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Meet Dr. Alexander Sidawi - Orlando Psychiatrist

Picture showing Dr. Alexander Sidawi, a psychiatrist in Orlando Florida

I’m Dr. Alexander Sidawi, the primary psychiatrist at Analyze Psychiatry in Orlando, Florida. I completed my psychiatric training at the University of Florida, where I worked with a diverse patient population in a variety of settings including a large outpatient clinic, 7 inpatient units, 5 emergency rooms, and 1700+ beds across Shands and VA hospitals. My certifications include:

  • Board Certified Psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
  • State of Florida Osteopathic Physician Licensure

While at UF, I took a significant interest in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. For me, the pinnacle of this type of therapy is witnessing the transformative “aha” moment in a patient—when, through our collaborative exploration, they gain a sudden, profound insight into an aspect of themselves previously hidden from their awareness. Every individual’s narrative is woven with many layers, and my role is to help untangle these stories, tying common threads together and offering insights into how past experiences continue to shape your present. With insight, comes growth.

What Does A Psychiatrist Do?

Our Clinic's Process

STEP ONE

Introductions

Express your interest via the contact form below. You will receive a call to have a brief discussion about what you’re seeking help with and to see if our clinic is a good fit for you. We will will then send you a detailed intake form to fill out and return to us for review.

STEP TWO

Scheduling

Once intake forms are completed, we will provide you access to our online scheduler, which allows you to easily schedule in-person or tele appointments at your convenience.

STEP THREE

Groundwork

During your initial consultation appointment, we will explore your current symptoms as well as your psychiatric, medical, social and family history to understand you as best as possible. At the end of the session we will work together on a personalized plan to best improve your mental health going forward.

STEP FOUR

Analysis

In follow up appointments, we will continue our work together as previously determined during intake. This would generally be optimizing medications and/or using therapy to learn more about yourself, your emotions, how you handle stress, how you interact with others, what motivates you, what triggers you, what’s holding you back and how these things came to be over time.

STEP FIVE

Insight

As you learn more about yourself and your coping skills are enhanced, you will begin to find it easier to overcome obstacles in your path. When the time comes that you are ready to move on to the next stage of your life, we will work together to plan a safe landing. This may include things like reducing your medications or frequency of therapy, with the goal of self-sufficiency.

Why Should You Work With Analyze Psychiatry in Orlando?

Healthcare Tailored to You, Not Insurance Profits

I want you to get the best care possible, not the care that's best for the insurance company's wallet. During sessions, you get my undivided attention to your needs, without stealing your time to tick boxes for insurance billing purposes. When choosing your treatment plan I'm thinking about what's best for you, not them.

Concierge Level Access

I provide a concierge level of access by personally responding to all forms of communication, including phone calls and messages, ensuring that your concerns are addressed promptly and directly. This approach eliminates the frustration of navigating through multiple layers of staff and sharing your private concerns with multiple people before receiving assistance.

It Stays Between Us

I value your confidentiality. Cash pay ensures that your sensitive information, including diagnosis and treatment plans, remains private. This protects your data from automatically being shared with insurance entities such as the Medical Insurance Bureau, safeguarding your privacy when applying for insurance-related services (i.e. disability insurance, etc). On the contrary, if your preference is to bill your insurance, I will provide you the documents required to submit for attempted reimbursement.

You're In Control

Our collaboration begins with an initial consultation where we jointly develop a treatment plan that places you in control. This personalized plan is designed to ensure that you feel comfortable. I won't make you feel forced to start or stay on meds you're uncertain of. I provide patients with the medical information to make informed decisions including the risks, benefits, and alternatives of treatment. You can also have peace of mind knowing that I don't recommend lucrative new treatments that are not yet backed by extensive data.

