How to Schedule an Appointment |
How I Can Help |
If you would like to set up an
appointment with me, please call 512.593.5577. A brief telephone
screening will soon follow to determine if I we are “a good fit”. If we both
agree to proceed, we will schedule your first appointment.
Note that I accept only adults in my practice, 18 years of age and older. Initial Appointment - Our first session will be tailored to your needs. A complete and comprehensive assessment often requires more than one visit, especially if there is a crisis or other pressing issue at hand. The initial evaluation is 60 minutes. Once we have agreed on the main problems and goals, we will build a treatment plan together. Follow-up Appointments - If you choose a combination of psychotherapy and medication, follow-up visits are generally weekly for 45 minutes; less frequent 30 minute follow-up appointments are also an option in cases of more focused medication management. Overall length/duration of treatment varies with the complexity of problems and the number of goals to achieve. Both short-term (6 to 12 sessions, problem-focused) and longer-term treatment is available. Telepsychiatry - In the age of rapidly advancing technology, I am happy to offer telepsychiatry services utilizing HIPAA-approved videoconferencing (VSee). This technology is increasingly utilized by busy professionals, parents, and caregivers seeking efficiency and absolute privacy, eliminating travel time and avoiding the hassles of traffic/parking/navigating, arranging childcare or attendant care. |
I have many years of training and experience in the evaluation and treatment of the full spectrum of psychiatric and behavioral health problems, particularly the following common conditions/situations:
Emotional struggles related to stress, trauma, abuse & loss, Mood disorders-depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, cyclothymia, Anxiety disorders-generalized anxiety, panic disorder, acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Adjustment disorders to difficult life circumstances like relationship problems; work pressures; difficulties at school; developmental challenges of defining one’s identity, dealing with intimacy, role strain, and aging; cultural issues such as being perceived as “different” and suffering the pain of discrimination Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder starting in childhood characterized by an inability to focus with or without hyperactivity and impulsivity. Problems may continue into adulthood in some cases and cause significant difficulties with functioning. Emotional issues in women at different stages of the reproductive cycle (premenstrual, pregnancy, post-partum, perimenopausal) Psychiatric problems stemming from medical or neurological problems such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, lupus, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, end-stage liver and kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, thyroid conditions Addictive behaviors/problems with food, alcohol, drugs, sex, as well as addiction to work, people (codependence), internet activities, etc. Personality disorders are characterized by rigid, unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving which are long standing (usually starting in the late teens) and involve deeply ingrained ways of dealing with world. The individual with a personality disorder may not recognize his/her difficulties in relating to people or situations and often blames others for their problems. NOTE: Individuals struggling with more severe forms of mental illness such as thought disorders and psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, depression or bipolar disorder with psychotic features), significant drug or alcohol dependence, and those struggling with frequent suicidal behavior/psychiatric hospitalization may benefit from systems of care that offer more services than a solo practitioner like me can provide, such as Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, Austin Travis County Integral Care, and partial hospital or intensive outpatient services available through the Seton Healthcare Family, Austin Lakes, Austin Oaks , Rock Springs, Georgetown Behavioral Health Institute and other facilities. |