendations — each with a Mark complete button. The Videos sub-tab holds short educational videos on mental health topics, conditions, treatment approaches and mindfulness techniques, including any your provider has assigned as part of your care plan. Worksheets your provider has assigned appear on the Worksheets sub-tab beside them, and those also show up on your To-Do tab. Reviewing them between sessions helps reinforce what you discuss during appointments.

The Worksheets sub-tab of Library contains interactive therapeutic worksheets that your provider assigns directly to your account. You complete them in the portal — there's nothing to download or print. Your answers save as you go and are shared with your provider by default so they can review them before or during your next appointment — you can switch sharing off on any individual worksheet. Worksheet formats include: Checklist (daily tasks or behaviors to practice), Reflection Prompts (open-ended journaling questions), Pros & Cons (explore both sides of a decision), CBT Thought Record (challenge and reframe automatic negative thoughts), Behavioral Activation (schedule mood-boosting activities), Values Exploration (clarify your personal values and priorities), Safety Plan (your personalized crisis coping plan), SMART Goals (structured goal-setting with specific milestones), Coping Skills Menu (your personalized library of evidence-based coping strategies), Worry Log (track and restructure anxious thoughts), Gratitude Practice (structured daily gratitude reflection), Sleep Log (sleep diary and hygiene improvement guide), Emotion Regulation (DBT-based skills for managing difficult emotions), and Exposure Hierarchy (graduated exposure steps for anxiety or PTSD). Your provider selects the format that best fits your current treatment focus.

The Daily log — a sub-tab of Assessments in the Wellness section — combines your overall mood score with symptom tracking in one daily entry. Rate the severity of specific symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, irritability, concentration difficulty, or fatigue using sliders, alongside your 1–10 mood score and an optional note. Each symptom trends over time in the Progress tab, building a data-rich picture for you and your provider to review at appointments.

The Clinical notes sub-tab of My Record gives you direct access to your provider's formal clinical documentation — the detailed notes written after each appointment. These notes include the clinical reasoning behind medication decisions, diagnoses, and treatment adjustments. Under the 21st Century Cures Act (the federal information blocking rule), you have the legal right to access these notes promptly and at no charge. Notes appear once your provider has shared them with you — your provider controls which notes are made visible, ensuring you always receive the most complete and reviewed version. Find them in the Clinical notes sub-tab of My Record, under My care in your portal sidebar. Select a note to read it in full, then use Download PDF to keep a copy — it arrives on the practice's letterhead, exactly as we would send it, and saves to your phone or computer like any other file. Print is beside it if you would rather have it on paper. You can also call us at (360) 342-6445 or send a portal message and we will send it to you; either way there is no charge, as the law requires. If you have questions about something in a note, bring it up at your next appointment or send a message through the portal. If you believe a note should be available but doesn't appear, contact us at (360) 342-6445.

Both live under My Record in the My care section of your portal sidebar — Visit summaries and Clinical notes are separate sub-tabs — but they serve different purposes. Visit Summaries are brief, structured overviews written by your provider after each session — they highlight the main topics discussed, any medication changes, and your next steps. They're designed to be easy to read and act on between appointments. Progress Notes are the formal clinical documentation written by your provider — significantly more detailed and written in clinical language. They include the full clinical reasoning behind diagnoses, medication decisions, and treatment adjustments. Progress Notes are part of your official medical record and are the documents you would typically share when coordinating care with another provider. Under the 21st Century Cures Act, you have the right to access both.

Visit Summaries are brief, plain-language overviews of a session — a useful reference between appointments. When your provider finalizes a progress note or initial psychiatric evaluation, a summary is drafted for them; your provider reviews it and chooses whether to share it with you, so you will only ever see one your provider has read and released. A shared summary usually includes a short narrative of the session and the key takeaways, and — where they apply — any medication changes explained in everyday language, your next steps before the following appointment, when to return or how to reach us, and some background on your diagnoses or medications. Shared summaries appear in the Visit summaries sub-tab of My Record, under My care in your portal sidebar; tap one to read it in full.

