Welcome to Care with
Valentina Djordjevic, MS, PA-C
Being here suggests that you are open to something unconventional, seeking personalized care, and recognizing that dramatic change will involve layered interventions. This is not one-size-fits-all psychiatry. Here is a glimpse into what our work together could look like.
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The Relationship
At the heart of healing is the dynamic we build together.
Effective mental health care begins with an authentic connection, a “right fit” relationship that goes beyond words. A click of compatibility is the start, after which I hope to earn your trust gradually over time.
Beyond medications and diagnoses, what matters most is how we work together, because this collaboration can serve as both a reflection of your internal world and a rehearsal space for new ways of being.
Compatibility matters because this work is hard. There will be difficult conversations and moments of disagreement. Our alignment becomes the foundation that steadies us as we navigate challenges that arise.
The best strategies and medications will fall short if we’re not operating on the same wavelength. Your intuition will tell you if we are. It’s not something to overthink. You’ll know. And, if you’re not feeling it, that’s okay! I will happily refer you to a trusted colleague.
When the dynamic feels aligned, the relationship becomes a space where you feel safe. It allows you to practice vulnerability, take charge of your healing, and advocate for your needs.
While I’m not a perfect person, you can expect me to show up with curiosity, empathy, and consistency. I’ll ask you to come as you are. Bring your clarity or your chaos, and everything in between. Whatever you have/are/feel/think today is enough. That’s where the work begins.
The Process
My approach is an exploration of the “bigger picture.” I strive to look beyond the diagnoses you may have acquired. I’m more interested in your lived experience and how you’ve responded, and continue to respond, to different treatments.
Diagnoses can be helpful in certain cases. Sometimes, they put a name to an underlying pattern of symptoms, providing a framework that can guide care. They’re required for billing health insurance. They can also offer a sense of validation, a name for a pain, and a vehicle for self-compassion. But they aren’t the whole story.
My interpretation of an individual’s clinical condition goes beyond any diagnostic label. My impressions develop and constantly evolve as we gather information. Important pieces of the puzzle include formative experiences, current and past symptoms, responses to therapies (including psychoactive substances and nonpharmacological approaches), lifestyle factors, and laboratory results.
The purpose of our meetings is to exchange information. Everything is information, and information guides treatment recommendations. As we learn more over time, care plans become more personalized, nuanced, and comprehensive.
Integrative psychiatry is a specialty within mental health care that combines traditional treatments with complementary practices, providing a broader range of options that work synergistically to achieve more sustainable and lasting results.
Various treatment options include prescription medication management, psychotherapy exercises, over-the-counter supplements, nutritional counseling, and coordination of specific neuromodulating therapies.
Progress in this kind of work is rarely immediate. Growth doesn’t unfold in a straight line. It unfolds with advancement and regression, climbing and falling back. Gradually, small shifts accumulate into a profound transformation when we turn and look back in time.
The flow of appointments is intentionally flexible and responsive to your evolving needs.
Some sessions will require a detailed exploration of your symptoms to guide precise medication adjustments. Other sessions might feel more like therapy, as we discuss feelings and beliefs associated with key life events or relational patterns.
My goal is to create an environment that encourages your engagement. While I may make recommendations, I strive to be impartial to the results. I care just as much about what isn’t working as I do about what is.
We’ll have open discussions about various treatment options and their associated risks and benefits. I’ll look to you for input. This doesn’t mean that I’m always going to prescribe you the medication that you think you need.
At times, my role may be to safeguard your future health by protecting you from ‘fast and easy’ solutions that ultimately impede your growth. Setting you on a path toward holistic health and wellbeing is my priority, and this can lead to disappointment if my clinical impressions and judgments don’t align with your desired direction.
Not every tool is appropriate for every moment. Depending on how you’re doing, some approaches may be more useful than others. If symptoms are severe or destabilizing, medication management is often a good starting point. Certain integrative strategies might be more impactful when you’re feeling grounded.
When baking a cake, you wouldn’t mix all the ingredients together. You would separate the wet and dry ingredients and combine them carefully to build the batter’s structure. Furthermore, you would pay attention to the oven’s temperature and monitor the timing to promote a successful outcome. Finally, you would wait until the cake has cooled before frosting it.
To “bake” a successful treatment response, it’s essential to balance each element of wellbeing with the right timing and careful precision. Even with the right recipe in hand, meaningful change only happens when you commit to showing up for yourself and investing in the process.
The Commitment (to Yourself)
By scheduling an appointment, you’ve already made a commitment to yourself. You’re acknowledging that your mental health matters and that you’re ready to seek support and dedicate time and energy into improving it.
Yoga speak suggests that “90% of yoga is showing up on the mat,” reminding us that by simply showing up and consistently engaging, progress is inevitable. Lean into the process by maintaining regular follow-up appointments, preparing for those appointments by taking a moment to reflect, and participating in self-care strategies on your own time.
Follow up regularly to maintain an open line of communication.
Following up regularly is essential because it allows for a steady flow of information. Every update helps us fine-tune your care and build momentum.
When starting a new medication or adjusting an existing one, following up within 4 to 6 weeks allows for the most meaningful assessment of effects and the opportunity to make adjustments as necessary.
