Anxiety Treatment in Kansas
If worry, panic or nervousness has started to shape your days — what you avoid, how you sleep, how your body feels — this page explains how I evaluate and treat anxiety and what happens afterward. I'm Aliyah Ellis, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I see patients in person at my office in Olathe, Kansas and by telehealth anywhere in the state, from age 13 up.
Types of anxiety I treat
Generalized anxiety — worry that's hard to switch off, often with restlessness, muscle tension, irritability or trouble sleeping.
Panic attacks and panic disorder — sudden surges of fear with a racing heart, shortness of breath or dizziness, and the dread of the next one.
Social anxiety — fear of being judged in conversations, meetings or performance situations, often to the point of avoiding them.
OCD — intrusive, unwanted thoughts and the compulsions or rituals that try to quiet them.
PTSD — the lasting effects of trauma, such as nightmares, feeling constantly on edge, or avoiding reminders of what happened.
Anxiety rarely shows up alone. Depression, ADHD, burnout and poor sleep often travel with it, and I look at the whole picture rather than one piece of it.
What an evaluation involves
Your first appointment is a comprehensive evaluation, focused on understanding the full picture before I make any recommendations. We'll talk about when the anxiety started, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects work, school, relationships and sleep. We'll also go over your physical health and any medications you take, since these can sometimes play a part.
I don't rush appointments, and you'll always have room to ask questions and be part of decisions about your care.
What treatment can look like
Treatment for anxiety isn't a synonym for medication, though medication is often part of it.
Medication management, when it's appropriate. My approach is conservative — I consider medications carefully and only when they truly support your goals, and I'll explain my reasoning rather than simply hand you a prescription.
GeneSight pharmacogenetic testing, when knowing how you metabolize a medication would change the choice.
Brief psychotherapy and skills work in our sessions — practical tools for worry, panic and avoidance.
Referral for ongoing therapy. When weekly therapy would help more than what fits into our visits, I'll refer you to a therapist and continue seeing you for the psychiatric side of your care.
Sleep, exercise and routine — changes that sound small but make a real difference to how anxious your body feels day to day.
I also take an education-focused approach, so you understand your diagnosis, your options, and what to expect along the way.
For teenagers and their families
I see patients from age 13. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian needs to be present for the first appointment — both for consent and because a caregiver's view of school, home and the last few years adds to the evaluation.
Cost and insurance
I'm currently in network with Aetna, Ascension (Smart Health), BCBS of Kansas, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna and Quest Behavioral Health. Credentialing is in progress with BCBS of Kansas City, Oscar (Optum), Oxford (Optum) and UnitedHealthcare (Optum).
If you're paying out of pocket, you'll receive a written Good Faith Estimate of what your care will cost before it begins — that's your right under federal law, and the details are on my policies page.
Common questions
Will you prescribe Xanax, Klonopin or another benzodiazepine?
Rarely. I don't routinely prescribe benzodiazepines. In select cases, after a careful evaluation, I may use one short-term, but they aren't a long-term treatment for anxiety in my practice.
The first appointment is an evaluation, not a prescription visit. If medication turns out to be the right step, you'll understand why before anything is prescribed.
Do I have to take medication?
No. Medication is one option, not a requirement. Some people do best with skills work and therapy, some with medication, and many with both. We'll decide together, and you're always part of that decision.
Can anxiety be treated over telehealth?
Yes. An evaluation is a conversation about your symptoms and history, and nothing about it requires being in the same room. For some people with anxiety, skipping the drive and the waiting room makes it easier to get started. If you'd rather meet face to face, I also see patients at my Olathe office.
What if I also have depression or ADHD?
That's common, and it's a reason to see someone who treats all of them. Depression, ADHD, burnout and mood-related concerns are treated here too — you can read more about my depression treatment and ADHD evaluation and treatment.
Do you see patients outside Kansas?
No. I see patients in person in Olathe and by telehealth only to patients physically located in Kansas at the time of their appointment.
What if I'm in crisis?
Telehealth psychiatry isn't emergency care. If you're in danger, call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency department. My emergency disclaimer explains this in full.
Getting started
If this sounds like the kind of care you're looking for, you can book directly — in person at my Olathe office, or by telehealth from anywhere in Kansas, whichever suits you. You're also welcome to read more about my services and medication management, or about my approach, first.