Frequently Asked Questions

 

CLINICAL CARE

 

1. When will the clinic close?

 

In-person appointments will end on Friday, November 13th.

 

After that, all appointments must take place via telehealth. Final telehealth appointments must occur by Friday, December 18th.

 

Only crisis-related appointments will be available between December 19th and December 31st. If your (or your child’s) clinician is not available during all or part of that time, they can help create a crisis plan, including the option to contact the national mental health hotline, 988.

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The clinic's final day of operations will be Thursday, December 31st, 2026. 

 

We strongly encourage you to begin making a transition plan now to minimize any delays or disruptions to your or your child’s treatment.

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2. Will my clinician continue seeing me until the clinic closes?

 

Yes. Your clinician will discuss your individual treatment plan and let you know if there are any changes to your appointments. If your clinician will be leaving before the clinic closes, you will be contacted directly and given information about the transition of your care.

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3. What happens to my upcoming appointments?

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Please continue to attend your scheduled appointments. As we approach the closing date, your clinician or our administrative team will contact you regarding any appointments that need to be changed and your plan for continuing care.

 

4. What will happen to my treatment after the clinic closes?

 

Your clinician will work with you to determine the most appropriate next step. Depending on your circumstances, this may include:

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• Continuing treatment with your clinician at another practice

• Transitioning to another clinician or practice

• Receiving referrals to other qualified providers

• Concluding treatment if that is clinically appropriate

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The following referral information may be helpful:

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• Psychotherapy

  • Adults or Children

    • Renewed Freedom Center

    • Clarity CBT

    • Westside DBT

    • Spectrum Psych LA

    • UCLA Psychology Clinic

  • Children

    • WaveMind Clinic

  • Adults

    • Spectrum CBT

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• Psychiatry

  • Adults or Children

    • Remedy Psychiatry

    • Lifestance Health

    • Mind Study Center

    • UCLA Psychiatry

    • USC Psychiatry

  • Adults

    • Regeneration Psychiatry

    • Home-LA

  • Children

    • Family Therapeutics

    • Dr. Tarik Hadzic

    • Mental Fitness Clinic

    • Mental Health Center

 

5. Can I continue seeing my current clinician after SMHC closes?

 

Maybe. Some clinicians may continue practicing elsewhere after SMHC closes. If your clinician is available to continue your care outside of our practice, they will discuss that option with you directly.

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6. What if I want to find a different clinician?

 

You are welcome to choose a different provider. Your clinician and our administrative team will do what we can to assist you with referrals and transition planning. If you have specific preferences—for example, location, specialty, in-person availability—please let your or your child's clinician know so they can take those factors into account when discussing referral options.

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7. What should I do if I have an urgent mental-health concern?

 

Prior to December 31st:  Please contact your or your child’s clinician regarding any urgent or emergent needs. You may always call or text the national mental health hotline, 988, or call 911, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

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After December 31st:  The clinic will not be available for emergency or crisis care. If you or your child experience a mental health emergency after that date, please immediately call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call/text 988 for the national mental health hotline. For non-emergency clinical concerns after the clinic closes, please follow the treatment or referral plan established with your clinician.

 

PSYCHIATRY

 

8. What happens if I take medication?

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If you receive medication through SMHC, please continue taking your medications as prescribed and continue attending appointments unless your clinician tells you otherwise. Your prescribing clinician will work with you to ensure that there is an appropriate plan for medication management during the transition, including prescriptions and follow-up care as needed.

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Your prescribing clinician will work with you to ensure that there is an appropriate plan for medication management during the transition, including prescriptions and follow-up care as needed. To assist in the transition, SMHC prescribers may be able to provide a bridge supply of up to three (3) months’ worth of prescriptions after the final appointment, when clinically appropriate. For example, a patient whose final appointment is on December 11th, 2026 could in some cases be prescribed a supply of medication lasting through March 10th, 2027. This window cannot be extended.

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Please do not wait until the clinic's final week to address medication needs. The holiday season will make it challenging to fill prescriptions or to confirm alternative arrangements in a timely manner.

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RECORDS

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9. What happens to my medical records?

 

​To request a copy of your or your child’s records, or arrange for records to be sent to another provider, please contact us at info@stratusmhc.com. For us to release records to any third party, you must either sign an authorization to release information on the Stratus Portal, or send a signed authorization from the receiving clinician’s office. Health records will be maintained for the applicable required duration. For adults this is a period of seven (7) years. For children, it is the longer of seven (7) years or until the child’s 19th birthday.

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After December 31st, 2026, you can obtain a copy of your or your child’s records by sending an email to Records@stratusmhc.com; please include the phrase “Records Request” in the subject line. 

 

BILLING

 

10. What happens to my outstanding balance?

 

Beginning in mid-November, SMHC will bill patients and families on the new weekly schedule that was announced in September. Billing will continue normally through the end of December or until the account is settled. If there are any outstanding balances after December 31st, SMHC staff will reach out to determine a payment plan. If you have questions about your account, please contact Michelle Lynn at mlynn@stratusmhc.com.

 

11. What if my account has a credit on it?

 

Credits will be addressed as they arise. For questions about your account or any outstanding balance, please contact our assistant Michelle Lynn at mlynn@stratusmhc.com.

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OTHER

 

12. Whom should I contact if I have other questions?

 

For questions about your individual treatment or transition plan, please contact your or your child's clinician directly.

 

For any other administrative, scheduling, billing, or records questions, please contact Michelle Lynn at 424-229-2134 or mlynn@stratusmhc.com