Psychiatry for Wichita, KS — Telehealth
I am Aliyah Ellis, APRN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I practiced in Wichita before opening Ellis Mental Health Co., and I still care for patients there — by telehealth. I want to be clear about that up front: my office is in Olathe, about three hours northeast, so I do not see Wichita patients in person. Everything below is about video visits, who they work well for, and who would be better off with someone local.
If you were my patient in Wichita
If we worked together before I opened my own practice, you do not have to start over with somebody new. I am licensed throughout Kansas and I can pick your care back up over telehealth, with your history already in hand. Call the office at 913-421-3366 and say we have worked together before.
Telehealth, honestly
Video visits work genuinely well for most psychiatric medication management. They do not work for everything. Where I think telehealth is a good fit:
Medication management once a diagnosis is reasonably clear, including ongoing ADHD, anxiety and depression care
People who cannot easily take time off, or who are managing a commute, kids or a shift schedule
Follow-ups, which are mostly conversation and do not need a room
Anyone who has had a long wait for an in-person Wichita appointment and does not want to keep waiting
Where I would rather you see someone in person in Wichita:
If you need care that involves hands-on monitoring, labs drawn in office, injections, or anything requiring a physical exam
If you are in or near crisis, or have had recent psychiatric hospitalizations — you need a local team who can see you quickly
If your situation calls for intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization programming, which is in-person by nature
If you do not have a private space or reliable internet for a video visit; it matters more than people expect
If you fall in the second group, tell me and I will say so plainly on our first call rather than taking you on and being the wrong fit.
What a telehealth visit with me involves
The initial evaluation is about ninety minutes over video. Same conversation I would have in the room: symptom history, what you have tried, physical health, medications, what you are hoping changes. I usually arrive at a diagnosis in that first visit. Follow-ups are shorter.
Treatment can include medication management, GeneSight pharmacogenetic testing when it would change a decision, brief psychotherapy and skills work, or a referral to a Wichita therapist for ongoing weekly therapy while I manage the psychiatric medication side. I am deliberate about controlled substances — I do not prescribe stimulants routinely, I weigh benefit against risk individually, and benzodiazepines are rare and short-term in my practice.
Controlled substances and telehealth
This comes up constantly, so: I can prescribe to Wichita patients by telehealth, and I send prescriptions electronically to your Wichita pharmacy. But I evaluate stimulant and other controlled-substance requests case by case, including transfers from another provider, and the fact that a visit is remote does not make me less careful about it. If you are looking for a quick stimulant prescription, I am not the right provider.
Adolescents
I see teens from age 13 by telehealth. A parent or guardian needs to be present for the first appointment for anyone under 18, which is often simpler at home than in a waiting room.
Insurance
In network: Aetna, Ascension (Smart Health), BCBS of Kansas, BCBS of Kansas City, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, Quest Behavioral Health. These are statewide, so your Wichita coverage works the same as it would in Johnson County. Still credentialing: Oscar, Oxford and UnitedHealthcare (all Optum).
Self-pay is $250 for the initial evaluation and $125 for follow-ups, with a Good Faith Estimate in writing beforehand. Policies page has the rest.
Common questions
Do you have a Wichita office? Not anymore. I practiced in Wichita previously; my office now is in Olathe and Wichita care is telehealth only. If an old listing still shows a Wichita address for me, it is out of date and I am working on getting those corrected.
Can you prescribe to a Wichita pharmacy? Yes, electronically, to whichever pharmacy you use.
Are you a psychiatrist? I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner — PMHNP-BC, MSN from Spring Arbor University, nine years of nursing experience. I diagnose psychiatric conditions and prescribe medication.
Do I ever need to drive to Olathe? No. Wichita patients are telehealth throughout. You are welcome at the office if you happen to be in the area, but it is never required.
What if I am in crisis? Telehealth is not emergency care, and I am three hours away. Call or text 988, or go to an emergency department — Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph and Wesley Medical Center both have emergency services in Wichita. COMCARE of Sedgwick County also operates a local crisis line.
Getting started
Book a telehealth evaluation below, or call 913-421-3366. You can also read about my background or what I offer.