Treatment for Children, Adolescents, & Adults

Anxiety

Everyone has anxiety, but sometimes it can become too much. Anxiety can make us avoid things that are necessary to meet our goals. It can also affect our sleep, school, and work performance, relationships, and physical health. If you're feeling held back by anxiety, treatment can help. Adults often benefit from both psychotherapy and medication. Children and adolescents who have already tried psychotherapy may need medications to reach their goals. I can also teach you and your loved ones evidence-based techniques to help you cope and move forward from anxiety.
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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a brain development issue that starts in childhood and causes problems with attention, concentration, impulse control, and mood regulation. People living with ADHD often develop self-esteem issues and have challenges maintaining meaningful relationships. If you think you might have ADHD it is important to have an evaluation with a trained professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Many other mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD frequently masquerade as ADHD. For those who have ADHD, medications are the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment. Young people with ADHD also commonly have challenges at school. I help families advocate for educational equity. I also provide education about ADHD to patients and their families that can help achieve a more harmonious home life and repair relationships.
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Depression

Depression can be tough to deal with, but I'm here to help. It is important to first figure out the cause of depression. This includes a thorough psychiatric evaluation as well as an investigation of possible biological causes of depression. Treatment of depression can involve the use of medications, psychotherapy techniques such as behavioral activation, lifestyle change, and treating physical health issues.

There are two types of depression: Unipolar depression and bipolar depression. People living with bipolar disorder may have episodes of depressed moods as well as episodes of elevated or irritable moods. I commonly treat adults living with bipolar disorder with medications. This can help prevent episodes of extreme moods and sleep problems.

True bipolar disorders in children and adolescents are very rare. Often young people who are thought to have bipolar disorder actually have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), and other mental health challenges that can appear similar to bipolar disorder. As a fellowship-trained child & adolescent psychiatrist, I can help figure out the difference. When young people do have a true bipolar disorder I can help them with medications. I am also trained in family-focused treatment (FFT), a specific evidence-based family therapy that can help reduce the family stress and behavior problems that occur when young people are living with bipolar disorder.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

If you’re struggling with OCD, I want you to know that I’m here to help. I offer both psychotherapy and medication to help you manage your symptoms. I am trained in two types of therapy that have been shown to be effective: Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Experiences (SPACE). Even if you’re only seeing me for medication management, we’ll work together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all of your needs.
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Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

If you’re dealing with PTSD, know that you’re not alone. My goal is to provide you with the support you need to move forward. I offer trauma-focused therapy and medication to help manage your symptoms. For young people with PTSD, I use specialized types of psychotherapy known as trauma-focused therapies. I’m trained in cue-centered therapy, which I have adapted to incorporate the use of a therapy dog to help my patients feel safe and comfortable. While there are no medications that are proven to treat PTSD in young people, medication can still play a supportive role in treating other issues that often accompany PTSD like anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
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Behavior Problems

Behavior problems such as tantrums and excessive arguing with adults can be a real challenge for families. That’s why my first step is to figure out what might be causing these behaviors. I’ll work with you to identify any underlying conditions like ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, or autism spectrum disorder. From there, I may offer to help using medications or evidence-based family therapy like parent management training (PMT) to help reduce these behaviors. My goal is to help you create a more harmonious home life and repair any strained relationships.
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