When things begin to settle, continuing to check in every 1 to 3 months provides an opportunity to observe patterns over time, respond to developments, and refine your treatment strategy.
As an oversimplification, you may think of any intervention as working on three distinct timelines. There is an immediate effect (which we often think of as side effects) that occurs within 1-2 weeks. Intermediate effects typically occur within 4-6 weeks, and long-term effects can be observed within 3 to 6 months.
Due to the conservative nature of my prescribing style, the changes we are looking for are often quite subtle. While living through them, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize them on our own. As time passes, appreciating these effects becomes increasingly challenging. Because the benefits can be easily overlooked, ongoing appointments become vital checkpoints that guide your care forward.
For patients taking controlled substance medications, following up once every 3 months is a minimum requirement. The process of prescribing controlled substances includes several important safety measures. Many medications are classified as controlled substances because they carry an increased risk for dependence, tolerance, misuse, or addiction. Prescribers are monitored closely by state and federal governments for how they prescribe controlled substances.
For all other patients, following up once every 4 to 6 months is generally considered a minimum requirement for maintaining care. The less frequently we meet, the more our time tends to center around catching up on recent events and surface-level concerns. While that has its place, it can limit the opportunity for deeper discussion or an exploration of supportive therapies that may enhance your care.
Those who commit to meeting consistently, every 8 weeks on average, often find that this regular rhythm helps them build insight, stay connected to the process, and derive more value from our work together. Meeting more frequently in the early stages is especially vital. Preparing for these meetings with active reflection further enhances the overall experience.
Prepare for appointments by completing the pre-appointment intake form.
Patients will be emailed a link to a pre-appointment intake survey within the appointment reminder emails. This intake form contains questions about mental and physical health symptoms.
Having this information ahead of time allows me to come into the session with a clearer understanding of what you’re currently experiencing. If you’re using health insurance for our visits, certain information is required at every visit for legal billing purposes.
Ultimately, providing this information in advance of our session allows us to use our time more effectively. The form also offers a valuable opportunity for self-reflection, inviting you to pause and connect with yourself.
Reflecting on your experiences, thoughts, and feelings will allow us to uncover patterns and insights that might otherwise be overlooked. Take this as an opportunity to show up for yourself and signal your dedication to understanding yourself more deeply.
Thoughtfully considering each question sets the stage for deeper discovery. Instead of answering questions with a simple “no,” check “yes,” so that you can explore the intricacies of each symptom category. If none of the dropdowns apply to you, then switch your response back to “no.”
The process of reflection is one that naturally lends itself to promoting behavior change. By increasing awareness of patterns, needs, and desires, it becomes easier to make intentional choices that promote self-attument.
Participate in self-care activities outside of appointment times.
Psychiatry and psychotherapy sessions provide necessary guidance, support, and tools. The work may start here, but it doesn’t end after the session concludes. It must be woven into the fabric of your everyday life.
You’re likely here because you’re drawn to an integrative model and a more conservative approach to medication. But the less you engage outside of sessions, the more we’re left relying on medications to do the heavy lifting.
Lasting changes unfold between appointment times when nurturing your mind, body, and spirit day to day. This varies greatly from person to person and even for the same individual at different stages.
Self-care can take many forms. It could involve protecting your sleep window or maintaining hydration practices. It may mean practicing setting boundaries and saying “no.” Self-care also includes honoring your limits and being compassionate with yourself. Some days will feel easier than others, and that’s okay.
Think of it as an experience to have rather than a thing to do. Experiences are more enjoyable when approached with curiosity.
Self-experimentation is a key component in this ongoing process, helping you to discover what truly supports your mind and body. Practicing these skills over time enables you to develop new habits and fundamentally alter the way your brain works.
If what you’ve read so far resonates with you, here are some practical details about how we work together moving forward.
The Logistics
Scheduling takes place online through the Able Psychiatry website. If you’re hoping for an earlier appointment, you can join the Waitlist to be notified as new openings become available.
I am in network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield PPO and Cigna PPO. Able Psychiatry bills directly for these policyholders. Patients are responsible for verifying their insurance benefits and securing any necessary authorizations, as this office does not provide these services.
Out-of-network patients are expected to self-pay at the time of the visit. Superbills are available upon request for insurance reimbursement. Any billing related questions or concerns may be addressed directly with the Able Psychiatry billing team.
Able Psychiatry requires that patients cancel or reschedule online using the link within the confirmation email (also found in the appointment reminder emails). Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance of your session to avoid a late cancellation fee of $75. Missing an appointment without any attempt to notify the office results in a $150 no-show fee.
Able Psychiatry is an outpatient practice and does not provide emergency services. In the event of a psychiatric or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
For our patients requiring urgent but non-life-threatening support, we can help connect you with Chicago based Intensive Outpatient (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization (PHP) programs that offer a higher level of care.
Email is the preferred method of contact for questions and concerns related to medication. I respond to most messages within one to two business days.
Prescription medication refills may be requested by completing the Refill Request Form. Try to request refills at least 1 week before running out. Medication refill requests are typically processed within two to three business days.
If paperwork is required, this is completed during appointments only. Multiple sessions may be needed depending on complexity. Paperwork appointments must take place within 6 weeks of a regular follow-up.