TREATMENT TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUAL

Our precision treatment allows us to personalize care to each patient’s unique needs & symptom presentation.

Patients work with the same clinician throughout their treatment for an unmatched continuity of care.

1:1 care from start to finish.

What is Anxiety?

40 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE ANXIETY, SO KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

It’s normal to have anxious days. However, when those days turn into longer periods of time, and your anxiety is persistent, seemingly uncontrollable, overwhelming, and interferes with daily activities–you may have an anxiety disorder. But don’t worry, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the US., affecting 40 million Americans, and they are highly treatable.

When might I need psychopharmacology?

Many people with mental health disorders take medication to help manage their symptoms. Some of the most common reasons to consider psychopharmacology include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Postpartum depression
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Insomnia
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Mood disorders
  • Psychosis
  • LGBTQ Family Services
  • Substance Use disorders

The Key symptoms of Anxiety include:

  • Excessive worry not just one, but many issues individuals, or events
  • Difficulty in controlling the feeling of worry, often without control in shifting from one topic to another

At least 3 additional symptoms:

  • General restlessness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue or the feeling of easily tired
  • Muscle aches or soreness
  • Feelings of impending panic, dread, or “impending doom”

VIVIAN J.

I have struggled with anxiety for several years. I didn’t think anything would help and was ashamed and too busy to take the time to speak to a doctor in person. The doctor was judgement-free, simply listened, and explained the options. About a month into treatment, I can feel a total difference. I felt the old me coming back, and I was able to handle my anxiety much better. I have found that instead of my anxiety controlling me I am now the one in control.

Anxiety and depression often go hand -in-hand, creating a self-sustaining negative cycle. In fact, it is estimated that 60% of people with anxiety also suffer from depression, and vice versa.

Depression

Anxiety

Behavior Disorders

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a common clinical problem in children and adolescents. Oppositionality and associated types of aggressive behavior are among the most common referral problems in child psychiatry. Grouped among the disruptive behavior disorders, ODD is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric conditions and often precedes the development of conduct disorder (CD), substance abuse, and severely delinquent behavior.

The etiology of ODD is complex, and its development is based on a cumulative risk/protective factor model that combines biological, psychological, and social factors. Recommended treatment is multimodal and extensive, involving individual and family psychotherapeutic approaches, medication, and behavior therapy.

Autism Spectrum Disorders:

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is usually diagnosed in the first three years of life. Generally, parents become concerned when their child has delays in speech development, limited social relatedness, and restricted interests and activities. The child may avoid direct eye contact and exhibit odd behaviors such as focusing on parts of objects (e.g., the spinning wheel of a toy car). There may be unusual motor movements such as hand flapping, self-stimulation, or walking on toes.

Finding the right treatment plan can be challenging because every child is unique and has different strengths and weaknesses. Often, parents have their child tested for hearing problems because their child does not respond to conversation or commands. They may also show strange or difficult to manage behaviors. Early detection and getting the right educational, medical, behavioral, and supportive services can improve the functioning and long-term outlook of children with autism

What is Depression?

20 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE DEPRESSION, SO KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

It’s normal to feel sad or have days when you feel down. However, if you feel sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in things you once enjoyed for more than two weeks, and when the feelings interfere with daily activities–you may have depression. But don’t worry, depression is a treatable condition, affecting nearly 20 million Americans. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, help is available, and you can get better with the right care, early identification and effective treatment may reduce the impact of depression on the family, social, and academic functioning in youths and may reduce the risk of suicide, substance abuse, and persistence of depressive disorders into adulthood. Evidence-supported treatment interventions guide clinicians to improve outcomes.

Symptoms of Depression:

  • Having little interest or pleasure in doing things
  • Feeling bad about yourself or feeling like a failure
  • Poor appetite or overeating
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Irritability and agitation
  • Restlessness
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Moving or speaking slowly that other people have noticed

JOCELYN E.

I started feeling depressed about five years ago, but I couldn’t label the depression. I just felt my energy was low, I was sad a lot of the time. And then I think when I realized it was depression was when I felt that I was not able to get out of bed, that I didn’t want to see people – I realized that this was more than just being sad or being low energy.

Disruptive Mood deregulation disorder

Children with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) have severe and frequent temper tantrums that interfere with their ability to function at home, in school, or with their friends. Some of these children were previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder, even though they often did not have all the signs and symptoms. Research has also demonstrated that children with DMDD usually do not go on to have bipolar disorder in adulthood. They are more likely to develop problems with depression or anxiety. Many children are irritable, upset, or moody from time to time. Occasional temper tantrums are also a normal part of growing up. However, when children are usually irritable or angry or when temper tantrums are frequent, intense, and ongoing, it may be signs of a mood disorder such as DMDD.

Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with deficits in cognition, affect, and social functioning. The onset of the illness rarely occurs before the age of 13 years, but then increases steadily during adolescence. Accurate diagnosis and treatment require familiarity with the clinical presentation, phenomenology, and course of the disorder. Diagnostic assessment must also incorporate an understanding of the youth’s developmental, social, educational, and psychological needs.

ADHD

People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development: problems following through on directions/ unfinished tasks difficulty with organization; is often forgetful reluctance to engage in tasks requiring sustained attention failing to give close attention to details/ careless mistakes difficulty sustaining attention problems listening when spoken to directly misplaces things necessary for tasks and activities easily distracted by extraneous stimuli Patient ENDORSES # out of 9 hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD as occurring often or very often, including fidgets/squirms always on the go, driven by a motor often leaves seat when remaining seated is expected restlessness trouble engaging in leisure activities talks excessively blurts out answers/completes other people sentences difficulty waiting their turn interrupts or intrudes on others.

Substance Use Disorders

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins when they take prescribed medicines or receive them from others who have prescriptions. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill. These are called withdrawal symptoms. Help from your health care provider, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program can help you overcome your drug addiction and stay drug-free. Symptoms of substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.

As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill. These are called withdrawal symptoms.

Help from your healthcare provider, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program can help you overcome your drug addiction and stay drug-free.

Symptoms

  • Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a day
  • Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
  • Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
  • Spending money on the drug, even though you can’t afford it
  • Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use
  • Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing
  • Driving or doing other risky activities when you’re under the influence of the drug
  • Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug
  • Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug

Recognizing unhealthy drug use in family members include:

  • Neglected appearance — lack of interest in clothing, grooming or looks
  • Changes in behavior — Drastic changes in behavior and in relationships with family and friends
  • Money issues — sudden requests for money without a reasonable explanation; or your discovery that money is missing or has been stolen or that items have disappeared from your home, indicating maybe they’re being sold to support drug use
Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.

If you are seeking an evaluation of new symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia or mood instability, or possibly for ongoing management of your current medications, an in-depth evaluation of where you are right now will be completed.

Treatment and Evaluation

What to expect at your appointment

Initial Evaluation: This will be a 60-minute appointment, and will be a full review of your current symptoms, as well as your medical history, psychiatric history, psychosocial and family history, current or past substance use, including tobacco and caffeine. Please have the New Patient Evaluation Form completed for this first appointment, as that will allow us more time to cover the necessary information.
Medication Management and Follow-up: It is more than just an appointment to refill your prescriptions. This is typically a 25 to 30-minute appointment to fully evaluate the full effect of your medication and treatment plan on your health and mental wellness. Any laboratory or genetic testing results that have been ordered will be reviewed during this time as well. If longer time is required for your overall care, a 45-minute follow up may be scheduled.