My Approach
Taking the time to understand you.
Seeing a psychiatrist is usually a difficult, stressful decision. You might be feeling at a low point in your life, or that something is just not working for you anymore. I have a lot of respect for someone who is taking the risk to ask for help. Life is hard enough. You are not alone.
I will take the time to understand you and your situation. How can we best collaborate and help you move forward?
Descriptions beyond diagnostic labels.
At the end of our initial meeting, I will share my impressions from the big picture down to considerations of descriptive psychiatric diagnoses. Sometimes we also find that different symptoms and difficulties can be manifestations of a central problematic process. For example, significant suffering arises from difficulty in just “being with” our emotions.
I think of a diagnosis as helpful, though, if it resonates with your lived experience. Labels come from pages of a book, while a person’s symptoms and problems fit into the context and meaning of a unique life.
Evidence-based treatment personalized for you.
I will present treatment recommendations and alternatives, so that we can collaborate on what could work well for you specifically. I want you to understand the recommendations and reasoning before we make any decisions.
Are we a good fit?
We can also discuss if we are a good fit to continue working together. Does how I understand things make sense to you, from your perspective? If your issues are better served by a provider with a different specialization, I can help you with that as well.
Colleagues and patients have described me as thoughtful, calm, and curious. I would add down-to-earth, with a fair sense of humor. I value being emotionally present with whoever walks through my door.