Do you take insurance?

In California, care is private pay and we provide a detailed superbill on every visit that you can submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement. In New Jersey, we accept Horizon BCBS NJ, Aetna NJ, Cigna, and Evernorth. We confirm your specific plan and benefits during intake.

Will I see Dr. Ramy or a colleague?

California patients are seen by Dr. Ramy on a concierge basis. In New Jersey, most adults are seen by Katherine Halpern, our Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Children and adolescents under eighteen are seen by Dr. Ramy, and Dr. Ramy provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol or opioid use. We confirm who you'll see on your intake call.

As long as your care needs. A first evaluation runs longer because there is more to understand. After that, some follow-ups take a focused fifteen minutes and others take longer. We do not force every visit into the same block of time, and we do not pad a visit just to fill a slot.

Do you prescribe controlled medications?

Yes, when clinically appropriate and within the law. The rules depend on the medication, your age, and your state. New Jersey is telehealth only for us, and the rules require an in-person relationship before an adult can be prescribed certain controlled medications, including stimulants for adult ADHD. For that reason we do not treat adult ADHD with stimulants in New Jersey; adults who need that care are seen in California. New Jersey children and adolescents under eighteen can be treated for ADHD, including stimulants, entirely by secure video with a parent or guardian's written consent. We also offer medication-assisted treatment for alcohol and opioid use. We explain exactly what applies to you on your intake call before anything is prescribed.

How quickly can I be seen?

California patients are seen on a concierge basis, often within a day, though exact timing varies with demand. New Jersey patients are scheduled promptly, usually within about two weeks. Appointments are available evenings and weekends in both states. We confirm the soonest option on your intake call. Sigma is not an emergency or 24/7 service.

What if I am in crisis?

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency department. Sigma Psychiatry is not an emergency service and is not available 24/7.

Sigma Psychiatry | Psychiatry that takes you seriously

Premium psychiatric care is a when you’re in the right place

You’re more than a diagnosis. Your symptoms matter, but so do your story, your stress, your family, and the ten other things life throws in, because apparently we needed side quests. We look at the full picture, make sense of the pattern, and build the next step.

Fifteen minutes, free, no commitment: a real conversation to see if we’re the right fit.

Physician-founded Licensed in CA & NJ Evenings & weekends Replies within one business day

Dr. Ramy Elsawah, Founder of Sigma Psychiatry

Meet the Founder

Dr. Ramy lsawah

Licensed Psychiatrist: Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry

How I Operate

I actually listen. I want to know you as a person, not reduce you to a diagnosis. We’ll sit down together and make sense of what’s happening, including your story, your struggles, and what matters most to you. Then I’ll build a plan with you, tailored to you as an individual.

My approach is straightforward. I’ll give you my recommendation, explain the alternatives, and we’ll decide together based on your goals and comfort level. Medication isn’t always necessary, and I won’t recommend it unless I genuinely believe it can make a meaningful difference in your life. You have a choice in how you move through treatment. My job is to listen, be reliable and consistent, and be excellent at what I do.

What I believe

Sigma isn’t just a word kids throw around online. It’s the sum of all things within itself, and my practice is built on that idea. You are the sum of your experiences, your emotions, your choices, and your perspective. With the right approach, you can add real, positive value to that sum and change the quality of your life. In order to change your situation, you must change that which is within yourself. That’s where I come in.

Read Dr. Ramy’s full bio

Dr. Ramy

Meet Katherine

Katherine Halpern

Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)

Who she sees

Katherine sees most adults in New Jersey, treating a wide range of concerns with thoughtful, individualized care that meets people where they are. Children, adolescents, and adults who need medication-assisted treatment are seen by Dr. Ramy; if that’s the better fit for your situation, we’ll tell you honestly and route you accordingly.

Where she comes from

Her career began in the Pediatric ICU at Westchester Medical Center and continued through organ donation, years spent guiding families through medically and emotionally complex moments. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing and her PMHNP certification from Pace University, and has treated patients across acute inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings.

She listens closely, treats people as partners in their own care, and brings the same advocacy to the screen that she brought to the bedside.

Read Katherine’s full bio

Katherine

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