We compared five psychiatric care providers serving Williamsburg, VA and the surrounding Hampton Roads / Virginia Peninsula area on clinical credentials, treatment breadth, and care model. Every provider is described using information found on their own website or public listings; contact each provider directly to confirm current details.
Williamsburg, VA
Founded by Dr. Alex Cojanu, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology), VIPPs is a concierge practice offering psychiatric evaluation and medication management alongside Exomind TMS, an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment for major depressive disorder, delivered by the same practice rather than an outside referral.
Visit Provider Website →Source: Official provider website
What Makes VIPPs' Model Different
VIPPs pairs board-certified psychiatric care with Exomind TMS delivered by the same practice, rather than referring patients elsewhere for that specific treatment. Exomind TMS is FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder in adults, offering a non-medication option to discuss alongside traditional psychiatric care, and VIPPs operates on a concierge model emphasizing privacy and direct physician access.
Learn more about VIPPs' psychiatry services →
Other Psychiatry Providers Serving Williamsburg, VA
These practices also serve the Williamsburg / Hampton Roads area and offer their own combinations of psychiatric care, medication management, and therapy.
Williamsburg, VA
A multi-provider mental health clinic offering psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and therapy through a network of psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurse practitioners, with both in-person and telehealth appointments and a broad range of insurance accepted.
Visit Provider Website →Source: Official provider website
Newport News, VA
A Newport News-based practice offering psychiatric medication management alongside individual, couples, family, and play therapy (ages 3–12) for the greater Hampton Roads area.
Visit Provider Website →Source: Official provider website
Newport News, VA
A Newport News practice offering psychiatric support, medication management, and therapy/counseling for individuals and families across Hampton Roads, with two psychiatrists on staff.
Visit Provider Website →Source: Official provider website
Newport News, VA
Formerly TPMG Behavioral Health, this practice joined Sentara Medical Group in August 2025 and now operates as Sentara Behavioral Health Specialists, offering medication management and counseling as part of the wider Sentara health system.
Visit Provider Website →Source: Official provider website
Compare Providers
A quick side-by-side on the factors patients ask about most. Where a detail wasn't independently confirmed, we've marked it "Contact provider" rather than guess.
| Provider | Board-Certified Psychiatrist | Medication Mgmt | TMS | Therapy | Location | Insurance / Self-Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIPPs (Vertically Integrated Personalized Psychiatry) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Contact provider | Williamsburg, VA | Concierge / self-pay model (confirm details directly) |
| LifeStance Health, Williamsburg | Varies by provider | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Williamsburg, VA | Broad insurance network (confirm plan) |
| Coastal Medical & Psychiatric Services | Contact provider | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Newport News, VA | Contact provider |
| Colonial Psychiatric Associates | Contact provider | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Newport News, VA | Accepts Medicare & Medicaid (confirm private plans) |
| Sentara Behavioral Health Specialists, Newport News | Contact provider | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Newport News, VA | Sentara Health Plans network (confirm other plans) |
Psychiatrist vs. Therapist: What's the Difference?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions, order labs, and prescribe medication. A therapist (counselor, psychologist, or clinical social worker) provides talk therapy and, in most states, cannot prescribe medication. The two roles are complementary rather than interchangeable: many people work with a psychiatrist for medication management and a therapist for weekly or biweekly talk therapy. Some practices on this list, like LifeStance Health and Coastal Medical & Psychiatric Services, offer both under one roof; others focus specifically on the medical/psychiatric side.
More on TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)
TMS uses a magnetic coil placed against the scalp to deliver pulses that stimulate brain regions associated with mood regulation (NIMH: Brain Stimulation Therapies). It's non-invasive, doesn't require anesthesia, and a typical course involves multiple sessions over several weeks. Exomind, the device used by VIPPs, is one branded TMS system on the market; TMS more broadly was first FDA-cleared for treating major depressive disorder in 2008. TMS is generally considered for patients who haven't had full symptom relief from medication alone, since it isn't typically a first-line treatment. Read more on our integrative psychiatry & TMS page.
How to Choose a Psychiatrist
- Confirm board certification. Look for certification through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
- Clarify what you need. Medication management only, therapy only, or both, since not every practice offers the same mix.
- Ask about wait times. Network-based practices may have shorter waits for a first appointment; concierge practices often offer faster direct access in exchange for self-pay or membership fees.
- Check insurance/self-pay upfront. Ask specifically whether the practice is in-network with your plan, and what a session or visit costs out of pocket if not.
- Ask about specific treatments like TMS if you're interested, and what condition it's cleared to treat, before assuming it's an option.
Telehealth vs. In-Person Care
Several practices on this list, including LifeStance Health, offer telehealth appointments alongside in-person visits. Telehealth can be a good fit for routine medication management follow-ups and for patients balancing work or family schedules. In-person visits are typically still required for initial evaluations at most practices, and are necessary for in-office treatments like TMS. If flexibility matters most to you, ask each practice directly what portion of care can be done remotely.
Cost & Insurance
Costs vary widely by provider, visit type, and insurance status, and we haven't listed specific dollar figures here since they change frequently and depend on your individual plan. In general: network-based practices like LifeStance Health, Coastal Medical & Psychiatric Services, Colonial Psychiatric Associates, and Sentara Behavioral Health Specialists more commonly bill insurance directly. Concierge-style practices like VIPPs typically operate on a self-pay or membership basis, which usually means faster access and more direct physician time, but limited or no direct insurance billing. Ask every practice for a current fee schedule and their in-network status with your specific plan before booking.