Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you are considering your first appointment or looking for more information about a specific condition or service, the answers below are here to help. If you do not find what you are looking for, please call the office or send a message through the contact page.

About Dr. Willison

Who is Dr. L. David Willison IV?

Dr. L. David Willison IV, MD, PhD, is a Board-certified Adult and Child/Adolescent psychiatrist based in Los Angeles, California. He holds both a medical degree and a doctoral degree, giving him a rare combination of clinical expertise and research depth. He treats children, adolescents, and adults across a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism spectrum disorder, OCD, and insomnia. His private practice is located at 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

Dr. Willison completed his medical training and doctoral research before pursuing specialized residency training in psychiatry. He is Board-certified Adult and Child/Adolescent psychiatrist which requires passing a rigorous national examination after completing an accredited residency program. In addition to his clinical training, he has extensive academic and research experience that informs his evidence-based approach to patient care. He has also served as an attending psychiatrist at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, where he treated complex cases and trained psychiatry residents.

Dr. Willison offers a rare combination of breadth and depth. He is a dual-trained physician-researcher who treats patients across the full age spectrum, from children through older adults. He provides both medication management and psychotherapy in the same practice, which means patients do not need to coordinate between multiple providers for integrated care. His VA background gives him specialized expertise in complex trauma and ADHD that is uncommon in private practice settings.

Yes. Dr. Willison is trained in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and sees patients across all age groups. Whether you are a parent seeking an evaluation for your child, a teenager navigating mental health challenges for the first time, or an adult who has been managing a psychiatric condition for years, Dr. Willison provides age-appropriate, individualized care.

Yes. Unlike many psychiatrists who focus exclusively on medication management, Dr. Willison provides both psychotherapy and medication management in his practice. This includes evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, Prolonged Exposure (PE), and CBT-I for insomnia. Having both services available in one practice allows for more coordinated and comprehensive care.

Dr. Willison has served as an attending psychiatrist at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, where he treated veterans with complex psychiatric presentations including PTSD, TBI-related conditions, military sexual trauma, and co-occurring mood and substance use disorders. He also trained psychiatry residents in evidence-based PTSD treatments at the VA. Veterans seeking private psychiatric care are welcome at his Los Angeles practice, where they receive the same standard of clinical excellence in a confidential, personalized setting.

Yes, Dr. Willison is accepting new patients. To schedule an initial evaluation, you can call the office at 415-412-4613 or submit a request through the contact page on this website. A member of the team will follow up to confirm availability and provide information about the intake process.

Dr. Willison’s practice is located at 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Los Angeles, CA 90024. The office is situated in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, with convenient access from surrounding areas including Brentwood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Century City, and Culver City. Parking is available in the building.

Services and Specialties

What conditions does Dr. Willison treat?

Dr. Willison treats a broad range of psychiatric conditions in children, adolescents, and adults. These include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, and family and couples psychotherapy. He also addresses co-occurring conditions, which are common across nearly all psychiatric presentations.

Yes. Dr. Willison treats generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, and other anxiety-related conditions. He uses evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and medication management, tailored to the specific type and severity of anxiety each patient presents with. Anxiety frequently co-occurs with other conditions such as ADHD and depression, and Dr. Willison is experienced in treating the full picture.

Yes. Dr. Willison treats obsessive-compulsive disorder using evidence-based approaches including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is the gold-standard psychotherapy for OCD, alongside medication management when appropriate. OCD is frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed, and receiving care from a psychiatrist with specific expertise in the condition makes a significant difference in outcomes.

Yes. Adult ADHD evaluation is one of Dr. Willison’s areas of expertise. He is the founding attending physician of the VA Adult ADHD Clinic, where he developed and led a specialized program for veterans with ADHD. Many adults reach their thirties, forties, or beyond before receiving a formal diagnosis. Dr. Willison conducts comprehensive evaluations for adults who suspect ADHD may have been shaping their life undetected, and he provides both medication management and skills-based support.

