Our clinic is intentionally centered on the health experiences of Black (African) Americans because the data is undeniable: Black men, women, and children face dismissal, misdiagnosis, and delayed treatment at alarming rates, even when presenting with the same symptoms as other patients. Studies show

For example, Black women specifically are 50% less likely to have their pain adequately treated, face significantly higher maternal mortality rates, and experience autoimmune conditions at higher rates, with longer delays in diagnosing and treatment!

No, you don't have to be Black to be a patient here. However, you (everyone) do need to align with our practice philosophy:

✔️You believe that your symptoms deserve thorough investigation, not dismissal.

✔️You're done with being told "your labs are normal" when you know something is off!

✔️You want a provider who sees you as a whole person, not a prescription pad opportunity.

✔️You value evidence-based medicine that gets to root causes.

✔️You respect that cultural competency matters in healthcare outcomes.

Our clinical protocols, root-cause investigation methods, and commitment to dignity apply to everyone. Our deep understanding of how systemic bias shows up in healthcare, based on statistical evidence, professional and personal experience, and our refusal to replicate it, benefits everyone who walks through our (virtual) doors.

Black (African) Americans are centered here because we've been deprioritized everywhere else, and our lives matter!

So, if you understand, appreciate, and respect why we do what we do and who we center, regardless of your background, you're welcome at The AFYA Effect Family Healthcare Services!

No, we do not take insurance for our program, The Journey Back To AFYA.

I provide premium, direct-pay healthcare because insurance-based medicine does not allow the time, depth, or investigative approach required for complex mental and physical health concerns.

Most of the work I do, such as comprehensive evaluations, functional testing and/or interpretation, education, lifestyle and preventive medicine, culturally centered care, is either not covered or poorly reimbursed by insurance.

Not accepting insurance allows me to get results.

Insurance can be used to cover labs, imaging studies, referrals to other specialists, and prescriptions, as per your insurance coverage and benefits.

We do provide a Super Bill that you can submit directly to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement

Because 15-minute appointments cannot solve multi-system problems.

My patients are often those who’ve already done “everything right” and still don’t have answers.

Getting to answers requires:

Longer and/or frequent access
Deeper investigation
Thoughtful interpretation
Ongoing partnership

Direct-pay care gives us the time and flexibility to do that properly.

Accepted forms of payment include: HSA/FSA/Credit/Debit/ACH

I practice functional and integrative psychiatry, grounded in:

Evidence-based medicine
Lifestyle and preventive medicine
Whole-person investigation

Mental health is not treated separately from physical health. Therefore, I consider:

-Inflammation
-Hormones
-Gut-brain health
-Micronutrients
-Genetics
-Lifestyle, stress, trauma
-Culture, faith, and lived experience

This is not symptom suppression care or disease-focused care. This is root-cause investigation, through a whole-person care approach.

Testing is guided by your clinical presentation, not a one-size-fits-all panel.

Depending on your needs, this may include:

🧪Advanced metabolic and inflammatory markers
🧪Micronutrient assessment
🧪Hormonal evaluation (DUTCH, etc.)
🧪Gut health testing (GI-MAP)
🧪Genetic considerations (3x4 Genetics, GeneSight, Genomind, MTHFR, COMT, etc.)

Testing recommendations are always explained, intentional, and evidence-informed.

YES!!

Remember, we practice evidence-based medicine, as we DO believe in science!

Therefore, our clinic is not anti-medication.
It is anti–recommendations without investigation.

Medications, when appropriate, ARE used to stabilize symptoms while we work to understand why those symptoms exist and how best to address them long-term.

Yes, my work is faith-integrated. However, it is not faith-imposed, which is an important distinction! Religious trauma is indeed a thing!

We do believe (in) Jesus, and accurate Biblical teachings. We honor spirituality and faith as components of whole-person health for those who desire that integration.

If faith is meaningful to you, it can be part of your care. If it’s not, your care remains respectful and professional.

This care is best for you if:

👉🏾You’ve been dismissed, minimized, labeled “complex” or "treatment resistant."
👉🏾You want answers, not just symptom management
👉🏾You value depth, education, and partnership
👉🏾You’re willing to be an active participant in your care
👉🏾You’re ready for investigation, not quick fixes

👉🏾You want to see where your health currently stands, or want a second opinion, by way of a comprehensive evaluation

This may not be the right fit if:

🛑You’re looking for a single prescription or supplement to fix everything
🛑You want brief, transactional appointments
🛑You’re not open to lifestyle, preventive, or systems-based care
🛑You’re not ready to engage beyond symptom suppression

🛑You don't believe in science and evidence-based medicine

🛑You are in a mental or physical health crisis, as in need of acute and/or urgent and/or emergent medicine and psychiatry services

This isn’t judgment, it’s alignment, and healthy relationships can only exist when alignment exists!

The clarity consultation is a clarity conversation, not a medical visit.

We will:

IDENTIFY potential drivers of the persistent, negative mental (or physical) health-related symptoms you've been experiencing; and

DETERMINE the next best step on your journey, whether that is working with us via our investigative medicine & psychiatry program, Journey (Back) To AFYA.

If we’re aligned, we’ll talk about next steps: The Journey Back To AFYA!
If we’re not, you'll know intuitively, and I'll confirm.

The better question (or the question behind the question) is "Am I worth it?"...but that's another discussion for another time.

However, to help (re)frame your question, I want you to ask yourself:

1. How much have I already invested (time, money, relationships, educational, professional, or business advancement, dreams deferred, etc.) on care that didn’t help?
2. What has it cost me to stay stuck professionally, mentally, physically, relationally, etc.?
3. What would clarity and a real plan be worth to me?

This care is an investment in understanding, not guesswork. In addition, to avoid jumping ALL in before truly ready, we start with the 💡Insight To AFYA INVESTIGATION (MAP & INVESTIGATE). The option to proceed into the entire Journey Back To AFYA is only recommended when and if it makes sense, based on true need and readiness.

1. Click on and read: ➡️ 📁When "Nothing" Works, And Nobody Explains Why Clinical Literacy Briefing

2. Read or watch our pinned video "The Uninvestigated"!
3. Review the “Who This Is NOT For” sections of this page or FAQs
4. Reflect on whether investigative care aligns with what you want or need at this moment in time

Then...DECIDE!

You ARE ready once you DECIDE!

You don’t need convincing, as the decisions we make as adults are and must be our own.

If you’ve read through this and feel relief, not resistance, that’s your signal.

Apply for your 💡Clarity Consultation by clicking the button below!