Consultation Services

I see patients for a 90 minute initial consultation. Patients are asked to complete an evaluation form and submit it prior to our first meeting together. During the initial meeting I ask patients why they have come to see me and how they are hoping I will help them. I then systematically ask questions about depression, mania, psychoses, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, developmental disorders, habits, medications, supplements, physical health, personality style and trauma. I review past medical records and confer with the referring therapist/medical doctor/psychiatrist. I ask third parties (parents, spouses, children, friends), as appropriate, for additional history. I obtain a biographical sketch and family history. I recommend laboratory tests and radiology tests as appropriate to clarify the diagnosis. I then offer a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan.

Forensic Services

I have performed forensic work for 30 years, specializing in psychiatric diagnosis, psychopharmacology treatment, patent law, psychotherapy, suicide and etiologies of psychiatric syndromes. I have worked for individuals, government, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies. My cases have been relatively equally divided between plaintiff and defense. I have appeared in court and am comfortable in both the courtroom and deposition settings. A few recent cases have included: the appropriate treatment of Bipolar Disorder, the appropriate treatment of Panic Disorder, and the appropriate treatment of Recurrent Major Depression.

Diagnosis & Treatment Recommendations

I provide patients with a preliminary diagnosis which is refined as I accumulate more information. Diagnostically, I address whether or not there is a major psychiatric disorder, personality disorder, substance abuse problem, medical disorder, or history of trauma. I recommend medical management, medications, naturopathic remedies, and psychotherapies that best match the patient’s problems.

Psychotherapy

I provide psychotherapy or make referrals to therapists. I believe a broad range of psychotherapies may be effective and attempt to tailor the best therapy for the patient. I specialize in Mentalization Based Therapy. I also provide cognitive behavioral therapies.

Medication Management

I provide medication management services. This entails seeing me for an initial consultation followed by half hour medication management sessions. The frequency of these sessions will vary according to the acuity of your illness. In some instances, I will require that a patient be in psychotherapy if am to provide medication management. Psychotherapy may be with me or a therapist of the patient’s own choosing. I provide medication consultation services for patients of MFTs, social workers, psychologists, and medical doctors. A patient may also be self referred. When self referred, the patient should request to speak with me before scheduling an appointment.

NOTICE TO PATIENTS OPEN PAYMENTS DATABASE

For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospital be made available to the public.

You may search this federal database for payments made to physicians and teaching hospitals by visiting this website:
https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/

NOTICE TO PATIENTS

Medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California.
To check up on a license or
to file a complaint go to
www.mbc.ca.gov,
email: [email protected],
or call (800) 633-2322.