Why choose to see a psychiatrist rather than another mental health specialist?
As a psychiatrist, I’m the only member of the mental health team who is trained as a medical doctor. This enables me to draw on a depth of medical knowledge about both biological and psychological issues, and to combine counseling with medication where necessary and appropriate. The most important factor to me is that I’ve been trained to be able to take responsibility for a patient’s total care and to lead a mental health team.
Why choose an adult, child or adolescent psychiatrist?
I run a large free standing community mental health center where I not only treat people with many different mental health diagnoses but I also supervise therapists, students and coordinate wrap around care in order to improve my patient’s lives. Not many psychiatrists go on to pursue advanced training in working with children and teenagers. After my psychiatric residency, I completed a special two-year fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry. Since residency and fellowship, I’ve worked with children, adolescents, adults in a wide variety of settings.
When are medications necessary?
Good question! It’s clear that nationwide, psychiatric medication is both overprescribed and underprescribed. Before recommending medication, it’s important to do a thorough evaluation of all the medical, psychological, and social factors; to have a full picture of what’s been tried already (medication and non-medication); and to have carefully considered the risks and benefits of both treating and not treating.
I believe that a doctor should get to know a patient well before recommending medication, and should apply the same risk/benefit standard as he’d do with a member of his own family.
Are medications safe?
Before any medication is prescribed, a full review of the risks/benefits and alternative treatment options will always be discussed. Although some common mild side effects (headache, nausea, change in sleep and appetite) can occur temporarily they generally subside. Contemporary medications are generally safe in all age groups for short term and long term use.
Do you take insurance?
I provide out-of-network billing. Payments for the visits can be made by cash, credit card and are due at the time of the visit.