An important part of getting better is finding the right medication or combination of medications. That isn’t always easy. If only there were a simple blood test or an x-ray that would tell the psychiatrist what is going on and how best to treat your condition. Hopefully, one day science will bring us to that point – but for now, psychiatrists must rely on their clinical skills. Part of what I love about being a psychiatrist is getting to know my clients as well as possible so that I can figure out what is going to work best for them. This involves taking a thorough history when we first meet, then meeting regularly for follow-up appointments and actually talking to you about your life – not just about what’s happening with the meds. I send clients for labs, imaging tests or back to their primary care doctors to help rule out medical conditions if it seems like that is what is going on or contributing to the problem. I often will use pharmacogenomic testing as well to help optimize a client’s treatment. I’m excited about the breakthroughs on the horizon for Psychiatry that can bring hope and healing to more and more people.

I’m also board certified in Addiction Medicine. I enjoy partnering with clients to find what will work best for them in their journey to recovery. I have experience working with co-occurring disorders and recognize that psychiatric illness and addiction issues must be treated concurrently. I enjoy finding innovative solutions to complex problems.