My approach

Beginning treatment

Whether you are seeking medication management, therapy, or both, treatment begins with an extended evaluation, either a single 75-minute session or two hour-long sessions. I use this time to understand not just your symptoms, but your history, relationships, and the circumstances that brought you in now. A thorough initial assessment makes it possible to develop a treatment plan that fits your specific needs.

Psychotherapy

My approach to therapy is psychodynamic. I attend to patterns, but also to what drives them: how the past shapes the present, what people do to protect themselves from painful feelings, and what unfolds between us in the room. This can be particularly useful when someone understands a pattern intellectually but still finds themselves repeating it. That said, I'm pragmatic. When techniques from CBT or DBT would be useful, I draw on them.

Medication

I believe medications work best when prescribed thoughtfully and monitored carefully. I work with patients to identify what we are targeting and why, and to adjust the plan as we learn more. Medication management can be a treatment in its own right or can be integrated with the therapy I provide. When both are part of treatment, I can consider the effects of medication in the context of the therapy and of your life as a whole. Although medication is not the right choice for everyone, in some cases, finding the right option can make a huge difference.