Forensic evaluations are legal documents that contain sensitive clinical and psychological findings. By default, they are kept in your provider's clinical record and are not visible in your client portal. However, if you and your provider have discussed it and you have given your consent, your provider may choose to share a completed forensic evaluation directly to your portal. If this has been done, you will find it with your clinical documents in the My Record tab, under My care in the sidebar. It will display with a purple '⚖️ Shared' badge. You can view or download it directly from the portal. If you believe a forensic evaluation should be available but is not visible, contact us at (360) 342-6445.

The Neurofeedback tab appears in your portal only if your provider has enrolled you in the Myndlift remote neurofeedback program. It shows your enrolled protocol (such as a PTSD or depression-focused protocol), your target number of sessions, your current enrollment status, and a direct link to your Myndlift profile where you can access your headset data and track your session history. If you do not see this tab, you have not been enrolled — ask your provider at your next appointment if neurofeedback may be an appropriate addition to your care plan.

The Cycle Tracker is a private wellness tool in the Wellness section of your client portal. It lets you log menstrual period start and end dates, flow intensity (spotting, light, moderate, or heavy), and any physical or emotional symptoms experienced — including cramps, mood swings, anxiety, low mood, irritability, bloating, fatigue, headache, insomnia, breast tenderness, food cravings, and back pain. Over time, the tracker calculates your average cycle length, period duration, and most frequently reported symptoms. This data can help you and your provider identify patterns — including potential PMDD-related mood changes — and incorporate them into your treatment plan. All cycle data is protected under the same HIPAA standards as the rest of your medical record.

Both live in Settings → Care & coverage in your client portal, not in the Medications tab. Open Settings, choose 'Care & coverage', and you'll find 'My pharmacies' and 'Allergies' there. To add a pharmacy, enter its name — phone, address and ZIP are optional — and use 'Set preferred' to choose the one we should send prescriptions to; the Medications tab displays your preferred pharmacy, but you change it here. Under 'Allergies' you can add a drug, food or environmental allergy and describe what happens when you're exposed to it. If your chart already records that you have no known allergies, that line shows here too — your provider sets that after reviewing it with you, so send a message or tell us at your next visit if it needs to change. Keeping this information current helps your provider prescribe safely and ensures prescriptions are sent to the right location.

You have two ways to access your records. (1) Directly from the portal: Sign in and open 'Documents & Forms' under 'Documents & billing' in the sidebar — it shows all documents your provider has made available; open any file to save or print it. Your clinical notes, visit summaries, and lab results live under 'My Record' in the My care section. (2) Formal records request: If you need records not visible in the portal — such as records from before your portal account was active, or a complete chart export — contact us at Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org or (360) 342-6445. Under HIPAA and the 21st Century Cures Act, we are required to fulfill records requests promptly, generally within 30 days, and at no cost for electronic records provided through a certified portal. Paper copies may incur a reasonable cost-based fee.

Absolutely. Northwest Psychiatry is fully HIPAA-compliant. All communications, records, and telehealth sessions are encrypted and protected. Your information is never shared with third parties without your explicit written consent, except as required by law (e.g., mandatory reporting situations). All portal records and messages are encrypted in transit and at rest, and clinical information is only ever exchanged through the secure portal — never by regular email.

Your video visit is not recorded. Video visits take place through Doxy.me, a HIPAA-compliant platform that does not record or store session content, and only you and your provider are present in the virtual room. Separately, your provider may use a transcription tool to help draft their clinical note — the audio is deleted once the text is produced, and nothing is retained as a recording. If you would prefer your provider not use a transcription tool for your sessions, tell them at or before your next appointment.

Password-less sign-in is a deliberate security decision, not a shortcut. Passwords are the weakest link in most breaches — they get reused across sites, phished, and leaked in bulk. The portal replaces them with a one-time 6-digit code sent to your email: each code works once, expires after 15 minutes, and there is no reusable password stored that an attacker could steal in bulk. It also means access to your portal is anchored to access to your email account — so protecting your email (with its own strong, unique password and two-factor authentication if your email provider offers it) protects your health records too. A phone can be allowed to skip the code and stay signed in, but that is not a password either: it is a key held only in that phone's secure hardware, kept behind the app's Face ID, Touch ID or passcode lock, replaced with a new one every time it is used, and removable from Settings → Sign-in & security. The provider's own account carries an additional authenticator-app requirement on top of this because of its broader access.

