Online Psychiatrist in Ithaca, NY
Care provided by Samuel Omolade, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner licensed in New York.
Ithaca is a college town in the middle of the Finger Lakes, and its demand for psychiatric care far outstrips the number of local prescribers. Students and residents alike run into waitlists, especially during the academic year. Samz Mental Health sees Ithaca-area adults by secure video, usually the same day or the next, for evaluation, diagnosis and medication management. No referral is needed.
Usually same day or next day
Secure video, anywhere in New York
$120 first visit, $90 follow-ups
Aetna, Cigna, UHC, Optum, Carelon
Who We See in Ithaca
Cornell University and Ithaca College bring tens of thousands of students, graduate researchers and staff to a small city. Academic pressure, long lab hours and being far from home are common threads for the students and postdocs we see, and many arrive with medications that need someone in New York to keep managing them. Campus services are busy, especially mid-semester, and an outside prescriber with same-day openings can fill the gap.
We also see faculty, hospital and university employees, and families across Tompkins County and the surrounding rural towns. Long, gray Finger Lakes winters make seasonal depression and sleep problems a regular reason people book.
What We Treat
Visits cover psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis and medication management for adults. Common reasons people book:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression, including postpartum depression
- PTSD and trauma and OCD
- Bipolar disorder and insomnia
- Medication management and prescriber transfers
- ESA letter evaluations in New York
Crisis and Mental Health Help in Tompkins County
Anyone in Ithaca can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at any hour. For referrals to local mental health and social services, call 211. Cornell and Ithaca College students can also contact their campus counseling services, which offer after-hours phone support. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Telepsychiatry is for ongoing care and isn’t a substitute for emergency services.
Ithaca Neighborhoods and Nearby Communities
We see patients across Ithaca, from Collegetown, Fall Creek and the Commons to South Hill, Northside and Cayuga Heights, and throughout the area in Lansing, Dryden, Trumansburg, Groton, Newfield, Cortland and Watkins Glen. Any location in New York works, as long as you’re in the state when the visit starts.
Cost and Insurance
Self-pay is $120 for the first visit and $90 for follow-ups, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted. We’re in-network with Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum and Carelon Behavioral Health, so insured patients usually pay their specialist copay. We don’t accept Medicaid, Medicare or TRICARE. See insurance and pricing details.
How a First Visit Works
- Book a time in the online portal, often for the same day. No referral is needed.
- Fill out a short intake form about your symptoms, history and medications.
- Meet by secure video from a private spot in New York.
- If medication fits your plan, it’s sent to your local pharmacy. Follow-ups take 15 to 30 minutes.
Ithaca Patient Questions
I’m a graduate student from another state. Can I be seen?
Yes, as long as you’re in New York during the visit. If you go home for breaks to a state where we aren’t licensed, plan visits around being in New York.
Can I keep seeing you over the summer?
Yes, if you’re in New York or another state where we’re licensed: Texas, Florida, Colorado, Washington, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico or Iowa.
Do you see patients in Lansing, Dryden, Trumansburg and Cortland?
Yes. Visits work anywhere in New York with a stable internet or cell connection.
Can you take over medications started by campus health?
Yes. Bring a list of your current medications to the first visit and we’ll review whether continuing or adjusting them makes sense.
Who do I call in a mental health crisis in Tompkins County?
Call or text 988 any time. For referrals to local services, call 211. In an emergency, call 911.
Book a Video Visit from Ithaca
Same-day appointments are often available. No referral needed.