Anxiety & Depression Treatment That Starts With a Doctor Who Listens.

Experience unhurried appointments that actually go somewhere, and message your doctor directly through the patient portal between visits, with replies during office hours.

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Progress measured at every visit Message your doctor in the portal between visits HSA/FSA eligible
Doctor consulting with patient about depression treatment

Sound Familiar?

Getting help for anxiety or depression shouldn’t feel this hard.

The system is designed for billing efficiency, not for people who are already struggling.

The waitlist is long.

You finally reach out, but the next opening is months away. Every week matters. The window of willingness closes.

Medication roulette with no guidance.

First SSRI didn’t work. Second one killed your libido. Third made you numb.

Nobody stopped to figure out why. They just switched you to the next one.

Hard to reach when you have questions.

A rough week hits. A side effect flares. And instead of the doctor who knows your story, you’re routed through call centers and phone trees.

Follow-up care often feels impersonal and disconnected from the doctor who started your treatment.

Your Depression & Anxiety Care

What’s Included

The Core Medical Protocol

A full 60-minute evaluation in your first week. We take a complete psychiatric and medical history, run validated assessments, and rule out medical causes before starting anything.

From there: scheduled check-ins every 2–4 weeks, with medication adjustments based on how you're actually responding. Your progress is measured at every visit so we're making decisions from data.

From day one, you know what happens next: when your check-ins are, what we’re watching for, and what changes if something isn’t working.

A Doctor You Can Actually Reach

Message your doctor directly through the patient portal. When a side effect comes up or you’re having a hard stretch, send a message and we’ll reply during office hours (Mon–Fri, 10 AM–4 PM) — from the doctor who knows your full story. For a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest ER; if you’re in crisis, call or text 988.

Pharmacogenomic Testing (Optional)

A simple cheek swab that shows how your body processes different antidepressants. Instead of guessing which medication to try first, we use your genetic data to narrow the field.

Less guesswork. Fewer failed trials.

Four Printed Clinical Modules

Delivered by your doctor at the visit where each one matters most:

Sleep: A protocol for improving sleep during treatment and managing early medication side effects.

Activity: A structured approach to rebuilding daily activity during the weeks when medication is still taking hold.

Energy & Structure: A framework that connects routine, energy pacing, and mood.

Family Support: A guide for partners or family members on how to provide meaningful support during treatment.

$99 initial evaluation · $75/mo membership
All visits + full primary care included Message your doctor in the patient portal HSA/FSA eligible

Our Commitment to You

We stand behind the care experience we promise — unhurried visits, responsive portal messaging during office hours, and active management of your treatment. We’re with you throughout your care.

Book a Free Intro Call
Evidence-based protocol No referral needed In-person & virtual visits

Get Started

Let’s start the conversation.

A free 15-minute phone call with Dr. Ferra. No commitment, no pressure — just a chance to ask questions and see if this is the right fit.

Request an Intro Call

CompassMD is a cash-pay practice. HSA/FSA eligible. We do not bill insurance.

This is a relaxed, zero-obligation intro call.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Our anxiety and depression program is designed for adults ages 18 and older. While CompassMD provides general primary care for families, our structured anxiety and depression program is exclusively for adult patients.
No referral is needed. You can schedule directly with us. Because CompassMD is a Direct Primary Care practice, there is no insurance gatekeeping or prior authorization to get started.
We schedule new-patient evaluations during our office hours, Monday–Friday, 10 AM–4 PM — typically much sooner than the 3-to-6-month psychiatrist waitlists common in the Milwaukee area.
Your first visit will be in person at our Wauwatosa, WI office for a thorough initial evaluation. After that, many follow-ups and check-ins can be handled virtually so you get ongoing care without disrupting your schedule.
CompassMD provides in-person care at our Wauwatosa, Wisconsin office and telehealth care to patients located in the State of Wisconsin only. We are not currently able to accept patients in other states. Patients must be physically located in Wisconsin at the time of any telehealth visit.