If you believe your account has been accessed by someone else, contact us immediately at (360) 342-6445 or Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org. You can view your recent sign-in history under Settings → Sign-in & security — it shows the date, time, and device for each sign-in. To secure your account, click 'Sign out everywhere' on that same page: it ends every active session and also removes every device you had allowed to stay signed in, so nothing can let itself back in. Then secure the email account that receives your sign-in codes (change its password and enable two-factor authentication with your email provider) — portal access is anchored to that email account. If you suspect a HIPAA breach involving your health information, you have the right to file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Insurance details, yes; card numbers, no. Your portal Settings include a Care & coverage section where you can record your insurer, member ID, group number and your insurer's phone number, so your provider has them on file — those are stored with the rest of your record. Northwest Psychiatry bills insurance through Headway, and insurance verification and claims are handled there. Card numbers are never stored in this portal. If you are set up for private pay, the Billing tab shows your session fee and every payment we have on record, and 'Pay for session' opens Stripe's secure payment form inside the page, so the card details go straight to Stripe and never touch this portal. For questions about an insurance claim, log in to your Headway account or contact Headway support; for anything about your own account, message us from the portal.

We collect the health information you provide during the course of your care — including clinical records, medication history, assessments, messages, and portal activity (such as mood logs and symptom tracking). This information is only accessible to you and your provider (and, to a limited extent, practice administrative staff involved in your care). We do not sell your data, share it with advertising platforms, or share it with third parties without your explicit written authorization — except as permitted by HIPAA (e.g., billing, mandatory reporting). Our complete Privacy Policy and HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available at northwestpsychiatry.org/privacy.

There is no lockout that shuts you out of your own account. What is limited is how many sign-in codes can be requested for one email address in a short period — up to 3 in five minutes and 8 in an hour — so nobody can flood your inbox with codes or work through them by guessing. If you hit that limit, wait a few minutes and request a new code. A code that is wrong or expired is rejected — request a fresh one and try again, and remember codes expire after 15 minutes. If you enter the wrong code many times in a row, verification pauses briefly as a precaution, and during that pause even a correct code is refused, so wait a few minutes before trying again. You can also turn on an email alert when your account is signed in to, under Settings → Sign-in & security. If you believe someone else has attempted to access your account, contact us at (360) 342-6445 immediately.

Settings → AI & privacy has two switches, and it is worth being precise about what each one does. AI assistance covers the AI features that work with your record on your behalf: the plain-language visit summaries drafted for your provider, the medication and treatment-plan explainers, the portal help assistant, and the 'Create my snapshot' button on your Progress tab. Turn it off and those stop. AI journal reflections is separate and covers the reflection written onto a journal entry — turn it off and no reflection is added. Journal entries are private to you unless you choose to share one with your provider. What these switches do not cover is the clinical review your care team carries out on your record as part of providing your care; that is part of your treatment rather than an optional portal feature. If you would like to understand exactly what is looked at and why, ask your provider or read the Practice Policies page. You can change either switch at any time, and neither affects your care or your provider's access to your record. The same card also shows 'Who has viewed my record' — a log of who opened your chart and when. Caregiver access is a separate card in the same group of settings, and your other consents — including “Sharing information outside your care” (the Non-TPO consent) — live under Documents & forms → Consents.

Northwest Psychiatry keeps several categories of health information for each patient: Psychiatric Evaluations (initial and follow-up assessments), Progress Notes (session notes and clinical observations), Treatment Plans (your diagnoses, goals, and care strategies), Medication Records (prescriptions, dosages, and changes over time), Lab Results (blood work and diagnostic tests), and Billing & Insurance records (claims, explanations of benefits, and payment history). Most of this is visible to you in the client portal: My record holds your clinical notes, visit summaries, lab results and intake; Medications lists your current prescriptions; Billing holds your statements and payments; and anything we have uploaded or you have sent us is under Documents & forms → Documents. For a complete copy of your chart, ask through Documents & forms → Records release.

