Psychotherapy
What is therapeutic about psychotherapy? Over more than a century, many asked questions and searched for solutions to mind’s problems. Different forms of psychotherapy have emerged— complementing one another, at times disagreeing—each attempting to understand and alleviate mental suffering. But mental life is complex, and no single theory captures the full picture.
Across approaches, certain foundations are shared and essential: a frame for safe verbal expression, a clinician committed to the patient’s best interest, and thoughtful guidance and support.
But psychotherapy is called individual for an important reason. It is in our minds where our uniqueness shows the most. I trained extensively in the therapeutic modality that I consider best fit to help people find harmony and health in their uniqueness, use it well, and celebrate it.
Medications: Psychopharmacology, Deprescribing
Medication is a powerful tool in psychiatry. I use it thoughtfully and deliberately—never automatically. I discuss risk and benefits for use, including what medications can and what they cannot do. I also discuss and weigh alternatives to medication use. If medication is prescribed, we always check whether the expected benefit materializes and whether the risk/benefit ratio for use remains favorable.
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I also help patients who wish to reduce or discontinue medication do so safely and gradually when clinically appropriate. This process—deprescribing—is a means to improve overall wellbeing, by carefully reducing and even discontining the amount of medication prescribed, when the risks or side effects outweigh the benefits.
Whether starting, continuing, or tapering, decisions are made collaboratively and guided by the patient’s goals and overall health.
Mind and body: Psychosomatic Medicine
When emotional distress manifests through physical symptoms—or when medical illness disrupts psychological stability—the clinical picture can become confusing. At times, nothing seems to fit neatly into familiar categories. The more complex the situation, the more likely patients, families, and even medical teams are to feel uncertain or overwhelmed.
My subspecialty training in Consultation-Liaison (Psychosomatic) Psychiatry focuses precisely on these intersections. In complex cases, my role is often to clarify what is happening, align expectations, identify priorities, and develop a coherent plan. Just as importantly, I help evaluate how that plan is working over time and adjust it when needed.