Evaluation & Treatment

Board-certified family physicians manage the majority of anxiety and depression treatment in the United States. For mild-to-moderate depression, you typically do not need a psychiatrist. In fact, seeing a family physician is often advantageous because we assess your entire health picture—thyroid function, sleep, nutrition, chronic conditions—all of which directly affect mood. Dr. Ferra uses the same validated screening tools and evidence-based medication protocols used in psychiatric practice. If your condition requires specialized psychiatric care, we will coordinate that referral directly.
We dedicate a full 60 minutes to your comprehensive evaluation. This includes:
  • Validated depression and anxiety screening (PHQ-9, GAD-7).
  • A detailed review of your psychiatric history, medical history, and current symptoms.
  • Assessment of sleep, energy, appetite, concentration, and daily functioning.
  • Baseline labs to rule out medical conditions that mimic or worsen depression (thyroid, vitamin D, anemia, metabolic panel).
  • A collaborative treatment plan and—if appropriate—medication initiation.
Absolutely. Many patients come to us because their current medication isn’t effective, causes intolerable side effects, or was never properly optimized. We’ll review your full treatment history, consider pharmacogenomic testing to guide medication selection, and build a plan that actually works for where you are now.
Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is a simple cheek swab that analyzes how your body metabolizes different medications. The results help identify which antidepressants are most likely to work effectively for you and which ones you may process poorly. It doesn’t guarantee the “right” medication on the first try, but it significantly reduces the guesswork and the number of failed trials. PGx testing is optional and available to all patients.
Patient safety is our top priority. Our program is designed for mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. If during evaluation or treatment we determine that your condition requires specialized psychiatric care—such as treatment-resistant depression, active psychosis, bipolar disorder, or acute suicidality—we will personally coordinate your transition to the appropriate specialist. You will not be dropped or left without a clear path forward.

Pricing & Insurance

CompassMD is a cash-pay practice, which means we don’t bill insurance directly. The upside? No prior authorizations, no rushed visits, and no surprise bills. Dr. Ferra works directly for you and makes treatment decisions based purely on your clinical needs—not what an insurance company approves. If you’d like to seek out-of-network reimbursement, we’re happy to provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer. Your regular health insurance or GoodRx can still be used to cover medication costs at the pharmacy.
Depression and anxiety care at CompassMD has two simple components:
  • Initial evaluation ($99): A one-time fee that covers your comprehensive 60-minute evaluation.
  • Monthly membership ($75/mo): Covers all follow-up visits, dose adjustments, progress tracking, patient-portal messaging answered during office hours, and full primary care. No long-term contracts. Cancel anytime.

Your first month totals $174 ($99 evaluation + $75 membership), then $75/mo ongoing.

Patient safety and ethical care are our top priorities. If during your initial evaluation we determine that your symptoms are not caused by depression, or that your clinical situation requires a specialized psychiatrist, we’ll discuss the best next steps and make sure you’re pointed in the right direction. Your $99 evaluation fee covers the visit regardless of outcome. You still leave with a clear understanding of what’s going on and a plan forward.
Your membership covers all visits, patient-portal messaging answered during office hours, progress tracking, and behavioral resources. Medications are paid directly to your pharmacy (most generic antidepressants are $4–$15/month). For baseline labs, we offer deeply discounted wholesale cash pricing, or we can route them to a local lab to be billed to your health insurance. Pharmacogenomic testing is optional and billed separately; many insurers cover it, and manufacturer programs can reduce out-of-pocket cost significantly.
Yes. Your evaluation fee and monthly membership are both eligible HSA/FSA expenses. We provide documentation for reimbursement.

Safety & Scope

Our treatment approach focuses on evidence-based antidepressant management (SSRIs, SNRIs, and other FDA-approved options). We do not prescribe benzodiazepines or other controlled substances as part of our depression and anxiety care. If anxiety is a significant component of your presentation, we address it through appropriate non-controlled medications, behavioral strategies, and therapy referrals.
Our care is physician-led medical care, not psychotherapy. We provide four printed clinical modules covering sleep, activity scheduling, energy management, and family support — along with measurement-based progress tracking at every visit. For patients who would benefit from dedicated therapy (and many do), we maintain a trusted local referral network of therapists and can coordinate a warm handoff. The combination of medication management from us plus therapy from a qualified counselor is the gold-standard approach for moderate depression.
Between visits, message your doctor directly through the patient portal and we’ll reply during office hours (Monday–Friday, 10 AM–4 PM). If you’re having a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest ER; if you’re in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?

No referral needed. No insurance hassles. Just a doctor with time to listen and a structured plan to get you there.

Book a Free Intro Call Wauwatosa, WI · In-person & virtual visits available
Book a Free Intro Call