Question 1

What does Afya mean?

Accepted Answer

Afya (Swahili/Arabic)~Health (the state of being free from and of physical or psychological dis-ease, illness, or malfunction); Wholeness of mind, body, and spirit!

Question 2

Why do you focus on serving Black Americans?

Accepted Answer

The mission: You BE the empowered resource and director of your health-not dependent on others for their health.

This, in turn, means that you have to BE AFYA~BE You. BE Health. BE Whole in mind, body & spirit. Prosper in ALL ways, always.

However, the disparities in healthcare quality, experiences, and health outcomes (i.e., the results of racial trauma and cultural stigma) continue to be unique to Black Americans, proving that Black American patients aren't afforded the same quality access, considerations, or opportunities to BE AFYA!

Although we might hate to admit that racism exists (past, present, and future if nothing changes), the receipts keep showing up. We serve all patients, but we center Black American mental, physical, & spiritual health, well-being, and prosperity.

Question 3

How do you incorporate faith into treatment?

Accepted Answer

My job as a clinician is to know, respect, and consider the emotional, mental, physical, and lifestyle health facts and impact.

As a faith-integrated clinician, my job also involves knowing, respecting, and considering the Spiritual truths.

How this could look practically is that we call depression, depression, and treat it as such. In addition, we ensure that your identity aligns with I AM, not depression, and live as such!

Depression is depression-nothing more, nothing less. You are YOU, meaning depression is not you, nor does it mean there is something wrong with you, which are common beliefs, or stigmas, that are still commonly held on to in the U.S.A., especially within Black American culture and society, often resulting in poor health outcomes, premature and preventable death.

Question 4

How does your functional & integrative approach differ from conventional psychiatry?

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based functional & integrative psychiatry can be described as psychiatry that seeks out, addresses, and treats the root causes of dis-ease, rather than only addressing and treating the symptoms. This approach also results in dis-ease prevention rather than waiting for the disease to occur. It is a whole person approach.

Conventional psychiatry primarily focuses on disease management or symptom-based treatment by way of medication management.

Question 5

🩺 What conditions do you treat at your clinic?

Accepted Answer

Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Binge Eating Disorder, Insecure Attachment, and co-existing and co-occurring dis-eases and experiences such as Obesity, Dysfunctional Relationships, etc.,

Question 6

🧪 What lab testing do you recommend and why?

Accepted Answer

I practice from a root cause & wholistic point of view. Therefore, I recommend labs that will assist in providing the necessary information, such as but not limited to a CBC, CMP, Vitamin D 25-OH, Zinc, Magnesium, CoQ10, homocysteine, and more advanced subspecialty labs, including amino acids, GI-MAP, and GeneSight Psychotropic tests.

Question 7

💊 Do you prescribe medications?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely!!!! We practice evidence-based medicine! 
Medications are effective and necessary resources for treating diseases and illnesses, having saved and continuing to save the lives of many. Medicine is a blessing!

However, medication management is just one of the many treatment approaches, considering my practice is a culture, faith, and lifestyle as medicine-integrated, root cause psychiatry and preventative medicine clinic!

Therefore, we definitely prescribe medications and physical activity, sleep, rest, food, etc.,

Question 8

What prescription medications do you recommend and why?

Accepted Answer

I recommend and prescribe medications based on the specific and unique needs and considerations of the person in front of me. For example, some may not be a good fit for a patient at the genetic/DNA level, meaning they either will not work or might even cause negative side effects. This is why I practice in a manner that considers race and culture, in addition to other aspects, as it is ALL crucial information when the desired outcome is remission, not just "better".

What prescription medications do I like that tend to work, have a relatively low negative side effect profile, and a preferred positive side effect profile?

Trintellix, Auvelity, Jornay, Qelbree, Adderall,  Caplyta, Vraylar, Crestor, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, to name a few.

Question 9

Do you accept insurance? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

No, because we do not practice insurance-driven, conventional psychiatry, which results in suboptimal healthcare and health experiences and outcomes.

We instead practice subspecialty premium and personalized, comprehensive root cause & wholistic psychiatry, which is a rare find, often resulting in better healthcare experiences and sustained health outcomes.

Therefore, our clinic is not for everybody, especially if conventional or basic psychiatry care, such as medication management only, or the use of insurance is desired.

Our clinic provides boutique subspecialty services, therefore requiring a premium investment (of belief, thought, time, intention, practice, work, and finances) to work with us, resulting in premium outcomes.

Question 10

Since you do not accept insurance and I have to pay out of pocket, can I get reimbursed?

Accepted Answer

Correct, we do not accept insurance, and because we are a rare, subspecialty premium clinic, the financial investment is on the higher or "expensive" end, but premium health and life investments result in premium health and life results.

However, various payment options are always available- FSA/HSA, credit, debit, and ACH.