Under HIPAA, you have six core rights regarding your protected health information: (1) Right of Access — request and receive copies of your records at no charge; you can submit a request in the portal under Documents & forms → Records release, or ask through a portal message or by calling (360) 342-6445; (2) Right to Amend — request a correction if you believe information is inaccurate or incomplete (we respond within 60 days); (3) Right to Accounting of Disclosures — request a list of non-routine disclosures made in the past six years; (4) Right to Request Restrictions — ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures; (5) Right to Confidential Communications — request we contact you only through a specific channel; (6) Right to File a Complaint — file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) if you believe your rights have been violated. A full summary of these rights is in our Privacy Policy at northwestpsychiatry.org/privacy.

Yes — psychotherapy notes (also called process notes) receive heightened protection under HIPAA (45 CFR §164.508(a)(2)). These are notes a mental health provider records in private to aid their own memory of a session — capturing personal impressions, the flow of conversation, and their clinical thinking. They are kept separately from your main medical record. Unlike regular progress notes or treatment records, psychotherapy notes cannot be released to most parties — including insurance companies, employers, or even other healthcare providers — without your explicit written authorization. You do not have an automatic right to copy your own psychotherapy notes (that right is limited by HIPAA), though your provider may choose to share them with you. Regular progress notes, treatment summaries, medication records, and evaluation documents are part of your main medical record and are accessible through the standard records request process.

Maine has its own privacy statutes that often provide stronger protections than HIPAA alone. Under Maine Title 22 §1711-C, mental health records, substance use treatment records, HIV/AIDS-related information, and certain other sensitive health information have additional confidentiality protections — meaning they may not be disclosed even in situations where HIPAA would permit disclosure. Notably, adolescents in Maine can independently consent to mental health outpatient services and substance use treatment, and those records are confidential from parents or guardians without the minor's consent. Maine also requires a higher standard of authorization for releasing substance use and psychiatric records. When state law is stricter than HIPAA, we follow the stricter standard. A full description of our privacy practices, including Maine-specific protections, is available in our Privacy Policy at northwestpsychiatry.org/privacy.

Non-TPO (Non-Treatment, Payment, and Operations) consent is your authorization for Northwest Psychiatry to share your health information with partner organizations — such as Uwill and Higher Ground Services LLC — for care coordination purposes that go beyond routine treatment, billing, and practice operations. This is separate from routine sharing that HIPAA permits without consent. You can give or withdraw it yourself in the portal: Documents & forms → Consents → “Sharing information outside your care”. The switch shows On or Off and the date you agreed, and you can change it as often as you need. You can also call us at (360) 342-6445 or send a portal message and we will record the change and confirm it back to you. Withdrawing applies to future disclosures only; information already shared is not affected, and it does not cancel a records release you have already signed. If you have questions, call (360) 342-6445.

Yes. Under HIPAA (45 CFR §164.528), you have the right to request a written list of certain disclosures of your Protected Health Information made by this practice over the past six years. Routine disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations are excluded from this accounting, but non-routine disclosures (such as those required by law or made to third parties outside of normal care) are included. To submit a request, contact us in writing at Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org. We will respond within 60 days.

Portal access is maintained for a reasonable period after your last appointment to give you time to download your records. Your login credentials remain valid and your records remain viewable in accordance with your HIPAA right of access. If your account has been deactivated and you need access to your records, contact us at (360) 342-6445 or Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org — we can provide records directly in the format of your choosing as required under HIPAA.

Portal accounts are individual and tied to your identity — there is no separate caregiver or proxy login. However, with your written consent your provider can set up caregiver access for a family member, guardian, or authorized representative at a level you choose — from appointment details only, up to broader involvement in your care coordination. Your consent is recorded, and you can change or revoke it at any time. Separately, you may submit a Release of Information (ROI) request from Documents & Forms → Records release in the portal, authorizing disclosure of records to a specific person. For legal representatives (such as a healthcare proxy or power of attorney), contact us at (360) 342-6445 or Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org so we can set up appropriate access in compliance with HIPAA.

