The holiday season is often a time for celebrations and opportunities to reconnect with loved ones. But for many, it can also bring emotional challenges or feelings of uncertainty.
As the year comes to a close, prioritizing mental health can be just as important as taking care of physical health.
At Allen Psychiatry, an independently owned mental health practice in Allen, Texas, patients have access to comprehensive psychiatric services, innovative treatment options and compassionate support tailored to their individual needs.
Why was Allen Psychiatry founded?
Founded in 2014 by Dr. Shahla Ali, the practice's owner and medical director, Allen Psychiatry began with a mission to provide high-quality, personalized psychiatric care through medication management services.
The practice expanded after Dr. Shahla Ali recognized that patients often needed additional services, including therapy and more intensive outpatient treatment. Rather than referring patients to outside providers, Dr. Shahla Ali wanted to bring those services into her own practice, ensuring patients received consistent, high-quality care under one roof.
Today, Allen Psychiatry remains privately owned, offering a comprehensive approach to mental healthcare that addresses each patient's unique circumstances.
"Each patient is an individual," Jazmein Barrera, practice manager at Allen Psychiatry, said. "We always have to look at patients as individuals, what their needs are, what they're struggling with. Whatever their needs are, we make the practice fit them."
What mental health services does Allen Psychiatry offer?
Allen Psychiatry provides a range of mental health treatments under one roof, including:
Medication management: psychiatric evaluations and ongoing medication management
Individual therapy: one-on-one counseling to help patients work through emotional and behavioral challenges
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): a noninvasive treatment option for patients who may not have found sufficient relief through traditional medications
Spravato treatment: an alternative treatment for eligible patients with treatment-resistant depression, administered in private, individual treatment rooms
Partial hospitalization programs (PHP): structured outpatient treatment offering a higher level of mental health support
Intensive outpatient programs (IOP): flexible, structured treatment options, including virtual programming, for patients who need additional support
Emsella: non-invasive, Food and Drug Administration-cleared medical device designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and body wellness by improving urinary incontinence and sexual wellness.
By offering these services within one practice, Allen Psychiatry helps simplify communication between psychiatrists, therapists and other providers.
Patients can also receive assistance with insurance benefits, appointment coordination and other aspects of their care.
"Your psychiatrist and your therapist—even if you're doing higher levels of care—all can communicate with each other very easily," Barrera said.
How does Allen Psychiatry approach innovative mental health treatment?
Mental healthcare is not one-size-fits-all, Barrera said, and traditional medications or therapy alone may not provide the support every patient needs.
Allen Psychiatry continually explores new treatment methods and technologies to expand options for patients who haven't found relief through traditional approaches. Barrera said the practice is always at the forefront of new mental healthcare modalities and was one of the first to introduce TMS after the FDA cleared it.
The practice offers both TMS, a treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain associated with depression, and Spravato, a prescription nasal spray administered under medical supervision for eligible patients with certain forms of depression.
Having these options available alongside medication management, therapy and structured outpatient programs allows providers to adjust treatment plans as patients' needs evolve.
How does Allen Psychiatry make mental healthcare more approachable?
Allen Psychiatry adapts its services based on patient feedback, including addressing initial barriers to getting help, such as transportation. The practice introduced a virtual IOP option to make treatment more accessible and serve patients who couldn't attend sessions in person.
Allen Psychiatry also considers how mental health affects patients' relationships, finances, education and everyday responsibilities and can connect them with additional community resources when needed.
“We talk to patients, ask them what their needs are and then we figure out a solution,” Barrera said.
Get started with Allen Psychiatry
For individuals struggling with their mental health, even scheduling an appointment can sometimes feel overwhelming. Allen Psychiatry offers multiple ways to get started, including phone calls, text messages, email and online scheduling.
As the holidays approach, the practice encourages North Texas residents to recognize their mental health needs and seek support rather than putting off care.
“We just want to be there for them in any capacity that is available for them,” Barrera said.
Whether someone is exploring treatment for the first time or looking for additional options, Allen Psychiatry strives to make the process as simple and welcoming as possible.
To learn more about available treatments or schedule an appointment, visit:
Website: www.allenpsychiatry.com
Address: 1772 W. McDermott Drive, Allen
Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday: closed; Saturday medication management appointments available
Phone: 469-340-2777
Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Allen Psychiatry and when was the practice established?
Allen Psychiatry was founded in 2014 by Dr. Shahla Ali, who serves as the practice's owner and medical director.
Dr. Ali started the practice with a mission to provide personalized psychiatric care through medication management services, later expanding the practice to include therapy and intensive outpatient treatment.
What are the office hours for Allen Psychiatry?
The practice is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.
Medication management appointments are also available on Saturdays.
Where is the Allen Psychiatry office located?
The practice is located at 1772 W. McDermott Drive, Allen.
How can I contact the practice or schedule an appointment with Allen Psychiatry?
Allen Psychiatry offers multiple ways for individuals to get started, including phone calls, text messages, email and online scheduling.
To reach the office, individuals can call or text 469-340-2777, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.allenpsychiatry.com.