After 33 years in traditional healthcare, psychologist Dr. Mark Parisi has a clear perspective on what makes mental health care work: understanding the person, removing unnecessary barriers and connecting care around their needs.
What if effective mental health care started with fewer assumptions and more questions?
For First Stop Health psychologist Dr. Mark Parisi, understanding what someone is experiencing is the foundation of effective treatment.
“Good treatment flows from knowing what you're treating.”
It's a philosophy informed by his background in neuropsychology, decades of clinical experience and firsthand knowledge of the challenges that can come with traditional healthcare.
We spoke with Dr. Parisi about why thoughtful assessment matters, what he's learned after 33 years in healthcare and how connected care can help clinicians better support their patients.
After spending more than three decades working within insurance-based, fee-for-service healthcare, Dr. Parisi appreciates having greater flexibility to focus on patients' needs.
Traditional insurance requirements can sometimes limit treatment frequency or make it difficult to continue seeing patients who no longer meet certain medical necessity criteria.
But as Dr. Parisi points out, someone doesn't have to be in crisis to benefit from support.
“Some clients just want the support.”
At First Stop Health, he values being able to continue working with patients who are stable but still benefit from having someone to talk to.
He also appreciates the ability to collaborate with other clinicians across primary care, mental health and additional services.
For Dr. Parisi, it's a refreshing change from a model where administrative requirements can sometimes influence the course of care.
“Good treatment flows from knowing what you're treating.”
For Dr. Parisi, those words reflect one of the most important lessons of his career.
Mental health symptoms aren't always straightforward. Difficulty concentrating, mood changes, disrupted sleep and low energy can have different underlying causes.
Rather than applying the same treatment approach to everyone, he believes clinicians should begin with a thorough assessment and continue asking questions when something doesn't add up.
With his background in neuropsychology, Dr. Parisi can incorporate psychological screening to help clarify symptoms and inform treatment planning.
The goal is to understand what someone is experiencing well enough to develop an evidence-based plan that fits their needs.
“Sometimes you'll continue to assess,” he explains. That willingness to look more closely can change the direction of someone's care.
Mental and physical health don't operate independently.
Dr. Parisi explains that physical conditions such as diabetes, weight concerns and sleep difficulties can have psychological components. Similarly, anxiety, depression, trauma and grief can affect physical well-being.
Yet in traditional healthcare, these services are often disconnected.
“In theory, you could provide referrals for those things, but it may or may not come to fruition,” he says.
At First Stop Health, Dr. Parisi can connect patients with primary care, nutrition support, health coaching and other mental health professionals through the same care platform.
That makes it easier to address needs that extend beyond an individual appointment or specialty.
For patients navigating several health challenges at once, having those resources connected can make a meaningful difference.
Dr. Parisi has experienced healthcare from several perspectives, including clinical practice and organizational leadership. As a former healthcare CEO, he understands the importance of creating an environment where clinicians feel supported.
He believes a positive workplace culture and healthy work-life balance are essential parts of that environment. At First Stop Health, he appreciates the opportunity to take breaks, disconnect from work and participate in wellness programming.
He also points to team collaboration and organizational support as meaningful aspects of his experience.
For Dr. Parisi, prioritizing clinician well-being is part of building a healthier healthcare workplace.
Mental health challenges don't stay neatly separated from work.
Anxiety, depression and other concerns can influence concentration, energy, relationships and an employee's ability to manage everyday responsibilities.
Dr. Parisi believes accessible mental health care plays an important role in supporting employees through those challenges.
But making services available is only one part of the equation.
People also need to feel comfortable using them, and they need a practical way to get started.
For Dr. Parisi, two major barriers are accessibility and cost.
Traditional mental health services can involve substantial out-of-pocket expenses, lengthy wait times and limited provider availability, particularly in underserved communities.
Virtual care can help reduce those obstacles by allowing people to connect with clinicians from the comfort of home.
Dr. Parisi also values the ability to provide ongoing support as patients' needs change, including when someone is doing well but wants help maintaining that progress.
Together, accessibility, affordability and continuity can make mental health care easier to engage with over time.
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