Yes. Dr. Willison provides psychiatric evaluation and ongoing care for children, adolescents, and adults on the autism spectrum. His focus in this area is on identifying and treating co-occurring psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, and sleep disorders, which are extremely common in autistic individuals and significantly affect quality of life. He also supports families and assists with transition planning for adolescents moving into adulthood.

Yes. Dr. Willison offers family and couples psychotherapy using a systemic approach that focuses on communication, conflict resolution, and the relational dynamics that affect individual mental health. He welcomes all relationship types and structures. His psychiatric background allows him to integrate individual mental health treatment with relational therapy in ways that most therapists without medical training cannot.

Yes. Dr. Willison provides comprehensive insomnia evaluation and treatment, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which is the gold-standard non-medication approach. He also offers medication management when appropriate and addresses underlying conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD that are frequently driving sleep difficulties. Many patients experience significant improvement without needing long-term medication.

Yes. While Dr. Willison has extensive VA-based experience treating veteran PTSD, he provides the same high standard of PTSD care to civilian patients. PTSD can develop after many types of traumatic experiences including sexual assault, childhood abuse, serious accidents, medical trauma, and exposure to violence. Evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) are effective regardless of the type of trauma involved.

Yes. Depression frequently co-occurs with anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, autism, and chronic medical conditions. Dr. Willison is experienced in identifying and treating depression within this context, which requires a more nuanced approach than treating depression in isolation. His ability to manage both medication and therapy in the same practice allows for more integrated and responsive care.

For the most current information about telehealth availability, please contact the office directly at 415-412-4613. Telehealth options for psychiatric services have expanded in recent years, and Dr. Willison’s team will be able to advise you on what is currently available and appropriate for your specific situation.

Appointment and Logistics

How do I schedule an appointment with Dr. Willison?

You can schedule an appointment by calling the office at 415-412-4613 or by submitting a request through the contact form on this website at ldavidwillisonmdphd.com. A member of the team will reach out to confirm availability, gather some initial information, and walk you through what to expect before your first visit.

Your first appointment is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Dr. Willison will take a detailed history of your current concerns, relevant personal and family psychiatric history, medical background, and how your symptoms are affecting your daily life, relationships, and work or school functioning. This session is primarily a conversation, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions throughout. By the end of the evaluation, Dr. Willison will share his clinical impressions and discuss potential next steps, which may include further assessment, a treatment plan, or both.

Initial psychiatric evaluations are typically longer than follow-up appointments. Plan for approximately 60 to 90 minutes for your first visit. This allows adequate time for Dr. Willison to gather the comprehensive history needed to develop an accurate diagnosis and a meaningful treatment plan. Follow-up appointments are generally 30 to 50 minutes depending on the nature of the visit.

It is helpful to bring a photo ID, your insurance card if applicable, a list of any current medications including dosages, a summary of any previous psychiatric diagnoses or treatments, and any relevant medical records if you have them. For children and adolescents, a parent or guardian should be present for at least part of the evaluation. If school records or reports from teachers are available, these can also be helpful.

Appointment frequency depends on your specific situation and the stage of treatment you are in. At the beginning of treatment, more frequent visits are common to allow for careful monitoring and adjustment. Once stability is established, visits may be spaced further apart. Some patients are seen monthly for medication management; others engaged in active psychotherapy may be seen weekly or every two weeks. Dr. Willison will work with you to determine a schedule that makes sense for your needs and your life.

Please contact the office directly to confirm the current cancellation policy. Generally, adequate notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment without a fee. The office team will provide you with the specific policy at the time of scheduling and in your new patient paperwork.

The office is located at 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. The building is accessible via several major bus lines along Wilshire Boulevard. If you have specific questions about getting to the office, please contact the office team and they will be happy to assist.

Yes, parking is available at the building located at 10850 Wilshire Blvd. Please contact the office for specific parking instructions and any relevant details about validation or nearby options.

Yes, in many cases this is encouraged, particularly for initial evaluations of children and adolescents where parent involvement is an important part of the assessment process. For adult patients, having a trusted family member or support person present can sometimes be helpful, particularly when complex history is being discussed. If you would like to bring someone with you, let the office know in advance so the appointment can be structured appropriately.

