How Does Telepsychiatry Work?

Reviewed by Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC · Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Last updated June 2026

If you’ve been putting off getting psychiatric care because of travel, scheduling, or just not knowing what to expect — telepsychiatry may remove every barrier standing between you and treatment. It’s the same evaluation, the same prescribing authority, and the same clinical judgment as an in-person visit, delivered over a secure video call from wherever you are.

See how telepsychiatry across Florida brings care to wherever you are.

At Trust Psychiatry & Wellness, telehealth psychiatry is available to patients across all of Florida — West Palm Beach to Pensacola, Orlando to the Keys. Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC, is Florida-licensed and sees new patients with no referral required.

What Does Telepsychiatry Cover?

Telepsychiatry handles the full scope of outpatient psychiatric care. During a video appointment with a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you can receive:

• Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation — full diagnostic assessment for depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and more
• Medication management — prescription of psychiatric medications, dosage adjustments, side-effect reviews, and refills
• Follow-up appointments — routine check-ins to monitor how treatment is going
• Care coordination — communication with your therapist, PCP, or other providers

The one thing that stays in person: anything requiring a physical examination — drawing blood, measuring vital signs, procedures. Labs can be ordered to a local facility and reviewed at a subsequent telehealth appointment. Everything else is fully deliverable via video. For more on this, see our guide to online prescribing by a psychiatric NP.

How a Telepsychiatry Appointment Works, Step by Step

The process is more straightforward than most patients expect:

1. Schedule your appointment. Book online or call (561) 849-4449. You’ll provide insurance information and complete intake paperwork digitally before your visit.
2. Receive your secure link. A HIPAA-compliant video link is sent to your email or patient portal — not Zoom, not FaceTime, but a healthcare-grade encrypted platform.
3. Join from any device. At your appointment time, click the link on your phone, tablet, or computer. No app download required for most platforms. You need a stable internet connection and a working camera.
4. Meet with your provider. Josie reviews your history, asks about your symptoms, discusses your goals, and makes clinical decisions — including prescriptions when appropriate.
5. Receive your care plan. Follow-up instructions, prescriptions sent to your pharmacy, and next appointment scheduling happen before the call ends.

That’s it. Most patients tell us it felt exactly like a regular appointment — just without the waiting room.

What Technology Do You Need?

The requirements are minimal:

• A smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a front-facing camera
• A stable internet connection (Wi-Fi, broadband, or 4G/5G — mobile data works fine)
• A private, quiet space where you can speak freely

You do not need to download special software. A standard web browser handles most platforms. If you’re in a home with thin walls, some patients use their car in a quiet parking lot — completely normal.

Florida Telehealth Rules: What You Should Know

In Florida, telehealth providers must hold an active Florida license. Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC, is Florida-licensed and can see patients anywhere in the state.

Florida law permits telehealth prescribing for most psychiatric medications. For non-controlled medications — antidepressants, mood stabilizers, most anxiolytics — prescriptions can be issued following a thorough evaluation. For controlled substances, Florida law aligns with current DEA telehealth rules, which permit prescribing for established patients across most medication classes. See the medication management page for specifics.

One clarification worth making: telepsychiatry is conducted via video, not phone. For controlled substance prescribing in Florida, a live video connection is required — not a phone call. We cover whether telepsychiatry is as effective as in-person care in a separate article.

Who Benefits Most from Telepsychiatry?

Telehealth psychiatric care removes the barriers that keep people from ever starting treatment. It tends to work especially well for:

• Patients in rural or underserved areas where in-person psychiatric providers are scarce
• Working adults and parents who can’t afford to lose half a day to a clinic appointment
• Patients with social anxiety, agoraphobia, or transportation challenges who find in-person visits harder to navigate
• Anyone managing a chronic condition — stable medication follow-ups are efficiently handled in a 20-minute video call
• Patients who’ve struggled to find in-network providers locally — telehealth expands access statewide instantly

Multiple peer-reviewed studies, including research published in journals such as JAMA Psychiatry and Telemedicine and e-Health, show patient satisfaction with telepsychiatry is equal to or higher than in-person care for most outpatient conditions. When patients can actually attend their appointments — without taking PTO, arranging childcare, or driving an hour — outcomes improve. If that applies to you, read more about senior mental health care in Century Village.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is telepsychiatry as private as in-person care?
Yes. HIPAA-compliant platforms encrypt your session end-to-end. Your session is not recorded, and no data is shared with third parties. The platform used at Trust Psychiatry is a healthcare-grade service — not a consumer app.

Can I get a new prescription at my first telehealth appointment?
In most cases, yes. For non-controlled medications (antidepressants, mood stabilizers, most anxiolytics), a prescription can be issued after a thorough initial evaluation. For Schedule II controlled substances like Adderall, the prescribing pathway is confirmed at intake based on your clinical history and current DEA telehealth rules. Our team also explains mental health services in West Palm Beach in detail.

What if my internet goes out during the appointment?
Most platforms let you reconnect immediately. If the session can’t be restored, your provider will follow up by phone to complete the consultation. Learn more about telehealth psychiatry in Florida here.

Does insurance cover telepsychiatry?
Most major plans cover telepsychiatry at the same rate as in-person visits. Trust Psychiatry is in-network with 11 confirmed plans including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Florida Medicaid, AvMed, Evernorth, M-Care, Cuare, HP, and Paramount. Visit the insurance and fees page to confirm your coverage.

Can I do telepsychiatry from work or a hotel?
Yes, as long as you have privacy and a stable connection. The only requirement is that you can speak freely without being overheard.

Do I need a referral?
No. Trust Psychiatry accepts new patients directly — no referral required for most PPO and Medicaid plans.

Book a Telehealth Appointment With a Florida-Licensed PMHNP

Trust Psychiatry & Wellness offers telehealth psychiatric care to patients across all of Florida. You don’t have to be in West Palm Beach — if you’re in Florida, you’re eligible. Call (561) 849-4449 or schedule online to book your first appointment with Josie Desmarais, PMHNP-BC. Most major insurance plans accepted. No referral required.

Related reading: preparing for your first psychiatry appointment and feeling like a burden. If symptoms are affecting your daily life, our telepsychiatry in Florida services can help.

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