Dr. Epstein is a trained Walsh Practitioner and a telehealth care provider with a background in Functional Medicine. He has treated nearly a thousand patients using the Walsh protocol and has dedicated his telemedicine practice to managing mood and behavior disorders per the Walsh Approach.

Yes, Dr. Epstein works with international patients.

The Walsh Approach is a method developed by Dr. William Walsh, an expert in the field of mental disorders and a pioneer in orthomolecular psychiatry and nutritional medicine. This method involves the use of biochemical test protocols and supplement plans to support neurotransmitter production and activity. It can be applied to a wide range of mood disorders. Dr. Walsh has classified nearly 95% of people with mood and behavior disorders into one of five biotypes of depression.

The Walsh Approach is beneficial to individuals who have been struggling with mood disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or behavioral issues that haven't been adequately managed with conventional treatment methods. The Walsh Approach looks to address the biochemical root causes of these disorders rather than just managing symptoms.

The full Consultation with Biotype Report is a comprehensive 6-12 page document that includes data from the Lab Corp Test and answers provided by the patient on the Questionnaire. This report encompasses Dr. Dave's full assessment of the findings, along with a detailed supplement plan tailored to the patient's weight, unique lab biochemistry, and historical findings.

The report also includes a summary of the full assessment, explanations for each of the significant findings, and recommendations for follow-up, etc. Additionally, the report provides links with each supplement to directly locate those supplements on the Biotype Nutrients website and links to learn more about the specific Assessment issues on the Second Opinion Physician blog. This thorough report aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the patient's biotype and guide them towards a personalized wellness plan.

The lab panel and consultation help identify the root causes of  depression or anxiety. The Walsh Approach offers a targeted solution to rectify your unique biochemical imbalances. Unlike prescription drugs, the approach addresses the root cause of the issues, leading to lasting and effective health improvements.

Once the lab results are received, it generally takes Dr. Dave 1-2 days to complete your Biotype Report and send it to you via email.

After receiving the Biotype Report, appointments for discussion can generally be made as soon as the next day.

The discussion time you have with Dr. Dave depends on your needs. Generally, these discussions can take between 20-30 minutes. However, if there are more questions or the case is complicated, the discussion may take up to 45 minutes.

Patients are encouraged to send Dr. Dave an email with questions following the Biotype Assessment. If the question requires an extensive amount of time, you may be asked to order a 10 or 20-minute phone call. Simple questions within the context of the evaluation and report are generally answered at no cost.

Yes, you may choose from any of the tests or panels. In all cases, a lab requisition or a test kit will be emailed or shipped to your address with instructions.

Before starting your journey with Second Opinion Physician, you can schedule a free pre-consultation call with Dr. Epstein. During this call, you can discuss your health concerns, learn more about the Walsh Approach, and decide if this approach might be the right fit for your health needs. This call does not replace a full consultation.

Yes, typically labs may be recommended if other issues are present or if the patient is requesting additional evaluations. The amount of time required for a phone consult is typically covered in a 10 or 20-minute phone call. If a patient would like a detailed report, similar to the Biotype Report, this will require a $299 Consultation.

Having a second opinion can be helpful, and so can a first one. If an issue is found that requires the expertise of a specialist, Dr. Dave can provide a referral. As an unbiased opinion, he can direct you to the most appropriate practitioner for your needs.

If ordering a consultation with a report, once the patient receives the report, they will be given a link with instructions to schedule and appointment, as soon as the next day to discuss. When ordering a consultation prior to labs, once ordered, the patient will also receive an email with link to schedule a call. For new patients and in Biotype Report follow-ups links to complete a consent form and or questionnaire accompany your confirmation email with instructions.

Yes, this may be helpful in cases where a pre-consultation is not sufficient. Since pre-consultation does not include a consent or questionnaire, there will be no specific recommendations. A paid 10 or 20-minute consultation will help understand whether existing labs or symptoms can be interpreted in a brief phone call and what, if needed, tests should be ordered for a more thorough evaluation.

Yes. Dr. Epstein works with families who have a loved one that refuses to have their blood drawn. Also, internationally there may be challenges to getting proper labs done. Since he has extensive experience in the Walsh Approach, it is possible to make recommendations and assessments based on the questionnaire only. Generally, the protocol starts more slowly and may involve changes and closer follow up in the case that the supplement protocol needs to shift direction.

Yes, if you intend to have a comprehensive biotype panel evaluation, the equivalent tests can be provided and, if suitable or recent enough, they can be acceptable for evaluation and a discount will be offered off of the full panel. Typically labs should be within 3 months, assuming no significant medication or supplement changes have been made.

Yes, if you have completed the Walsh Panel labs elsewhere, you can still order the Consultation which includes the Biotype Report. There's an additional fee for tests conducted by external labs or clinics due to the additional time required to collate this information; The cost is $399 vs $299. This cost covers extra time required to manually enter results into a report and other issues that may require back and forth email communication to clarify proper blood tests have or will have been done.

The "functional range" is an ideal test score for each item in the Walsh Panel, per the Walsh Approach. These are considered ideal goals for patient treatment planning. Lab Corp values are based on more loosely defined parameters.

The decision to discontinue any anti-depressant medications is between you and your primary care physician. Following the Walsh Approach, patients are usually encouraged to stay on any prescribed medications for up to six months. This reduces the risk of rebound depression during withdrawal.

No, Dr. Dave does not write prescriptions or coordinate the discontinuation of any medications. It's advisable for any prescriptions or changes to medication routines to be managed by your primary care physician or psychiatrist.

No, while Dr. Dave is a fully licensed physician, he provides "second opinions" and makes supplement recommendations based on his functional medicine background. He believes it's important for patients to have a local provider for visual and physical examinations and to address acute situations.

Yes, typically labs may be recommended if other issues are present or if the patient is requesting additional evaluations. The amount of time required for a phone consult is typically covered in a 10 or 20-minute phone call. If a patient would like a detailed report, similar to the Biotype Report, this will require a $299 Consultation.