We're Going Deep

You're more than just a diagnosis and a pill. In training, we are taught the "bio-psycho-social" formulation of conceptualizing a patient's struggles. In the last decade, psychiatry has focused on the "bio" portion, meds and their side effects. While I do provide med management, I refuse to neglect the "psycho-social" aspect of care. I work with my patients to explore why they're feeling unwell. I want you to have "aha" moments where you suddenly realize something about your personality or relationships that you've never seen before. You can't address a problem if you're not aware of its source. In this way, insight can lead to healing.

Keeping You In The Loop

I want you to know the "why" behind my recommendations. Transparency is fundamental to our therapeutic relationship. I strive to keep you informed about the direction and goals of your treatment. Whether it's understanding the rationale behind a medication choice or the objectives of our psychotherapy sessions, I ensure you are always in the loop about the work we're doing together.

Psychiatric Appointment Types & Pricing

I offer two appointment types which can be done in-person at our physical locations in Orlando (Dr. Phillips & Winter Garden), or online via telehealth throughout the state of Florida. I value transparent billing practices and want you to know costs up front. Though I do not accept insurance, I can provide the paperwork necessary for you to submit for attempted reimbursement.

Initial consultation appointment (60 minutes): $400

Follow up appointments:

  • Medication focused (30 minutes): $200
  • Therapy focused with medications included (60 minutes): $300

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychiatry

Psychiatrists are medical doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, both with medications and therapy. In medication management, they play several roles:

  1. Diagnosis: Drawing on their diagnosis, psychiatrists select medications specifically aimed at alleviating the symptoms of the mental health condition. Leveraging their extensive medical training, they expertly consider factors like drug metabolism, potential drug interactions, and side effects to identify a medication that is optimally suited to your unique physiological needs.
  2. Prescription: Based on the diagnosis, psychiatrists prescribe medications that target the symptoms of the mental health condition. Due to their medical training, they are able to integrate topics such as drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions, and side effects to choose a medication that best fits your body.
  3. Monitoring: Once medication is prescribed, psychiatrists diligently monitor its effects, fine-tuning dosages as required and addressing any side effects. Their medical training is instrumental in discerning the necessity and relevance of various lab tests, such as blood draws or EKGs, ensuring that only beneficial diagnostics are employed. Their medical training assists in differentiating when something is caused by mental illness versus a medical condition. For example, it is helpful to differentiate if physical symptoms like a racing heart or stomach pains are medical in nature, rather than psychiatric in nature such as physical symptoms caused by Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Whether or not you need a referral to see a psychiatrist in Florida depends on if you plan to use HMO insurance, PPO insurance, or are paying cash. Generally, if using an HMO insurance you will need a referral, whereas if using a PPO insurance or paying cash you will not need a referral to see a psychiatrist.

Psychiatric medication management involves the careful selection, dosing, and monitoring of medications prescribed for mental health conditions. This process is integral for ensuring the effectiveness of treatment while minimizing side effects and risks. At its core, psychiatric medication management is a collaborative process between the patient and their psychiatrist. It begins with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s mental health condition, medical history, and any other factors that might influence medication choices. The psychiatrist then prescribes the most suitable medication, considering the patient’s unique needs.

Psychiatric medications are generally managed by a psychiatrist (M.D. or D.O.). Primary care physicians such as internists or family physicians may elect to initiate psychiatric medications for patients, though they typically refer patients to a psychiatrist when they suspect a patient may need a more in-depth assessment and treatment plan. Midlevel providers, such as Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician’s Assistants (PAs), may also prescribe psychiatric medication though are generally under the supervision of a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O) with whom they can elect to discuss difficult cases with.

