TaperClinic FAQ

If you’re reading this, you may be considering reducing—or fully discontinuing—a psychiatric medication. TaperClinic exists for exactly that purpose. Unlike standard psychiatric practices, our entire clinic was built around one mission: helping people live on fewer medications or come off them completely, safely, and with the level of support these complex cases truly require.

This page outlines what we do, how we work, who we can safely treat, and the steps to move forward.

What TaperClinic Is

TaperClinic is a boutique medical practice focused exclusively on medication withdrawal and recovery. The model is intentionally small, intentionally personalized, and intentionally different from conventional psychiatry.

Where most clinicians are trained to start medications, we specialize in helping people stop them—safely, systematically, and with a depth of monitoring most practices cannot provide.

Why Our Approach Works

Traditional tapering advice—cutting a dose in half every few weeks—fails a large percentage of patients. It moves too quickly, ignores the biology of withdrawal, and disregards how differently each brain adapts to medication changes.

Equally important, most psychiatric care leaves very little time to address the underlying drivers of symptoms: sleep disruption, nutritional deficiencies, stress physiology, circadian misalignment, inflammation, and more. Medication becomes the only available tool—not because it’s the right one, but because it’s fast.

Our model addresses both problems:

1. We tailor the taper to the individual

Every aspect—the choice of medication, the reduction schedule, and the formulation—is customized to maximize the chance of success.

2. We adjust continuously

We do not “set it and forget it.” Tapers move forward only at a pace that remains safe and comfortable for the specific person in front of us.

3. We strengthen the foundations that withdrawal depends on

Sleep, nutrition, and psychological support are not optional add-ons—they are essential pillars that allow the nervous to safely stabilize, adapt, and recover.

The result: patients taper more successfully, with fewer complications and far better long-term outcomes.

Our Programs

1. Drug Tapering Program

What’s included:

• A fully individualized taper designed and overseen by a taper-trained clinician

• Access to our team specializing in sleep, nutrition, and psychological support

• Frequent check-ins to adjust the taper in real time

• Small, clinician-led group sessions for routine tapering adjustments and specialty support

This structure provides predictable access, consistent oversight, and a reliable rhythm of care.

Cost: typically $34,000–$38,000 for the first year.

2. Concierge Psychiatry Program

Our highest level of service for those wanting a fully private, entirely 1:1 experience.

What’s included:

• Everything from the Drug Tapering Program

• All visits conducted individually—no group sessions

• Flexible scheduling

• Direct continuity with your clinician and specialty providers

• A seamless, high-touch experience throughout the taper

Designed for patients who prefer or require an individualized medical relationship without shared sessions.

Cost: starts at $65,000 per year.

Who We Can Treat—and Who We Cannot

To ensure safety and maintain the integrity of care, we have admissions criteria that apply to both programs.

Clinic-Wide Exclusions

We cannot accept patients with:

• Bipolar disorder or schizophrenia with any history of violence

• High-risk substance use, including:

– Very high benzodiazepine exposure (≈>6 mg Xanax-equivalent or higher from non-prescription sources)

– Ongoing, uncontrolled alcohol or drug use

– We require 6 months of sobriety before admission

• Significant cognitive impairment without family support that is willing to be highly involved in care

• Severe protracted withdrawal injury (more than ~3 months off medication) primarily seeking symptom reduction, as the chance of stabilization after this point drops dramatically.

These situations require a level of care that cannot be provided safely in our clinical setting.

Additional Restrictions for the Drug Tapering Program

Because this program includes group sessions, we cannot accept:

• Any history of psychosis or mania (unless clearly drug-induced; e.g., induced by cannabis, or an adverse reaction to another medication, etc)

• Patients recently hospitalized for psychiatric reasons in the last 3 months

• Children or adolescents

Concierge Psychiatry Program

Patients who fall outside the group-program criteria may still be eligible for the concierge program, provided none of the clinic-wide exclusions apply. Our concierge program offers the flexibility and intensity required to manage more complex cases safely.

Before You Schedule a Call

Please keep the following in mind:

1. Have all decision-makers present

If someone else participates in major financial or medical decisions with you, please have them join the admissions call. This ensures all key decision makers have the opportunity to evaluate the program with you.

2. History of mania or psychosis requires a support person present

For safety, anyone with a history of mania or psychosis must have a family member or close friend present during evaluation. This helps us gather important information to ensure we can safely oversee the taper.

3. You should be in an active decision-making phase.

Our admissions calls are intended for individuals who are genuinely considering beginning treatment now—not at an indefinite point in the future. Because our programs and availability evolve over time, please wait to book a call if you are not prepared to consider joining within the next month.

Next Steps

If this model fits with what you’re seeking, schedule a call with our admissions team. They’ll walk you through program details, answer questions, and help determine whether we are the right fit.

We look forward to speaking with you.