Each client needs their own email address for the portal. Sign-in works by sending a one-time code to your email, and the portal opens the chart that matches that address — so a shared address can only ever reach one person's chart. If your household currently shares one email, call us at (360) 342-6445: we'll set up a separate address for each person's chart (free email accounts work fine), and if one of you helps manage the other's care, your provider can also configure caregiver access with the appropriate consent. This keeps each person's appointments, medications, messages, and records completely separate and private.

A medication consent form is a document that explains the risks, potential side effects, and available alternatives for a specific medication your provider is prescribing. Signing it confirms that you've been informed of these details and agree to proceed with the medication. This is a standard clinical and legal requirement — especially for medications with significant side effects or monitoring requirements. When your provider creates a medication consent for you, it will appear as an alert on your portal Home tab and in the Medications tab under 'Medication consents'. To sign it: open the Medications tab, press 'Review & sign' on the pending consent, and read the information carefully. Under 'Who is signing?', choose 'I am the client' — or, if you are signing for someone else, 'I am the client's parent or legal guardian' or 'I am another authorized representative', and give your relationship to the client. Check the acknowledgment box, type your full name to sign (your own name, not the client's, if you are signing on their behalf), and press 'Sign consent'. The signed consent is saved automatically and visible to your provider.

In addition to your medication name, dose, and instructions, the Medications tab may include clinical details your provider has added: Start Date (when the medication was first prescribed to you), Target Symptoms (the specific symptoms the medication is intended to address — such as persistent low mood, intrusive thoughts, or difficulty concentrating), Labs Required (any blood work or laboratory monitoring your provider needs before or during treatment), and Monitoring Notes (any special precautions, timeframe for follow-up, or things to watch for). These fields are added by your provider and are meant to give you a clearer picture of your treatment rationale. If you have questions about any of these details, send a message via the secure Messages tab.

The Home tab in your client portal is your at-a-glance dashboard. Whenever something needs your attention, it appears as a color-coded alert on the Home tab — so you always know what to act on without having to check every section manually. Alerts can include: pending medication consent forms, a treatment plan waiting for your signature on the My Treatment tab, unsigned consents under Documents & Forms, unread messages from your provider, overdue or assigned screenings, and upcoming appointments. In the two days before a session a 'Check in before your session' card leads the page, and when the practice confirms, moves or cancels a visit a notification arrives under the bell at the top of the portal as well as by email. On a phone, a small dot appears on the To-Do and Messages icons in the bottom bar when something is waiting. Alerts disappear automatically once you complete the action.

The Lab results sub-tab of My Record, under My care in your portal sidebar, displays laboratory results that your provider has ordered or entered on your behalf. Lab panels include CBC (complete blood count), metabolic panel, thyroid function, lipid panel, liver function, kidney function tests, and more. Each result shows the test name, your value, the reference range, the collection date, and a color-coded status indicator — Normal (green), Abnormal (yellow), Critical (red), or Pending (gray). Results are grouped by the date the sample was collected, newest first, and anything outside the normal range is called out at the top of the tab. If you see an abnormal or critical result and have questions, please send a message through the portal or discuss it with Nicholas at your next appointment — do not attempt to interpret lab values on your own without clinical context.

Yes. When your provider shares a document — educational handouts, referral letters, lab summaries, or other treatment-related materials — it will appear under Documents & Forms → Documents in your portal sidebar. They appear under Your documents there, alongside anything you have uploaded yourself. Press Download on the row to open or save it. If you have not received an expected document, send a message through the portal or call (360) 342-6445.

Wellness Snapshot gives you a personal summary of how things are trending, created with AI assistance from your care record. Open Wellness → Progress in the portal sidebar and choose Wellness snapshot, then click 'Create my snapshot.' It looks at your screenings, mood check-ins, medications, and shared visit information and produces an easy-to-read overview: a summary of how you're doing, trends over time, talking points for your next visit, personal strengths, and an overall wellness score (a general snapshot, not a clinical measure). Snapshots are saved so you and your care team can look back at them together. This feature is for self-education only — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. Use it to come to appointments more prepared, and always bring questions or concerns to Nicholas directly.