Psychiatrists and psychologists both work in the mental health field; however, psychiatrists generally specialize in managing medications, whereas psychologists primarily engage in talk therapy.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in mental health and is trained in both general medicine and psychiatry. They can provide both medication management and psychotherapy.

psychologist is a mental health professional who holds a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology. Psychologists focus on understanding human behavior, emotions, and cognition, utilizing various psychological assessments and therapeutic techniques to help individuals cope with emotional challenges and improve their mental health. Psychologists are experts in different forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, exposure-response prevention (ERP), eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), accelerated resolution therapy (ART), family therapy, and/or mindfulness therapy among others. They do not prescribe medications but may refer patients to psychiatrists for medication management.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, who completed undergraduate studies in general sciences, 4 years of medical school and then received specialized training in mental health for an additional 4 years. A PMHNP is a nurse practitioner, who completed undergraduate studies in nursing followed by 1 year of training in mental health. Both can prescribe psychiatric medications.

psychiatrist, holding either an M.D. (Medical Doctor) or a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree, is a highly trained specialist in mental health with 8 years of post-graduate training. Their educational journey begins with undergraduate studies, followed by four intensive years in medical school covering general medicine. This is succeeded by another four-year residency specifically in psychiatry, where they gain in-depth knowledge and experience in both the medical aspects of psychiatric conditions and the practice of psychotherapy. As fully qualified medical doctors, psychiatrists are equipped to diagnose mental health disorders, conduct comprehensive medical evaluations, order and interpret laboratory tests, and prescribe medications. Their approach to mental health is holistic, taking into account the biological, psychological, and social dimensions that influence an individual’s mental health. Psychiatrists operate independently without the need for supervision.

A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is a type of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, also known as APRN) with a focus on mental health care, who receive 1 year of post-graduate training. Their path begins with undergraduate nursing education, followed by a specialized one-year master’s program in mental health nursing. PMHNPs are qualified to diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medications. However, their medical and psychiatric training is not as extensive as that of a psychiatrist. The scope of practice for ARNPs, including PMHNPs, varies by state. For example, in Florida, PMHNPs initially work under the supervision of a psychiatrist, offering the opportunity for case discussion and collaborative learning. After completing 3000 clinical hours under such supervision, they may apply to the Florida board to attain autonomous ARNP status, allowing them to practice without physician oversight.

The term therapist is used to refer to any mental health provider who offers talk therapy. A counselor is a specific type of therapist.

The term therapist broadly refers to any mental health professional who provides talk therapy, including psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and similar roles.

counselor is a mental health professional who typically holds a master’s degree (MS, MA, LMHC, LCSW) in counseling, psychology, social work, or related fields. Their training focuses on providing counseling and psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, families, or groups. Similar to a psychologist, they do not prescribe medications but may refer patients to psychiatrists for medication management.

Depression is a general term used to describe feeling down, and doesn’t necessarily mean you have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder like major depressive disorder (MDD). Generally, MDD can be diagnosed by a physician when someone experiences 2 weeks or longer of depressive symptoms like diminished interest in activities, weight loss/gain, sleep changes, fatigue, poor concentration and guilt. Read our blog post about Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) to learn more about depression and the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing. You can also refer to our treatment page to learn more about other psychiatric disorders.

Anxiety is a general term used to describe feeling worried or on edge, but some people’s anxiety is significant enough to meet DSM-5 criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Generally, GAD can be diagnosed by a physician when someone has been experiencing, for 6 months or longer, excessive worry that is difficult to control, causes significant distress or impairment in daily function, and causes symptoms like tension, irritability, poor concentration and trouble sleeping. Read our blog post about Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) to learn more. You can also refer to our treatment page to learn more about other psychiatric disorders.

Diagnosing ADHD is more nuanced than just having poor concentration, and requires meeting the criteria as defined by the DSM-5. Generally, ADHD can be diagnosed by a physician when someone has been experiencing, for 6 months or longer, symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity with impulsivity. Symptoms of inattention include easily being distracted, constant procrastination, and trouble staying on task, listening, or organizing. Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity include fidgeting, talking excessively, difficulty waiting your turn, as well as trouble sitting still, staying seated or being quiet. Read our blog post about Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) to learn more. You can also refer to our treatment page to learn about other psychiatric disorders.