Telepsychiatry & Psychiatric Medication Management in Alaska

Alaska has roughly 5 psychiatric providers for every 100,000 residents — well below the national average — and most of them practice in Anchorage or Fairbanks. More than 200 communities across the state have no psychiatric provider of their own at all, and even in Anchorage, a new-patient psychiatry appointment can take 8 to 12 weeks to land.

Valiant Mental Health offers licensed telepsychiatry and psychiatric medication management across Alaska, so getting care doesn’t have to mean waiting months or flying into town for an appointment.

Telepsychiatry and psychiatric medication management for Alaska residents, Valiant Mental Health

Why So Many Alaskans Are Choosing Telepsychiatry

Alaska’s relationship with mental health care is shaped by its geography and its light. In Fairbanks, winter solstice brings around three and a half hours of daylight, compared to nearly 22 hours at the height of summer — a swing that researchers have linked to some of the highest rates of seasonal affective disorder in the country, with studies estimating close to 1 in 10 Alaskans affected in a given year.

Add hundreds of miles of seasonal or unpaved roads, ferry schedules, and villages reachable only by plane, and it’s easy to understand why so many Alaskans simply go without psychiatric care rather than try to arrange it around all of that.

A secure video visit changes the math. You get the same evaluation, medication management, and follow-up care you’d receive in an office — without the flight, the ferry, or the two-month wait.

Conditions We Treat

Our psychiatric medication management covers the conditions we see most often in adults and adolescents across Alaska:

Not sure where your symptoms fit? That’s exactly what the first evaluation is for — you don’t need a diagnosis in hand before reaching out.

What a Telepsychiatry Visit Actually Looks Like

  • You request an appointment online. No referral needed.
  • Your first visit is a full evaluation — your history, symptoms, and goals, done by secure video from wherever you are.
  • If medication is appropriate, your provider walks through the options with you and sends the prescription electronically to your pharmacy.
  • You return for regular follow-ups to check how things are working and adjust as needed — the same way you would in person.

Where We Serve in Alaska

We have dedicated pages for the communities where we see the most patients:

But our licensure covers the entire state — from the Kenai Peninsula to Southeast Alaska to the Bush. If you’re in Kodiak, Bethel, Ketchikan, Sitka, Nome, or anywhere else in Alaska, you’re very likely still eligible for care. All it takes is a private space and a reliable internet connection.

Meet Your Provider

Care is provided by Randy Goleman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with experience across military, acute behavioral health, and residential treatment settings, in addition to private practice. Read more about his background.

Insurance & Getting Started

Alaska Medicaid covers telehealth mental health services, and many private insurance plans do as well — coverage varies, so we recommend verifying your specific benefits before your first visit. Cash-pay pricing is also available if you’d rather skip insurance altogether. See current plans and cash-pay rates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Telepsychiatry in Alaska

Do I need to live in a major city like Anchorage to use telepsychiatry in Alaska?

No. As long as you’re physically located in Alaska during your appointment and have a private space with a reliable internet connection, you can be seen — whether you’re in Anchorage, a smaller community, or a village without road access.

Can telepsychiatry be used for ongoing medication management, or just a first evaluation?

Both. Most patients start with a full psychiatric evaluation and then continue with regular follow-up visits by video for medication monitoring and adjustments, the same way you would in person.

Does insurance cover telepsychiatry in Alaska?

Many plans do, and Alaska Medicaid covers telehealth mental health services. Coverage varies by plan, so we recommend verifying your specific benefits before your first visit.

Can you prescribe controlled substances, like stimulant medication for ADHD, through telehealth?

In many cases, yes, when clinically appropriate and permitted under current telehealth prescribing regulations. Your provider will review this with you directly during your evaluation.

What if I don’t have reliable internet where I live?

Telepsychiatry depends on a stable video connection, so this can be a real barrier in parts of rural Alaska. If your community has limited connectivity, call our office and we’ll help you figure out whether a phone-based option or a nearby location with better service could work.

Ready to Begin?

👉 Request an Appointment »
👉 Learn More About Medication Management »
👉 Explore How Telehealth Works »

This page is intended for educational purposes and does not replace a professional psychiatric evaluation.

What Our Patients Are Saying

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