How do I know that you are the right person to help?

The best way to find out is to call. I only schedule a first appointment after speaking on the phone - this gives us an opportunity to determine that I am truly able to help and that my approach feels right for you.

Why is the initial evaluation so long?

An in-depth, thorough first appointment is essential for making accurate diagnoses and for creating successful, individualized treatment plans. Most pediatric initial visits take place over two separate sessions in order to make the evaluation more comfortable for families.

Do you treat very young children?

Absolutely! As a child and adolescent psychiatrist certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), I possess the expertise to safely and accurately diagnose and treat children of all ages. In the outpatient setting, the youngest age is typically 3 years old.

Why should my child be evaluated by a psychiatrist?

Most adult psychiatric illnesses begin in childhood and adolescence. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to ensure lifelong success and well-being.

I already tried seeing a psychiatrist. How will seeing you be any different?

Not all psychiatrists are equally well trained and equally experienced. Moreover, many providers who practice psychiatry in outpatient clinics are not psychiatrists. Only physicians (M.D./D.O. degree) with specialty training in psychiatry are psychiatrists. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are NOT psychiatrists and are not trained or board-certified in psychiatric medicine.

Furthermore, child psychiatrists are physicians who receive training in both general psychiatry and pediatric psychiatry. Receiving medical services from a provider who is not a physician and is not board-certified by the ABPN can result in misdiagnosis, delay in treatment, and harm to you or your child.

Do you take insurance?

No, I do not have any contracts with health insurance companies. I can provide “superbills” which can be submitted to your health insurance provider for reimbursement. Such reimbursement is only possible from PPO plans and is NOT guaranteed. To find out if you are eligible for reimbursement, you can call your insurance company and ask about “out of network benefits.”

How is your clinic different from clinics that take insurance ?

Many clinics that take insurance will have you see nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) for most, if not all appointments. These healthcare providers did not attend medical school, did not complete supervised medical training (residency), and are not board certified by ABPN.

Moreover, medical doctors who are ABPN certified pediatric psychiatrists complete an additional 2 years of fellowship training under supervision treating only children and adolescents, and they are required to stay current with the latest research in the field.

Does my child need to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist?

Pediatric psychiatrists, like myself, are physicians who are experts in diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental illness in children and adolescents. In other words, we are trained in both medicine and in mental health, and we can diagnose all psychiatric illnesses - including ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and OCD. In addition, we have extensive knowledge about treatments (both medication and psychotherapy) and we can determine what the most effective treatment combination would be.

Psychologists can often enhance psychiatric care through objective psychological testing (which helps with clarifying certain diagnoses) and through psychotherapy. Psychologists do not possess medical training (i.e., did not complete medical school), they cannot evaluate for medical illness that could cause psychiatric symptoms, and they cannot prescribe medications.

Does my child need to take psychiatric medications?

Like many other childhood illnesses (such as asthma, epilepsy, and allergies), psychiatric illnesses (e.g., ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression) often require medication treatment. That being said, medication may not be needed for less severe illness. I spend a lot of time discussing treatment options with parents because they are the ones deciding what is best for their child. Whenever I do prescribe medications, I always use the lowest effective dose.

Will medications change my child’s personality?

Psychiatric medications approved by the FDA have been extensively researched and tested to ensure that they are safe and effective. These medications do not change a child’s personality, but if dosed incorrectly, their side-effects (e.g., drowsiness, restlesness, irritability) can make your child appear very different. For this reason, it is extremely important to receive treatment from a ABPN Board-Certified Pediatric Psychiatrist (Read more about the Value of Board Certification).

Do you treat individuals with autism?

Yes, I treat both children and adults with autism. I have expertise in diagnosing autism in patients of all ages and often treat various symptoms associated with autism.

How are you different from a therapist?

Psychiatric illness is medical illness. Therapists and psychologists can often diagnose childhood psychiatric illness, but they do not possess the medical knowledge related to these disorders and cannot prescribe medications. Having your child evaluated by a child and adolescent psychiatrist (MD or DO degree) will help ensure that these diagnoses are accurate and that the illness is not caused by, or associated with other factors (medical, genetic, or environmental). It will also ensure that your child receives quick and effective intervention to restore their health. Early and effective treatment is very important for psychiatric illness.

Do I need to see you for weekly appointments?

I always schedule 90-120 minute initial appointments so that I can get to know each person very well and we can develop a thorough treatment plan from day one. As a result, we are able to minimize the frequency of follow-up visits. Most of my patients see me every 3-4 weeks for the first 2-3 months of treatment, during which period we also check in periodically over the phone. After that, we usually meet every 3 months.

I do, however, work weekly with patients who see me for intensive psychotherapy treatment.

Are you a psychotherapist?

Yes, I am both a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist. I have extensive training in supportive psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness, couples therapy, and family therapy. I provide both medication and psychotherapy treatment during every appointment in order to facilitate healing.

How frequent are therapy appointments?

For optimal psychotherapeutic benefit, weekly appointments are recommended in the first 3 months of treatment. However, this can vary slightly depending on the person and their treatment goals. Psychotherapy appointments are always optional and we decide on the frequency together.

Do I have to see you for therapy?

No. During the initial consultation, I am very transparent with patients as to whether my psychotherapy expertise would be appropriate for their diagnoses and symptoms. If appropriate and if the person doesn’t already have a therapist, I will offer this treatment. A decision to receive therapy from outside providers has no impact on my treatment recommendations or my dedication to patients.

I encourage almost all of my patients to pursue psychotherapy treatment with a therapist (not necessarily myself), if they are not already seeing a therapist. For the vast majority of psychiatric illnesses, psychotherapy is an essential part of the treatment.