Availability varies. If you have an urgent need, please contact the office as soon as possible at 415-412-4613. The team will do their best to accommodate you in a timely manner. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or crisis, please call 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.

Yes. New patients are typically asked to complete intake paperwork before their first appointment. This may include a medical history questionnaire, consent forms, and insurance information. The office team will let you know how and when to complete these forms when you schedule your appointment. Completing them in advance helps ensure that your evaluation time is used as efficiently as possible.

The office is located at 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Los Angeles, CA 90024. The phone number is 415-412-4613. You can also reach the practice through the contact form on the website at ldavidwillisonmdphd.com.

Insurance and Payment

Does Dr. Willison accept insurance?

For the most accurate and up-to-date information about insurance participation, please contact the office directly at 415-412-4613. Insurance participation can change, and the office team will be able to confirm whether your specific plan is accepted and what your expected costs may be.

Please contact the office directly to ask about Medicare or Medicaid participation. The team will be able to confirm coverage details and help you understand your options.

If Dr. Willison is out of network with your insurance plan, you may still be able to receive partial reimbursement through your plan’s out-of-network benefits. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network mental health coverage, which means you pay at the time of service and submit a claim to your insurer for reimbursement. The office can provide a superbill, which is an itemized receipt that contains the information your insurance company needs to process an out-of-network claim. Contact the office to discuss your specific situation.

Please contact the office at 415-412-4613 to confirm accepted payment methods. Most private psychiatric practices accept major credit cards, checks, and in some cases health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) cards. The office team will provide you with payment information at the time of scheduling.

The cost of an initial evaluation depends on your insurance coverage and whether Dr. Willison is in or out of network with your plan. Please contact the office directly for information about fees so you can understand your expected out-of-pocket costs before your first appointment.

Psychiatric services are generally considered qualified medical expenses under most HSA and FSA plans, which means you can typically use these funds to pay for appointments. Please confirm with your HSA or FSA administrator that psychiatric services are covered under your specific plan, as terms can vary.

Yes. If you are using out-of-network benefits, the office can provide a superbill after each appointment. A superbill includes all the information required by insurance companies to process an out-of-network claim, including the date of service, diagnosis codes, procedure codes, and the provider’s information. You would submit this document to your insurance plan directly to request reimbursement.

Many psychiatric practices charge a fee for appointments that are cancelled without adequate notice or not attended. Please confirm the specific cancellation and no-show policy with the office at the time of scheduling. This information will also be included in your new patient paperwork.

ADHD-Specific Questions

What is the difference between ADHD and ADD?

ADD is an older term that was previously used to describe the presentation of ADHD that involves primarily inattentive symptoms without significant hyperactivity. Current diagnostic guidelines use the term ADHD for all presentations, with three specified subtypes: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined presentation. While some people still use ADD informally to describe the inattentive type, clinically the two terms refer to the same condition. If you grew up being told you had ADD, that diagnosis still translates directly to current ADHD criteria.

Yes, and this is very common. Many adults, particularly those who are highly intelligent or who grew up in structured environments that compensated for their symptoms, reach adulthood without ever receiving a formal diagnosis. Women and girls are also significantly underdiagnosed because ADHD in this population often presents with less obvious hyperactivity and more internalized symptoms such as inattention, anxiety, and emotional sensitivity. Dr. Willison conducts comprehensive adult ADHD evaluations and has specific expertise in identifying ADHD that has been missed earlier in life.

Not necessarily. The decision about whether to use medication is made collaboratively between Dr. Willison, the patient, and for children, the parents. Medication is one of the most well-researched and effective tools for managing ADHD symptoms, but it is not the only approach and it is not right for every patient or family. Behavioral strategies, accommodations, and therapy are important components of care regardless of whether medication is used. Dr. Willison discusses all options in detail before any treatment decisions are made.

