What can a Psychiatrist do for me?

A Psychiatrist is a certified medical professional that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental illness and psychological problems. A Psychiatrist has completed medical school, in addition to at least four years of training in the field. Psychiatrists are not only trained to diagnose and manage mental illness, but are also adept at providing psychotherapy. Certain specializations within Psychiatry require additional years of training and qualification. Within the profession, each Psychiatrist has specific areas of interest and specialization but has the skills to provide treatment from multiple approaches.

What will happen during my first appointment?

We will meet for an extensive interview and psychiatric evaluation in which we will discuss some information such as your history, symptoms, and family dynamics. Within this first session together, we will then determine the best plan of action to move forward.

Will my treatment be kept confidential?

Confidentiality is very important and something taken very seriously in the office. No information regarding what happens within the work that we do together will be revealed unless you have signed the Authorization to Disclose Information form. In that case, only the specific information we agree upon will be released and only to the party you have specified. In the instance that you are in danger of harming yourself or another, then I am obligated by law to alert authorities.

How long will my treatment last?

There are no precise determinations that I can make regarding the length of your treatment. Generally speaking, the longer you have had your mental illness not medically acknowledged, the longer the treatment will take. Certain conditions do not require a lot of time to treat, and others considerably more. Certain mental illnesses require just a couple of visits, and others require life long maintenance. I believe that you should seek treatment as soon as possible, for the best outcome.

How can I prevent mental illness coming back?

We will discuss guidance and protocols to adhere to both inside and outside of the office. Follow the treatment regimen and plan of action prescribed. Make sure that you follow the medication regimen, attend the psychotherapy and counseling sessions, and keep your life as balanced as you can. It is very important to try and avoid stressful situations, let your loved ones help you whenever possible, and seek help the moment you feel like your mental illness is coming back or getting worse.

What determines if my mental illness will come back?

There are a few components that play a part in the recurrence of mental illness. Coexisting stresses in life: often times, a mental illness will recur if there are additional life stressors (family or marital problems, starting a new job, losing someone close to you).

• Age: more often than not, if someone is diagnosed with a mental illness earlier than later in life, there is a higher likelihood of the illness recurring.
• Diagnosis: Some mental illnesses are more common to recur than others. Some of the ones on the list that are more likely to come back are: OCD, drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.

What if I have an emergency or an urgent situation come up?

If you find yourself in the midst of an emergency, please immediately call 9-1-1. If you are a current patient and have an urgent situation, call the office. We will discuss at our first meeting how to page me and I will call you back as soon as possible and determine with you how to proceed.

What is tele-medicine

Tele-medicine is a convenient, modern use of technology where you see the doctor from the convenience of your own home on your computer or phone. All appointments from are provided by Tele-Medicine. We do NOT see patients at our physical address.

What ages of patients do you serve?

Ages 5 and above

Cancellation Policy

Because your appointment time is set aside specifically for you, I cannot easily fill an appointment that is cancelled with little notice. If you cannot come to your appointment, I ask that you notify me at least one business day in advance of your appointment. If your appointment is on a Monday, this means that you have notified me on Friday, prior to your scheduled appointment time on Monday. If you do not show up for your scheduled appointment and you have not notified the office at least 1 business day in advance, you will be charged the fee for the visit. However, if you contact me and I am able to reschedule your appointment during that same week, then you will not be charged for the missed visit.