Services

The Initial Assessment

People are often not fully aware of the relationship between their mental and emotional well being and the environment. Your initial appointment be a 60 minute evaluation and assessment. We will spend this time isolating and prioritizing what aspects of your mental health you want to focus on. You’ll provide a medical and mental health history, and we’ll take a look at any factors contributing to those areas of your mental health that you want to work on. With respect to time and efficiency, you will be asked to read and complete several questionnaires before you have your first appointment to optimize the quality of time we spend together during this initial assessment.

Formulating a Diagnosis

Often an accurate DSM-V diagnosis can be established during the initial assessment. This diagnosis will be a helpful tool in understanding what treatment plan options are available and how treatment will address your specific symptoms. I have treated patients experiencing a multitude of mental health diagnosis including anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, substance use disorder and many other presentations.

Building a Treatment Plan

You and I will collaborate as a team to formulate an individualized treatment plan that will  address your diagnosis in the context of your current life stressors with the goal of reaching your ideal picture of mental health. Your treatment plan will likely include both medication management and therapy to support you on the journey towards your stated treatment plan goals. It may be determined that your treatment plan would benefit from a collaborative integration with your primary care provider and/or specialty providers. Additionally, you may require lab testing, electrocardiograms, or imagining related to your diagnosis, specific medications or other components of your treatment plan.  You may be referred to another provider or higher level of care if it is determined that you would be better serviced by providers or institutions more appropriate to your current treatment needs.

Medication Management

Medication is often recommended as one of the building blocks of your treatment plan. Before prescribing psychiatric medications, we will discuss benefits (supported by evidence based research), risks and potential side effects. We will discuss what you can expect to experience with initiation, during the course of treatment, or with any adjustments required on the path toward your stated goals. Understandably, some patients are concerned about the unintended impact that some medication side effects may have on the quality of their lives. I consider it a professional obligation to address these concerns and give patients the opportunity to make informed and educated decisions regarding medication management. The primary goal with medication management is to reach your treatment ideals using the fewest number of medications at the lowest effective doses. I maintain an incredibly conservative prescribing practice pertaining to controlled substances. With respect to your safety, stimulant medications and benzodiazepines will not be prescribed during initial evaluations.

Substance Use Treatment

Substance Use Disorder is a multifactorial and far reaching psycho-social issue. I have worked extensively in the field of harm reduction and addiction medicine. While I am licensed and waivered for buprenorphine/naloxone prescribing, this practice does not currently meet federal requirements for these medications. I do prescribe several non-narcotic medications applicable to substance use treatment.

Psychotherapy

There is a large body of evidence in published research that shows the use of therapy in conjunction with medication management is far more effective than either modality on its own. I offer a combination modalities and approaches to therapy that can be tailored to your needs as outlined in your treatment plan. Unfortunately, I do not provide therapy alone, however I am able to make recommendations to resources within our community that may provide the services you are looking for. I strongly recommend that therapy be included in treatment plans, it has proven to be a useful tool for many of my patients.

*I do not provide disability evaluations.

*I do not provide letters for emotional support animals.