Common questions

They all help with mental health, in different ways:

• Psychiatrist: a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. Psychiatrists diagnose conditions, prescribe and manage medication, and consider how physical health and mental health affect each other. Psychiatrists are also trained in psychotherapy (talk therapy), and many provide it.
• Psychologist: usually holds a doctoral degree in psychology. Psychologists provide talk therapy and psychological testing. In most states, they don’t prescribe medication.
• Therapist or counselor: a broad term for licensed professionals, such as counselors, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists, who provide talk therapy.
• Primary care doctor: often the first stop. Many primary care doctors treat common conditions like depression and anxiety, check for physical causes, and refer to specialists when needed.

Many people see more than one. It’s common to see a psychiatrist for medication and a therapist for talk therapy, and if you already have a therapist you trust, I’m glad to work alongside them. Others find it helpful to keep their care in one place, with one physician for both medication and therapy. I offer that, too. We can decide together what fits you best.

No. In my practice, care is tailored to you, built around your experience and your priorities, and no particular treatment is ever mandatory. We’ll work together to find a plan that fits your illness and your values. If medication is a reasonable option, I’ll recommend you consider it, but you’re ultimately in charge of what goes into your body, and I value that autonomy.

Lakeview Behavioral Health, where I see patients, can tell you whether you need one. Your insurance plan may also have its own rules, so it can help to check with them.

No. The email address on this website is for media and speaking inquiries only. It isn’t monitored for emergencies, and it isn’t for appointments, prescriptions, or medical questions. Please don’t send health information to it.

Questions about your care go through Lakeview Behavioral Health at 218-327-2001.

I can’t give personal medical advice through comments or messages. My videos and posts are general education. Please talk with your own clinician about your situation, and if you’re in crisis, call or text 988.

I’m licensed to practice medicine in Minnesota. The state where you’re physically located during a visit determines which license applies, so I can only see people who are located in Minnesota at the time of each visit. So if you’ll be in Wisconsin or another state during a visit, even just across the bridge, I’m not able to see you.

If you’re outside Minnesota, your primary care doctor can help you find a psychiatrist licensed where you are.

Insurance and cost are handled by Lakeview Behavioral Health, where I see patients. They can tell you which plans they accept and what a visit costs.

I see patients at Lakeview Behavioral Health in Duluth. To schedule, call 218-327-2001 or visit lakeviewbh.com and ask to see Dr. Baldes. Lakeview can also tell you about new-patient availability.

This website doesn’t book appointments, but Seeing me as a patient has the details.

Mostly a conversation about what brings you in, what you’ve tried, and what you hope will change. See What a first visit is like for a walk-through, including what to bring.

Please don’t wait for an appointment or send an email. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s available 24 hours a day, every day, and it’s free and confidential.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.