On March 27, 2024, HHS published a final rule amending the HIPAA Security Rule — the most significant update since the original 2013 version. The updated rule (effective May 7, 2024, with compliance required by 2025–2026) strengthens protections for Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). Key changes relevant to patients: (1) Covered entities and business associates must now implement enhanced encryption for all ePHI, both in transit and at rest — no more 'addressable' exceptions for encryption; (2) Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is required for all access to ePHI; (3) Technology asset inventories and network maps are required; (4) Annual security risk analyses must be written and more comprehensive; (5) Stricter business associate oversight requirements. For you as a patient, this means the systems that handle your health information are required to meet higher security standards than before. In this portal that looks like encrypted storage and transmission, a one-time code for every new device that signs in (there are no passwords to steal), and an authenticator-app second factor on the provider's own console.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act strengthens HIPAA protections in the digital age. Key patient protections include: (1) Breach notification — if your health information is ever compromised, we are required by law to notify you within 60 days; (2) Stronger enforcement — higher penalties apply to covered entities that fail to protect PHI; (3) Business associate accountability — all third-party vendors we work with (such as Headway and Doxy.me) are contractually required to meet the same privacy standards we do. Our full HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available at northwestpsychiatry.org/privacy.

Yes. Under HIPAA, you have the right to request that we amend your health record if you believe it contains inaccurate or incomplete information. To submit an amendment request, contact us in writing at Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org, specifying which information you believe is incorrect and what the correct information should be. We will review the request and respond within 60 days (with a possible 30-day extension). We may deny a request if we determine the information is accurate and complete, was not created by Northwest Psychiatry, is not part of the designated record set, or would not be available for your inspection under HIPAA. If your request is denied, we will provide a written explanation and you have the right to submit a statement of disagreement to be included in your file.

Yes. Under HIPAA and HITECH, any third-party vendor that handles your Protected Health Information on our behalf must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) — a legally binding contract requiring them to protect PHI to the same standards we do. Northwest Psychiatry has executed BAAs with all relevant technology partners, including Headway (our billing platform), Doxy.me (our telehealth video platform), and our electronic health records and portal infrastructure. If you have questions about a specific vendor's compliance status, contact us at Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org.

Under the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule and the HITECH Act, Northwest Psychiatry is legally required to notify you if your Unsecured Protected Health Information is involved in a breach. For breaches affecting 500 or fewer individuals, you will be notified by first-class mail (or email if you have agreed to electronic notices) within 60 days of our discovering the breach. The notification will include a description of what happened, what information was involved, what steps you should take to protect yourself, what we are doing to investigate and mitigate the breach, and contact information for questions. For breaches affecting more than 500 individuals in a state, we are also required to notify prominent media outlets. You also have the right to file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights at hhs.gov/hipaa if you believe a breach has occurred.

The minimum necessary standard is a core HIPAA principle that requires healthcare providers to use, disclose, or request only the minimum amount of Protected Health Information needed to accomplish a given purpose. For example, if an insurance company requests records to process a claim, we are only permitted to send the information directly relevant to that claim — not your entire chart. When staff access your records internally, they are authorized to view only what is necessary to provide or support your care. This standard applies to all uses and disclosures of your PHI except those for your direct treatment, which requires full access to provide safe and effective care.

A Security Risk Assessment (SRA) is a formal, comprehensive evaluation required by the HIPAA Security Rule (45 CFR §164.308(a)(1)) that identifies risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). It must be conducted before implementing an electronic health record system, and reviewed and updated regularly thereafter. The 2024 HIPAA Security Rule amendments upgraded this requirement — it must now be fully documented and more rigorous. Northwest Psychiatry conducts annual SRAs as required. The assessment evaluates the systems that store and transmit your health information, identifies potential weaknesses, and documents the security measures in place to address them.

If you believe your HIPAA rights have been violated — whether by Northwest Psychiatry or any other covered entity — you have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at no cost to you. You can file online at hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint, by mail, or by fax. Complaints must generally be filed within 180 days of when you knew (or reasonably should have known) about the alleged violation, though extensions may be granted for good cause. Filing a complaint with OCR does not require you to first complain to the practice. You cannot be penalized or retaliated against for exercising this right. If you have a concern about your privacy or believe something may have gone wrong, we also encourage you to contact us directly at (360) 342-6445 — we want to address any issues as quickly as possible.

