Aetna Psychiatrist in Norwich, CT

Finding a psychiatrist who takes your insurance in eastern Connecticut isn't always easy. But if you have Aetna, Elite Health LLC is in-network — so you can access care from Sindhia Shyras, APRN without the out-of-network headache. She's a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with more than nine years of clinical experience, and she sees patients from Norwich and across the state via telehealth. In-person visits are available in New Britain. Whether you're dealing with depression, anxiety, ADHD, or something harder to name, this is a place you can get a real evaluation and a treatment plan that actually fits.

How Aetna Mental Health Coverage Works

Under federal mental health parity law, Aetna is required to cover psychiatric visits on the same terms as other specialist visits. That's not a courtesy — it's the law. So when you book a psychiatric evaluation or a medication management follow-up with Elite Health, your Aetna plan treats it like a specialist visit: you pay your copay (typically $20–$60 depending on your plan), Aetna covers the rest. No separate mental health deductible, no hidden out-of-pocket category. Just your standard cost-sharing. And because Elite Health is in-network, there's no penalty for choosing us over a random provider you found online.

No Referral? That's Usually Fine With Aetna

Most Aetna plans — particularly PPO-style plans — allow you to self-refer to a mental health provider without first seeing your primary care doctor. You can just call us or book online. That said, HMO and some managed-care plans do require a referral, so it's worth a quick check. Look at your Aetna member card and see whether you're on an HMO plan. If you are, a quick call to your PCP takes care of it. Or call Aetna directly and ask — the behavioral health line can confirm your referral requirements in a few minutes. Either way, we can walk you through it when you call us.

Prior Authorization — We Handle It

Some Aetna plans require prior authorization for certain psychiatric services, especially for extended evaluations or ongoing medication management. It sounds complicated, but here's the thing: the practice handles the prior auth process. You don't have to track down forms, call the insurance company's clinical review line, or explain your situation to someone who doesn't know your history. Our team submits the required documentation and follows up. Your job is to show up. Prior auth rarely delays an initial evaluation, and for follow-up visits it's usually already in place before your next appointment.

Conditions Treated — And What You Can Expect

Sindhia Shyras, APRN sees adults dealing with a wide range of conditions: depression, anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, panic, and social anxiety), PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, insomnia, and mood disorders. The first appointment is a full psychiatric evaluation — she's going to ask a lot of questions, and you should too. From there, treatment typically involves medication management visits, with supportive therapy woven in as appropriate. She also speaks English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu, which matters for patients who are more comfortable discussing mental health in their first language. From Norwich, telehealth makes all of this accessible without the drive.