Second Opinions on Mental Health Treatment
A careful second look at your diagnosis and treatment plan, in person in West Ashley or by secure video across South Carolina.
When a Second Opinion Can Help
We offer second opinion consultations for people who are unhappy with their current treatment or who have not responded to earlier treatment. Common reasons include a plan that does not seem to be working, concerns about side effects or about how treatments interact, and questions about whether a diagnosis is right.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) points out that no single treatment suits everyone, and that finding what works may mean seeing more than one provider and trying different treatments or combinations. NIMH also says plainly that you can seek a second opinion from another provider.
Speaking Up About Your Current Treatment
If a suggested treatment makes you uncomfortable, or you do not know much about it, NIMH encourages you to say so and to ask what other options there are. For talk therapy, NIMH suggests that if you have been going for what feels like a reasonable time and are not getting better, you raise it with your therapist and, if needed, look at other approaches or other professionals.
For medication, NIMH notes that medicines affect people in different ways, that it often takes time for one to work, and that finding the right fit can take a few tries. It also warns that stopping a medication too soon can cause unpleasant or harmful side effects, so any change should be made with the provider who manages it rather than on your own.
What the Evaluation Covers
A second opinion starts with a 45 to 60 minute evaluation with a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. Your provider reviews your full treatment history, including what you have tried, what helped, what did not and why you stopped, along with your current symptoms, your medical history and your family's mental health history.
Your diagnosis is reassessed by a qualified clinician using the DSM-5-TR, the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual, and you leave with clear recommendations you can act on. If lab work would help, it is drawn at a local lab near you.
What to Bring
NIMH suggests writing your questions and concerns down before the visit and bringing a list of everything you take, including over-the-counter products, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements. Bring any earlier evaluation records you have, along with notes on what you have tried and how it went.
It also helps to know your family's mental health history; NIMH explains that sharing it can help a provider look for ways to lower your risk and watch for early warning signs. NIMH adds that a friend or relative can come with you to offer support, take notes and help you remember what was said. Some people meet with the provider alone first and invite that person in when treatment is discussed.
After the Second Opinion
You decide what happens next. You can take the recommendations back to your current provider, or continue care with us. Medication management and individual counseling are both available here, and medication, when indicated, is decided jointly with you. With your permission, we share the plan with your primary care provider.
If a therapy approach we do not offer would suit you better, such as a dedicated DBT, ERP or EMDR program, your provider can help coordinate a referral.
In Person or by Video
Second opinion visits are available by secure video anywhere in South Carolina and at our office on Gardner Road in West Ashley, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. No referral is needed for most insurance plans. Some HMO plans may require one. Call us with your insurance details and we will verify before scheduling.
If Things Are Getting Worse
A second opinion is for planning care, not for emergencies. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, any time of day. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Hope Behavioral Medicine is not an emergency service.
Getting Care in the Charleston Area
Charleston County has about one mental health provider for every 214 residents, compared with one for every 437 across South Carolina. Our office is on Gardner Road in West Ashley, and we also see adults anywhere in South Carolina by secure video, so you do not have to wait for a local opening or take time off to drive.
We accept Medicare, most major commercial plans, and all South Carolina Medicaid managed care plans except Select Health (First Choice). New patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment.
Sources
The facts on this page come from: National Institute of Mental Health, Tips for Talking With a Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health; National Institute of Mental Health, Mental Health Medications (reviewed December 2023); National Institute of Mental Health, Psychotherapies (reviewed February 2024); CMS National Provider Identification file, 2024, via County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025.
Treatment Options
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Frequently Asked Questions
A board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner reviews your treatment history, reassesses your diagnosis and gives you clear recommendations.
No. NIMH warns that stopping a medication too soon can cause unpleasant or harmful side effects. Make any change with the provider who manages your treatment.
Yes. We offer second opinion visits by secure video anywhere in South Carolina, and in person at our West Ashley office.
A list of everything you take, including supplements, any earlier evaluation records, your questions written down and notes on what you have tried and how it went.
We accept Medicare, most major commercial plans, and all South Carolina Medicaid managed care plans except Select Health (First Choice). Call us with your insurance details and we will verify before scheduling.