Your phone number is yours to change: sign in to your client portal and go to Settings → Profile & contact. Your sign-in email is shown there too, but it is read-only — that address IS your account, because it is where your sign-in codes go, so we change it for you rather than letting it be edited from a signed-in session. Call (360) 342-6445 or email Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org and we will update it; your old address keeps working until we do, and you can sign in with the new one straight away afterwards. The "Secondary email" field on that same screen is a different thing: it receives COPIES of notifications when you switch that option on under Settings → Notifications & reminders, and never receives sign-in codes — so adding one does not change how you sign in. There is no password on your account to manage; keeping the email account that receives your sign-in codes secure is the single most important thing you can do for portal security. Under HIPAA, you have the right to request that we contact you at a specific email address or phone number — please let us know if you have a preferred contact method.

Yes. Our complete practice policies are available at northwestpsychiatry.org/practice-policies. They cover everything from appointment scheduling and cancellation policies to confidentiality, your rights as a client, controlled substance prescribing policies, and telehealth consent. Current clients can also access practice policies directly from their client portal. We encourage all new clients to review these policies before their first appointment.

Unfortunately, neurofeedback is not currently covered by most insurance plans, including those billed through Headway. It is offered as a self-pay service. Contact us at (360) 342-6445 or Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org for current pricing information.

Yes. Neurofeedback is non-invasive and does not involve any electrical stimulation — the headset only reads your brain activity, it does not send signals into the brain. It has no known serious side effects. Some people experience mild fatigue or headaches in the first few sessions as the brain adjusts, which typically resolves quickly.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive brain-training technique that uses real-time monitoring of brainwave activity to help the brain learn to self-regulate. During a session, sensors placed on the scalp read your brainwave patterns (via EEG). When your brain produces patterns associated with calm focus, the software rewards that activity — for example, by keeping a video playing smoothly. Over repeated sessions, the brain learns to sustain those patterns more reliably without conscious effort. It is used alongside therapy and medication (not as a replacement) to support conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and sleep disorders.

Myndlift is a remote neurofeedback platform that allows you to complete neurofeedback sessions at home using a consumer-grade EEG headset (such as the Muse 2). Sessions are guided through the Myndlift app on your phone or tablet. Your provider monitors your brain data remotely and adjusts your protocol as needed. Remote neurofeedback through Myndlift has been studied and produces comparable outcomes to clinic-based neurofeedback for many protocols — with the added convenience of doing sessions in your own environment on your own schedule.

Neurofeedback has the strongest research support for PTSD, ADHD, anxiety disorders, and insomnia. It is also used as an adjunctive (add-on) treatment for depression, OCD, and chronic stress. At Northwest Psychiatry, neurofeedback is offered through the Myndlift platform and is used to complement — not replace — medication management and therapy. Your provider will discuss whether neurofeedback is clinically appropriate for your specific situation.

Enrollment is not automatic — it is offered on an individualized basis when your provider determines it may benefit your care. If you are interested, bring it up at your next appointment or send a message through your client portal. If enrolled, you'll receive instructions for downloading the Myndlift app and setting up your EEG headset. Your protocol (the specific brainwave training target), target session count, and progress will be visible in the Neurofeedback tab of your client portal.

You'll need a compatible EEG headset — most Myndlift programs use the Muse 2 or Muse S headset, which is a lightweight consumer-grade device available for purchase online (typically $200–$350). You'll also need a smartphone or tablet with the Myndlift app installed and a stable internet connection. Northwest Psychiatry will provide guidance on the specific headset and setup instructions when you are enrolled. Your provider can also discuss whether equipment assistance may be available.

A full course typically involves 40–60 sessions, though this varies by condition and goals. Sessions are typically 20–30 minutes, 3–5 times per week. Because sessions are done at home through Myndlift, you can complete them at your own pace on your own schedule — there's no commute or clinic appointment required. Progress is monitored by your provider remotely, and your protocol may be adjusted as your brain data evolves. Most clients begin to notice changes around the 20–30 session mark, though individual response varies. Your provider will set a target session count tailored to your protocol and goals.

