It can be difficult and worrisome to seek help. I want to help minimize additional stress in your life and provide information on what to expect at our first meeting and working together thereafter.
I manage all my calls personally, and I’m readily accessible through phone, text or email.
Once you have contacted me, I will respond within 24-48 hours or the next business day, if contacted during the weekend.
In that first conversation, I will do a complimentary 10-15 minute screening over the phone where I will briefly assess your current situation, along with your history, to ensure that I can provide the help that is needed. If not, I will provide resources that could be of help.
The initial assessment and consultation vary according to the patients’ age. For younger children up to the age of 12, the initial visit consists of a three-part assessment. As there’s an essential need for obtaining collateral information and preserving an alliance with the child, I will first meet with the parents alone to gather as much information as I can in regards to the child’s birth and development, school, family, social, medical, psychiatry and psychological history and their current life. At the second part of the assessment, I will meet with the child alone to understand his/her particular concerns and issues from his/her perspective. Depending on the child’s age, this can occur through conversation alone or along with play exploration techniques. Finally, I would meet with the parents or caregivers and the child together to provide a working hypothesis of his diagnosis or issues and recommendations in regards to treatment.
For teens, the initial assessment consists of two parts. First, I will meet with the teen and parents or caregivers together for a comprehensive evaluation; and in the second part, I will meet with the adolescent alone and later will have the parents join again to provide a feedback session, where we would discuss a working hypothesis of the possible diagnosis or issues and recommendations in regards to treatment.
For adults, the initial assessment typically consists of one meeting with a thorough evaluation, observation and feedback.
After this initial process and depending on the recommendations and severity, we will start our ongoing work together in the form of regular medication management follow-ups and/or therapy.
I’m pleased that you are considering my help and look forward to working together in the path to your mental and emotional well-being.