FAQs

That is a personal decision that is entirely up to you. If you have been struggling with significant mood impairment (whether that be persistent feelings of sadness, despair, irritability, racing thoughts, mood swings, or trouble focusing or concentrating), it may be a good idea to seek help from a trained psychiatric physician (M.D.) who has the ability to prescribe pharmacological intervention should that be necessary.

No, medication will not change your personality. Psychiatric medications, when prescribed judiciously and with care, have the power to transform the lives of those suffering from mental health issues, like depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, and PMDD.

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At The Happiness Psychiatrist®, we believe in using the lowest effective dose of psychiatric medication, tailored specifically to each patient’s individual needs. In addition, Dr. Ambardar incorporates other treatment modalities to address mood symptoms, including psychotherapy, nutritional medicine, meditation, walking therapy, and Kundalini Yoga.

Insurance companies typically place many restrictions and demands on doctors, and dictate the frequency and level of care that physicians may provide to their patients. In order to offer you the highest-quality personalized service, tailored to your individual needs and not subject to third-party restrictions, Dr. Ambardar does not contract with any insurance providers. In this way, she can focus all of her energies on serving you, the patient, to the best of her abilities.

While we are primarily a boutique telehealth practice that serves patients throughout California and New York, we continue to offer in-person outdoor walking therapy sessions in the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and UCLA/Westwood areas. In addition, Dr. Ambardar is periodically in the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford area, and New York City areas.

Many of our patients and clients are busy and successful professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, and students, and we're happy to offer evening and Saturday appointments.

After our initial 75-minute consultation, follow-up appointments are usually either 50 minutes long or 25 minutes long. If you need extra time or want to have a "double" appointment, just let us know.

Our initial 75-minute consultation is $750 and follow-up appointments range from $300-450.

That's a personal decision that is up to you. Many patients find it beneficial to have appointments weekly or every two weeks. If Dr. Ambardar is prescribing medication, she does ask that you come in at least monthly for regular check-ups, possible lab work, and any medication adjustments that may be needed.

Of course. If you are already under the care of a therapist, Dr. Ambardar is happy to work collaboratively with her or him throughout the course of your treatment in order to ensure that your care is coordinated optimally.

Walking psychotherapy, first employed by Sigmund Freud in the late 1800s and now practiced by a handful of mental health professionals around the U.S., combines regular talk therapy with the tremendous added benefit of physical exercise. Numerous studies have shown the positive psychological effects of outdoor exercise on mental health and we know that open-air workouts have the power to transform and revitalize mood.

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During these sessions, we will be walking at a comfortable and unhurried pace, literally moving forward as we work out issues and problems in a casual and peaceful setting. Some patients have reported that they find it easier to relax and let their guard down when walking outdoors as opposed to being face-to-face with a doctor in a telehealth setting. Dr. Ambardar is currently offering walking therapy in the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and UCLA/Westwood areas.

Kundalini Yoga, also known as the Yoga of Awareness, is an ancient Hindu spiritual practice, first developed thousands of years ago in India, that strengthens the nervous system through the use of breathing techniques, body postures, and meditation. Regular practice is believed to awaken the latent and powerful kundalini energy found at the base of the spine within every human being.

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Releasing this powerful life force through the use of prana (breath), asana (postures), mantra (sound therapy), and meditation, leads to an increase in self-awareness, intuition, and peace of mind. If requested, Dr. Ambardar is happy to incorporate elements of Kundalini Yoga into our therapy sessions according to your level of comfort and individual needs.

Of course. Meditation and Kundalini Yoga, while founded on Hindu principles, can be used by people of any religious persuasion or philosophic background. Meditation is universally applied by people of all faiths as a path to calmness, mental clarity, and peace of mind. Regular meditation helps us gain inspiration, leads us to a greater understanding of our true selves, and provides us with valuable insights into our lives.

We kindly request 48 business hours notice for any cancellations or changes in appointment time. Any cancellations made after this window will be charged 100% of the full fee.

Absolutely. The vast majority of patients who follow a prescribed regimen of medication (if needed), regular psychotherapy or coaching, and lifestyle changes, notice significant improvement in mood and overall outlook within a few months.