Questions about working together

No. Medication is one tool, never a requirement. Every treatment decision here is collaborative — you'll understand the options, the evidence, and the trade-offs before anything is prescribed. Nothing is prescribed without your full understanding and agreement.

You don't need an extensive treatment history to seek care; some people come for the first time. If you have tried treatment before, I'll look carefully at what you tried, including medications, doses, duration, and therapy, and how it went. That history helps inform the options we discuss together.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), intrusive thoughts, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, perfectionism, PMDD, perinatal mental health (pregnancy and postpartum OCD and anxiety), and perimenopause-related psychiatric changes. She also treats depression, particularly when co-occurring with anxiety or OCD. For addiction medicine questions, please inquire directly.

Yes. Coordinating with your therapist is standard practice here, not an exception — with your consent, Dr. Batista communicates directly with your therapist and shares consult notes so your care stays consistent across providers. If you don't have a therapist and would benefit from one, she can help you find the right fit.

For psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and psychotherapy, telehealth outcomes are well-supported by research and generally equivalent to in-person outcomes. The clinical literature on this has been substantial since the COVID-era expansion of telehealth, and it holds specifically for anxiety disorders and OCD. The practical benefit of telehealth is access to a specialist matched to your condition, regardless of geography.

New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. You must be physically located in a state where Dr. Batista is licensed at the time of your appointment — not just a legal resident.

No. The Fit Call is optional. It is a 20-minute, nonclinical video conversation: no diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment recommendations are given. The $100 fee is credited toward an evaluation booked within 30 days. You are welcome to book an evaluation directly.

Follow-up is tailored to your clinical needs. We decide on frequency together and revisit it as your needs change.

My practice is private-pay and out of network. I provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. In some cases, I can also submit a courtesy claim electronically on your behalf, depending on whether your plan accepts it. This does not make the practice in network or guarantee reimbursement.

Payment is due at the time of service, and you are responsible for payment regardless of any insurance reimbursement.

Courtesy electronic claims are sometimes possible with Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, depending on the individual plan. Please ask about your specific coverage. The practice does not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. Payment is due at the time of service, and you are responsible for payment regardless of any insurance reimbursement.

Yes. Your health information is protected under HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and applicable state law. Clinical information is not shared without your written authorization, except in specific circumstances required by law — which are reviewed with you at your first appointment.

Confidentiality has specific exceptions required by law. These include: imminent risk of serious harm to yourself or others, suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, and other circumstances specified by state and federal law. These exceptions are rare and are discussed in full at the time of your first appointment.