A comprehensive ADHD evaluation typically takes place over one or more appointments. The process involves a detailed clinical interview, review of developmental and educational history, completion of standardized rating scales, and for children, input from parents and often from teachers. The length varies depending on the age of the patient and the complexity of their presentation. Dr. Willison will give you a clear sense of what to expect when you schedule your evaluation.

In some cases, yes. If the clinical picture is clear and a diagnosis can be established during the initial evaluation, Dr. Willison may recommend and initiate a medication trial at that time. In other cases, additional information or a follow-up appointment may be needed before a prescription is appropriate. The priority is always an accurate diagnosis followed by an appropriate and well-considered treatment plan.

Yes. Research has shown that ADHD often presents differently in girls and women compared to boys and men. Girls are more likely to present with the predominantly inattentive type, which is less disruptive behaviorally and therefore less likely to be flagged by teachers and parents. Emotional dysregulation, anxiety, low self-esteem, and social difficulties are common features of ADHD in girls that are frequently attributed to other causes. Hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can also significantly affect ADHD symptom severity. Dr. Willison is attentive to these presentations and does not rely on a single symptom profile to rule ADHD in or out.

Anxiety-Specific Questions

What are the different types of anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are a family of related but distinct conditions. Generalized anxiety disorder involves persistent, difficult-to-control worry about many different areas of life. Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear of social situations and being judged or embarrassed by others. Panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks and persistent fear of having more. Specific phobias involve intense fear of a particular object or situation. Separation anxiety disorder involves excessive fear of separation from attachment figures and is most common in children but can occur in adults as well. Agoraphobia involves fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult. Each type has its own treatment approach, and an accurate diagnosis is important for guiding care.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most well-researched and effective non-medication treatment for anxiety disorders. CBT works by helping patients identify the thoughts and behaviors that are maintaining their anxiety and developing more effective ways of responding to feared situations. For many types of anxiety, exposure-based techniques, which involve gradually facing feared situations in a structured way, are a central component of treatment. Many patients with mild to moderate anxiety achieve significant improvement through therapy alone. Dr. Willison discusses treatment options fully with each patient and respects preferences regarding medication.

Yes, and this is one of the reasons anxiety is frequently mistaken for a medical condition. Anxiety activates the body’s stress response, which produces a wide range of physical sensations. These include rapid heartbeat, chest tightness or pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, stomach upset, headaches, muscle tension, sweating, trembling, and fatigue. When physical symptoms are prominent and no medical cause is found, anxiety should be considered as a contributing factor. Dr. Willison takes a thorough approach to evaluation that accounts for both medical and psychiatric contributors to physical symptoms.

The core treatment approaches for anxiety, particularly CBT and exposure-based therapy, are highly effective across age groups. However, how these treatments are delivered is adapted significantly for children. Therapy with younger children involves parents as active participants, uses age-appropriate language and activities, and typically takes a more graduated and playful approach to exposure exercises. Medication is used more cautiously in children and is typically considered only when therapy alone has not produced adequate improvement. Dr. Willison has experience treating anxiety across the full age spectrum and adapts his approach accordingly.

Anxiety is a normal and adaptive emotion that everyone experiences. It is the brain’s way of preparing the body to respond to perceived threats. An anxiety disorder occurs when anxiety is persistent, disproportionate to the actual situation, and interferes meaningfully with a person’s ability to function in daily life. The distinction is not about how intense the anxiety feels in the moment, but about whether it is causing significant distress or limiting the person’s life in ways they cannot manage on their own. If anxiety is getting in the way of work, school, relationships, or daily activities, it is worth discussing with a psychiatrist.

Yes, and this is extremely common. Anxiety is one of the most frequent co-occurring conditions in people with ADHD, affecting a significant proportion of children and adults with the diagnosis. The relationship between the two conditions is complex. Anxiety can develop as a secondary response to the ongoing difficulties that ADHD creates, such as academic struggles, social rejection, and a history of perceived failure. At the same time, both conditions can be biologically present independently. Treating one while leaving the other unaddressed typically produces incomplete results. Dr. Willison is experienced in evaluating and treating both conditions simultaneously.