The easiest way to refer a patient is through our For Providers page at northwestpsychiatry.org/for-providers — it includes a brief referral overview and our direct contact information. You can also call (360) 342-6445 or email Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org directly. We accept referrals from primary care providers, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. For urgent or time-sensitive referrals, calling is the fastest route.

Northwest Psychiatry accepts patients from age 5 to 85 — children, adolescents, and adults — located in Maine; for a minor, a parent or legal guardian signs consents. We specialize in medication management, psychiatric evaluation, PTSD and trauma treatment, anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, and remote neurofeedback (Myndlift). We do not currently accept Medicare or Medicaid — we are credentialed with commercial insurers through Headway including Anthem BCBS Maine, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare (Optum), Oxford, Oscar, Carelon, Quest Behavioral Health, and Point32 Healthcare. All care is delivered via HIPAA-compliant telehealth.

A brief referral with the following information is most helpful: patient name and date of birth, contact information (phone and email), presenting concern or reason for referral, current medications (especially psychiatric), insurance plan, and any urgency considerations. You can send referral information by secure fax to (360) 342-6446 or by calling (360) 342-6445. We'll follow up with the patient directly to schedule their intake evaluation.

Yes — with appropriate patient authorization. Once a Release of Information (ROI) is on file, Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC, is happy to coordinate care with other treating providers. The best way to initiate contact is by calling (360) 342-6445 or emailing Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org. For ongoing co-treatment relationships, we can establish a communication routine that works for both practices.

If you are in immediate danger or are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room right away. For mental health crisis support that doesn't require emergency services: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — free, confidential, available 24/7. Text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Maine-specific: call the Maine CRISIS line at 1-888-568-1112 (available 24/7). If you are a current client, your portal has a Safety Plan tab under My care — it lists every crisis line with direct call and text links alongside your own safety plan. Northwest Psychiatry is an outpatient practice and is not equipped to respond to psychiatric emergencies directly, but your safety is our priority.

Yes. Your Safety Plan tab (in the My care section of the sidebar) lists immediate resources including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741), Maine CRISIS line (1-888-568-1112), and local emergency services, alongside your personal safety plan. The website's Crisis Support page is also available any time without signing in, and the crisis strip at the top of every public page links straight to it. If you feel unsafe, please use these resources immediately — do not wait for a portal message response.

Signs that someone may need emergency psychiatric care include: expressing clear thoughts of suicide or self-harm (especially with a plan or intent), talking about wanting to die or be dead, giving away possessions, saying goodbye as if not planning to return, severe psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior) that is escalating, active self-harm, or expressed intent to harm others. If you observe these signs — in yourself or someone else — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not leave the person alone if it is safe to remain with them.

Northwest Psychiatry is credentialed with the following Maine insurance plans through Headway: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Maine, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare (Optum), Oxford (Optum), Oscar (Optum), Carelon Behavioral Health, Quest Behavioral Health, and Point32 Healthcare. To confirm your specific plan is accepted, call us at (360) 342-6445, or list your plan on the appointment request form at northwestpsychiatry.org/waitlist and we'll go over coverage when we reach out.

Headway handles all insurance verification and billing on your behalf. After each appointment, they submit the claim to your insurance and charge any applicable copay or coinsurance to the card on file in your Headway account. You'll receive an explanation of benefits from your insurer as usual.

Please contact us directly at (360) 342-6445 or Nicholas.Eddy@northwestpsychiatry.org to discuss self-pay options. We'll do our best to make care accessible.

It depends on how you pay. If you see Nicholas through insurance, Headway handles your billing, so superbills and itemized receipts come from your Headway account — log in at headway.co or contact Headway support. If you are self-pay, open the Billing tab of your client portal and press 'Request a superbill' — it prefills a message to the practice, and we'll send one for your recent visits. For questions about diagnosis codes or pre-authorization that require input from your provider, call us at (360) 342-6445.

Northwest Psychiatry does not currently accept Medicare or Medicaid. We are credentialed with a number of commercial insurance plans through Headway — see 'What insurance plans do you accept?' above for the full list. If you have questions about coverage or need help identifying options, please call (360) 342-6445.