Referral Portal / For Referring Providers

Integrated Physical and Mental Health Support for Adults with Chronic Pain, Anxiety & Depression

Turning Tide Health uses chronic pain-informed psychiatric care, CBT-CP-informed skills, and Neuro Pain Patient Education to help patients better understand the relationship between pain, mood, anxiety, sleep, medications, and daily functioning.

Referrals are appropriate for adults whose chronic pain is complicated by anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, medication complexity, functional decline, or pain-related distress.

Refer a Patient

When to Refer

A referral may be appropriate when a patient is experiencing chronic pain along with:

  • Anxiety, panic, health-related worry, or fear of pain flares
  • Depression, emotional exhaustion, low motivation, or reduced functioning
  • Sleep disruption related to pain, stress, anxiety, or mood symptoms
  • Difficulty coping with chronic illness or persistent physical symptoms
  • Medication complexity involving psychiatric medications, pain medications, or multiple prescribers
  • Distress related to opioid medications, tapering discussions, or medication safety concerns
  • Feeling stuck after multiple treatment attempts without a clear plan
  • Functional decline affecting work, relationships, self-care, or daily routines

Turning Tide Health may be a good fit for patients who need psychiatric support that understands both the physical and emotional burden of chronic pain.

Care is structured, collaborative, and focused on connecting the full clinical picture.

Treatment may include:

  • Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation
  • Diagnostic clarification
  • Medication management when appropriate
  • Review of psychiatric and pain-related medications
  • Treatment for anxiety and depression
  • Neuro Pain Patient Education
  • CBT-for-chronic-pain-informed coping skills
  • Nervous system and stress regulation strategies
  • Function-focused treatment planning
  • Coordination with referring providers when appropriate

The goal is to support clarity, stability, safety, and daily function — not just symptom reduction.

Turning Tide Health works with adults experiencing:

  • Chronic pain with anxiety or depression
  • Pain-related emotional distress
  • Health anxiety and symptom hypervigilance
  • Depression related to chronic illness
  • Sleep and stress-related symptom worsening
  • Medication concerns or treatment uncertainty
  • Opioid-informed medication review when clinically appropriate
  • Functional impairment related to pain and mood symptoms

This care is especially helpful for patients who have been treated across multiple systems but still lack a connected plan.

Chronic pain rarely affects only the body. It can influence mood, sleep, attention, stress response, activity level, relationships, and quality of life.

Many patients have already seen multiple providers, tried several medications, or received mixed recommendations. They may feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure which symptoms are physical, emotional, medication-related, or nervous-system driven.

Turning Tide Health helps connect these pieces into a clearer clinical picture so patients can move forward with more structure and direction.

Turning Tide Health provides structured, nonjudgmental support for patients already taking opioid medications when pain, mood, anxiety, or medication safety concerns overlap.

This may include:

  • Review of current and past pain-related medications
  • Risk–benefit discussion
  • Support around medication uncertainty or fear
  • Coordination with other treating providers when needed
  • Gradual tapering support if clinically indicated
  • Psychiatric support during complex medication transitions

Important: Long-term opioid prescribing for chronic pain is not the primary focus of this practice. Care is centered on safety, stability, function, and informed decision-making.

Turning Tide Health may not be the right referral for patients who need:

  • Emergency psychiatric care
  • Inpatient or crisis stabilization
  • Active suicidal or homicidal crisis management
  • Long-term opioid prescribing as the primary treatment goal
  • One-time medication changes without ongoing follow-up
  • Acute medical care or interventional pain procedures

For emergencies, patients should call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or contact a crisis line.

How Referrals Work

1

Submit a Referral

Providers may refer a patient through the referral form, secure message, fax, or direct contact method listed below.

2

Patient Is Contacted

The patient will receive information about scheduling, insurance verification, intake forms, and next steps.

3

Comprehensive Evaluation

The initial evaluation reviews pain history, psychiatric symptoms, sleep, medications, prior treatments, functional impact, safety concerns, and treatment goals.

4

Ongoing Care and Coordination

When clinically appropriate and with patient consent, Turning Tide Health can coordinate with referring providers regarding treatment recommendations, medication concerns, and care planning.

Information to Include With Referral

To support a smooth referral, please include:

  • Patient name and contact information
  • Reason for referral
  • Current diagnoses or primary concerns
  • Current medication list
  • Relevant pain history or treatment summary
  • Recent psychiatric or medical notes, if available
  • Insurance information, if available
  • Any safety concerns or urgency level

Referral Reasons You Can Use

Providers may refer patients for:

  • Psychiatric evaluation related to chronic pain and mood symptoms
  • Anxiety or depression complicating chronic pain treatment
  • Chronic pain-related distress or functional decline
  • Medication review in the context of pain and mental health
  • Opioid-informed psychiatric support
  • Support with coping, pacing, and nervous system regulation
  • Clarification when pain, mood, sleep, medications, and stress symptoms overlap

Serving Virginia Patients

Turning Tide Health serves adults in Northern Virginia and throughout Virginia by telehealth.

In-person appointments may be available in Falls Church, Virginia.

Common referral areas include:

Fairfax

Arlington

Alexandria

Vienna

Reston

McLean

Refer a Patient

If your patient is struggling with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, medication complexity, or functional decline, Turning Tide Health may be able to help provide a more connected psychiatric care plan.

Submit a Referral