Additionally, we recommend submitting a superbill to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. This means that your insurer will reimburse you a set percentage of your payments, based on their pre-established amount. This percentage could be 10% or 100%.

Therefore, we recommend checking with your insurer before making a decision, if necessary, and inquiring about their out-of-network reimbursement rates for medical and psychiatric services.

Question 11

💯How do you help patients BE the resource of their health rather than be dependent on the healthcare system?

Accepted Answer

Again, the mission is that you BE AFYA~BE You. BE Health. BE Whole in mind, body & spirit. Prosper in ALL ways, always...regardless of situations and circumstances.

Why? Well, I want you to tell me-what happens or could happen when the situation or circumstance changes? You get a new doctor? You lose your job? You get misinformation about vaccinations?

You've probably guessed correctly that if you are dependent on something else, that something else has control over you.

We are not about that life at this clinic. Therefore, our clinic is structured differently, in a program format that involves clinic and supplemental group education to improve healthcare & health literacy, because when we know better, we ARE better, which results in us doing better and having better.

Question 12

Is there self-care work (homework) between sessions?

Accepted Answer

Yep!! Our clinic is structured differently to provide a more comprehensive experience to result in the best outcomes. Our desire is for you to be the resource of your health, in control of your health, and not dependent on others for your health. 
Therefore, YOU have to BE directly involved in your health, doing the work to have the best results! So, yes, self-care work between sessions is a requirement!

Question 13

What common outcomes do people who participate in premium, root cause & wholistic medicine & psychiatry services experience?

Accepted Answer

Some common outcomes include but are not limited to: Reduction and/or remission of symptoms (e.g. weight, depressed mood, inflammation, ADHD, anxiety, etc.,), reduction and/or discontinuation of medications, reduced medication side effects, reduced medication trial & error, improved energy, improved sleep, improved exercise capacity, improved & healthy relationships, secure attachment style, improved ability to and confidence when communicating, self-advocacy, knowledge and understanding of diagnoses, directly involved in treatment, use of nutrition, sleep, stress management, avoidance of substances, positive relationships and faith as "medicine", open & honest discussion as it relates to race & culture, early recognition and/or prevention of chronic disease & premature death,  etc.,

Question 14

📍Do I have to live in Virginia?

Accepted Answer

No, you can be a resident of any state.

You can live in Maryland, Washington D.C., Kentucky, Tennessee, or North Carolina, but please note that you must be in Virginia during our appointments.

However, you can actively participate in our BE AFYA Community from anywhere. More information on that is coming soon! Subscribe to get the update!!

Question 15

What supplements do you like as it pertains to mental and physical health maintainence and disease prevention?

Accepted Answer

BioActive Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2, Omega-3, Magnesium Bisglycinate, Magnesium L-Threonate, CoQ10, Turmeric with Bioperine.

I recommend high-quality supplements from high-quality supplement dispensaries, as not all supplements are equal. For example, check the back of your Vitamin B Complex. Look for Folic Acid....👀

Hopefully, you were unable to find "folic acid" and instead found folate (L-methyltetrahydrofolate), the active version of folate rather than the synthetic version folic acid.

These are the not-so-small, after all, BIG things that can make ALL the difference when it comes to both mental health and physical health.

Question 16

✨What kind of person or patient experiences the best outcomes with your services?

Accepted Answer

✨ Understands the assignment~ KNOW The Truth. BE (Aligned With) Truth. DO Differently. HAVE That (Afya) Life! 
 
✨ Is the Standard!-Family, Community, Business, and/or Professional Game Changers, Role Models, and Leaders

✨ Is bold, proactive, engaged, accountable, and a go-getter who adjusts accordingly and keeps moving!-Because they know that life happens, and life stops only when they do.

✨ Desires to get their mind, body, and life right (e.g., mood, anxiety, ADHD, binge eating, etc.), avoid unnecessary medication(s) & treatment(s), and PROSPER (THRIVE) by first considering their unique DNA and story, and integrating thier culture, faith, and lifestyle as medicine, too!

✨ Ready to BE the empowered resource and director of their health.

If any of this sounds like you, then YOU are it!

Question 17

I'm ready to begin my BE AFYA Journey! What do I do next?

Accepted Answer

A key part of our mission is that YOU BE the empowered resource and director of your health! This means that you are the MAIN actor and we play the supporting roles. There is a significant investment to work with us, with the most significant investment being YOU.

Therefore, we encourage you to do your due diligence and first determine if you need, desire, or are ready for our level of service, or if there are things you could be doing with your current healthcare provider.

We want you to make a well-informed decision!

So, your next and first step to begin working with us is to take the 💡Keep That Same Energy Check!

The AFYA Effect!

Boutique Concierge Psychiatry + Preventative Medicine For Black (African) American Game Changers! Centered On You-Rooted In Science. Culture. Faith. Lifestyle.

3 John 1:2

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