Can I make a New Patient appointment?
Dr. Park evaluates each potential client on a case by case basis to make sure they receive the best medical care possible.  In order to become a new patient, call the office and the staff will gather information for Dr. Park to review.  Once she has reviewed your intake form the office will call you back to set up an evaluation appointment or to recommend another medical professional more compatible with your needs.

How soon can I get in to see Dr. Park?
The intake process takes about a week.  Appointments are available within the next 1-2 weeks after that.

Will Dr. Park do my counseling as well as my medication management?
There are many counselors for adults and children but a national shortage of child psychiatrists.  In an effort to serve as many of these children who have mental health needs as possible, Dr. Park must limit her counseling and focus on medication management of her clients.

What is the difference between a counselor, social worker, psychologist, and psychiatrist?
All of these professionals can counsel, yet they have some differences. A counselor, an LPC, has a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, two additional years of clinical training, and is trained in the medical model. A social worker, an LCSW, has 2 years of clinical training beyond a master’s degree and is trained in treating the person in the context of the environment. A psychologist has a PhD in psychology, is trained in the medical model and in testing. A psychiatrist has attended medical school, a residency in psychiatry, and can prescribe medications.

What is the difference between an adult psychiatrist and a child psychiatrist?
Both psychiatrists have attended medical school and a residency in adult psychiatry. The child psychiatrist has undergone an additional 2 years of training focusing on children and adolescents.

How do I get a Christian psychiatrist or therapist?
Your insurance company has a list of people who have identified themselves as Christian. This does not mean that their definition of Christian matches yours. The first step is to pray and ask God to choose for you. He may direct you to a Christian, but He may also use a nonbeliever. Focus on the Family has a list of professionals whose beliefs match those of FOF. You may seek the advice of people you trust. There are several Christian counseling agencies in St. Louis if you are not being counseled at Sparrow PS, such as Kaizen Counseling, Crossroads Christian Counseling, and Meier Clinic.

Will I (my child) always have to take medication?
For some people, taking medications is temporary, while for others, it is not. Mental illness is similar to diabetes in that for some people, healthy habits can control diabetes through diet and exercise. For others, insulin is needed to keep the person alive. There are still other people who take medications for a time until their diet and exercise have produced a change in their bodies so that the medications are no longer needed. The same is true for mental illness. Some people have situational illness that can be treated by non-medical interventions such as counseling and healthy mental habits. Others have illness that is treated medically for a season. Still others require medications to maintain their mental health. Generally speaking, the more severe the illness and the longer it remains, the more likely the person will need medication to function.

If I take medication for my mental illness, does it mean that I don’t have faith?
There are many causes of mental illness. They can be spiritual, emotional, social and biological. Depression can be caused by diabetes, heart problems, disobedience to God, abuse, and isolation, to name a few. In each case, the treatment depends on the cause of the depression or the mental illness. God’s healing can be spiritual, social, emotional, physical, or a combination. Even the willingness to take medications may represent a willingness to accept help and a dependence that God is requiring for healing. God directs the healing.

My child has been diagnosed with an autism-spectrum disorder. What is next?
St. Louis is fortunate to have Touch Point (formerly Judevine), one of the country’s leading autism centers. Call Touch Point for autism evaluations and treatment.

Is there a group to assist me as I work with Special School District?
MPACT helps parents as they work with SSD. It is listed on the links.

What is a formulary?
The list of medications that your insurance covers is called its formulary. Most formularies have 3 tiers with differing co-payments. Tier 1 contains generic and cheaper name brand medications and has the lowest co-payment. Tier 2 contains preferred non-generic medications. Tier 3 contains non-preferred, non-generic medications and has the highest co-payment. Many insurance companies have their formulary on their websites, so you can look up a specific medication. You can also look up the section listing psychiatric medications. If your formulary does not have a psychiatry section, medication groups typically prescribed by a psychiatrist are: antidepressants, neuroleptics/antipsychotics, stimulants, mood stabilizers/anticonvulsants, and sedative-hypnotics. The Client Only section has a list of specific medications, although as medications are introduced, both the formulary that you were given back when you signed up for the insurance plan and this website may not have the latest medications.