Tailored mental health care, designed just for you.
My services
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be a transformative experience that helps you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your relationships, and your place in the world. It's an opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a safe and supportive environment, and to develop the tools and insights you’ll need to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience. Whether you're seeking to address a specific issue or simply looking to improve your overall mental health and well-being, I am here to support you every step of the way. With compassionate guidance and evidence-based techniques, we'll work together to help you uncover your strengths, identify your goals, and create a path forward that feels fulfilling and true to who you are.
Lifestyle Coaching
Our habits have a direct impact on our mental health. Everything from what we eat and drink to how well we sleep and how much we exercise can play a role in our psychological well-being. That's why I offer lifestyle coaching as part of our holistic approach to mental health. By working together, we can identify areas of your life where small adjustments can lead to significant improvements in your overall health. Whether it's getting more restful sleep, reducing stress, improving your diet, or enhancing your relationships with others, we'll collaborate to create a plan that works for you. My goal is to help you build a lifestyle regimen that not only improves your mental health but also enhances your overall quality of life.
Medication Management
Medications can be an incredibly valuable tool in mental health care. I take a conservative approach to medication management, customizing treatment to find the lowest effective dose that optimizes symptom control while minimizing side effects. I have extensive training and expertise in psychopharmacology and am skilled in managing a wide range of psychiatric conditions and comorbidities. Whether you’re interested in initiating new medications, continuing prior medications, or making modifications to your current regimen, we’ll work together in a supportive partnership to ensure your medications are helping to assist you on your journey toward better mental health and overall well-being.
Collaborative Care Services
I offer collaborative care consultation services for primary care providers and specialists, as well as patients seeking a second opinion. Consultations provide expert guidance in diagnosing and developing management strategies for long-term stability, as well as addressing the interface between physical and mental health. I am committed to working collaboratively with your healthcare team to provide you with the highest level of care and support. All consultations start with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and may require additional follow-ups depending on your needs and complexity.
"Dr. Tatum is a wonderful gift to patients who are fortunate enough to have her as their psychiatrist. It was a privilege to have had the opportunity to work with her."
— Patient
FAQS
-
Our work together will start with a comprehensive 60-minute evaluation, where we will review your past medical and psychiatric history, social context, experiences, strengths, and goals. During this appointment, we will work together to determine the best course of treatment for your individual needs and evaluate potential psychiatric diagnoses.
It may take additional appointments to fully ascertain particular diagnoses, formulate a treatment plan, and ensure I am a good fit for you and vice versa.
I take a holistic approach to care and may request to order labs and tests, or confer with other members of your healthcare team before making treatment plan recommendations. Your input is invaluable to this process.
-
Our follow-up appointments together will help us strengthen our partnership and continue designing a treatment plan best fits your specific goals, circumstances, and values. All follow-ups will be scheduled for 25 minutes or 45 minutes depending on your needs and our treatment plan.
Once we establish a stable and effective treatment regimen, follow-up appointments typically occur every 1-3 months. If you are interested in psychotherapy, weekly visits are encouraged for best results.
-
Confidentiality is an essential aspect of your care. I follow strict ethical and legal guidelines regarding patient privacy. This includes obtaining consent from patients before sharing any information with others, maintaining secure electronic medical records with restricted access, and ensuring all staff are properly trained in handling confidential information. Additionally, I use secure communication methods such as encrypted patient portals to protect patient information.
Please note that in certain situations, I am legally obligated to break confidentiality to ensure your safety or the safety of others. These situations include if you pose an imminent danger to yourself or others, if you disclose abuse or neglect of a minor or a vulnerable adult, or if a court order requires me to release your information. Please know that any disclosure will be made with the utmost care and consideration for your well-being. I will work with you and discuss any potential breach of confidentiality and ensure you are fully informed.
-
You can easily schedule and reschedule appointments using the patient portal. My practice has a 48hr rescheduling policy. Appointments canceled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours advance notice will be charged the full scheduled appointment rate. Missed appointments will also be charged at the full scheduled rate.
-
All patients are given access to my secure, online patient portal. The patient portal allows you to communicate with me, schedule appointments, access your medical records, and receive test results in a confidential and secure manner. The patient portal uses encryption technology to protect your sensitive information, making it harder for hackers to access it.
Phone calls and emails outside of the patient portal are not completely secure and can be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals. Patients who initiate communication using phone/email with sensitive information will bear sole responsibility for any privacy-related outcomes of this communication.
-
I am an out-of-network provider. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits, which means you may be eligible for partial or full reimbursement for your treatment.
To make the reimbursement process as convenient as possible, I will provide you with an invoice that includes the necessary information required by insurance companies to process your claim.
Please note that I cannot accept patients with Medi-Cal or Medicare in my practice. If you have Medi-Cal/Medicare, please see the following resources available in the state of California: Medi-Cal/Medicare Resources.
I am dedicated to increasing access to care. If you have Medi-Cal/Medicare and are a resident of Santa Clara County, you may have an opportunity to work with me through Momentum For Health. Click here for details.
-
Most hospitals offer emergency psychiatric services. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Patient-generated email and text communications are not appropriate for communicating urgent or emergent matters.
-
I provide treatment and support around a number of issues including anxiety, burnout, communication challenges, anger or emotion regulation issues, bipolar disorder, depression, trauma, thought disorders, attention/concentration problems, personality difficulties, relationship conflicts, life transitions, grief or loss, multicultural issues, addiction, psychosis, identity questions, and more. I specialize in young adult and adult psychiatry and work with patients who are 18 years of age and older.