My Approach
Understanding My Approach To The Healing Process
Many patients languish in treatment for years trying to find answers. Oftentimes, they struggle to get well-rounded, comprehensive care because the specialists they see only understand a small slice of the picture. Psychotherapists might provide insights and teach new coping skills without fully understanding certain medical issues contributing to a patient’s problems. Conversely, a psychiatrist might be able to diagnose mental health disorders but lack the empathy and insightfulness needed to help people feel truly better.
In my experience, what most patients want is a specialist who can give them the best of both worlds. As a Board Certified psychiatrist and a licensed psychotherapist, I am able to provide holistic and compassionate care for people struggling with a wide range of medical, behavioral, and emotional challenges.
My approach fuses diagnostics, medical testing, and medication management with insight-oriented psychotherapy and mindfulness techniques. Because of this unique combination, I am proud to say that my patients actually get results—they don’t languish in treatment for years, and they often find relief within the span of a few sessions.
Why Combine Psychotherapy With Psychopharmacology?
There are many practical advantages to having a specialist who offers both psychotherapy and psychiatry. Some of them include:
Fewer delays between treatments—Patients usually wait months between appointments with their psychiatrists. But since I am also a therapist, patients are able to see me on a more regular basis, making it easier for me to stay up to date with their treatments and keep abreast of new challenges.
A better record of side effects—Since most psychiatrists see their patients infrequently, many patients experience side effects without being able to immediately access their providers. Being a therapist and psychiatrist means patients can talk to me about these effects on a weekly basis instead of waiting so long between treatments.
Easier communication—For many patients, the hassle of communicating back and forth between psychiatrists and therapists about the best options for treatment can create a lot of stress—and most patients are already stressed out enough. Seeing a specialist who offers psychiatry and therapy cuts out these communication challenges and eliminates the need for patients to act as liaisons between providers.
More comprehensive care—Simply put, a mixture of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology allows for more holistic, well-rounded care. The two avenues of treatment can also reinforce each other—medication can elevate your mood and make the work of psychotherapy easier, giving you the energy and motivation you need to successfully implement effective coping skills.
How I Approach Psychiatry
Drawing from an extensive knowledge of neuroscience, medicine, and pharmacology, I am able to help patients find medications that alleviate their symptoms and cause minimal side effects. I use antipsychotic medications, anxiolytics, antidepressants, mood-enhancing drugs, beta blockers, and other FDA-approved pharmaceutical options.
When patients work with me, they have full control over what medications they take. Some find that the work of therapy is effective enough on its own and medication is not needed. For others, medication provides an invaluable accompaniment to their therapeutic journey and allows them to engage in therapy more effectively.
I am also able to provide diagnostics and medical testing, offering comprehensive psychiatric assessments as well as lab work for patients who want to rule out medical causes for their mental health struggles. Disorders like anxiety, depression, and ADHD often have underlying medical causes, which is why I always assess for all possible causes during my initial evaluation with patients.
Additionally, I help patients explore lifestyle changes regarding diet, sleep, exercise, and daily routines. Oftentimes, even seemingly benign habits can reinforce mental health problems, which is why it’s important to address every aspect of a patient’s behavior.
How I Approach Psychotherapy
I use a combination of skill-based and insight-oriented psychotherapy to help patients overcome trauma, better their mental health, and enjoy healthier and happier relationships. Oftentimes, the therapy techniques I utilize heavily depend on the individual patient—what works for one patient may not work for another. It’s very important to customize treatment so that the skills are tailored to each individual’s needs, goals, and preferences.
For patients struggling with anxiety and depression, I often incorporate a wide range of mindfulness exercises like meditation, deep breathing, and visualization. These techniques can help people reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and stay centered in the present moment. For those suffering from traumas and phobias, I may utilize exposure therapy techniques to help them safely and gradually confront the sources of their fears and bolster their distress tolerance in the process.
With all my patients, psychoeducation functions as an essential part of treatment. I seek to help people understand where their mental health disorders come from, how they impact the brain, and what can be done to manage their symptoms more effectively. After all, self-awareness is the first step toward healing—once you understand your mental health challenges on a deeper level, it becomes easier to manage them in day-to-day life.
Get Comprehensive, Holistic, And Compassionate Care
If you want to learn more about my unique fusion of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology, I encourage you to get in touch with me. To get started, you can fill out the contact form or call me at 646-593-2134.
Serving patients in Portland, Oregon, and New York, New York through both virtual and in-person sessions.
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My Approach
in Portland, OR
2250 NW Flanders St #310
Portland, OR 97210
My Approach
in New York, NY
19 W 34th St.
New York, NY 10001