If you are considering treatment, please call me at (917)733-2867 to discuss options. If you leave a message, suggest a few specific times when I can best reach you. Below are some answers to questions you may have:  

frequently asked questions

Which conditions do you treat?

As a general adult psychiatrist with an additional training in geriatric psychiatry and psychotherapy, I treat the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions and psychological problems such as:
Adjustment Disorders: problems related to life stressors or interpersonal difficulties;
Chronic problems in relationships, work, self-esteem, or identity;
Mood Disorders: Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Post-partum Mood Disorders
Anxiety Disorders: Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety, PTSD, OCD
Psychotic Disorders: Schizophrenia & Paranoid Disorders
Dementia

Which conditions/patients do you not treat?

Children or Adolescents, Couples and Family Therapy

What are your credentials?

As a medical doctor trained in psychiatry, I am licensed to prescribe medications and practice psychotherapy, and am board certified in these areas.

Do you accept insurance?

I am not a participating provider in any insurance networks. Depending on your insurance company and the out-of-network benefits it offers, you may be able to submit my bill for partial re-imbursement.

 
Which kind of psychotherapy do you provide?

I believe in eclectic approach, which combines elements of different kinds of psychotherapeutic treatment such as Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Hypnotherapy, Interpersonal Therapy and Supportive Therapy. 
Psychodynamic therapy has its origin in Psychoanalysis and focuses mainly on the origins of conflict, childhood events and psychic determinism stemming from those early events and attachment patterns. The resolution of symptoms occurs when the conflict is brought to light and worked through in therapy. CBT offers a practical approach, focusing on managing symptoms rather than on origins of symptom-causing conflicts.  This would mean that rather than discussing particular patterns of anxiety and connecting it to its origins in the patient's childhood, a CBT therapist would teach his/her patient relaxation and breathing techniques and provide him or her with a cognitive framework to diminish anxiety. Hypnotherapy induces and teaches patients to enter trance states for deep relaxation. Interpersonal therapy focuses on the here-and-now of interpersonal problems which are worked through the relationship with the psychotherapist and may involve understanding of past transference reactions. Supportive therapy focuses on emotional support and finding practical solutions to everyday problems.
While all these approaches are very valuable and have rich theoretical underpinnings, it is possible and, I believe, more beneficial to combine and gear them toward the individual patients' needs. In practical terms, this means that I might start a session with a depressed and anxious patient by doing breathing exercises (CBT approach). This would help the patient to be more in control and hopefully able to deal with anxiety when it happens in real life. It would also lower patient's anxiety in that particular therapy session so that our psychodynamic work could be more productive.

What is your cancellation policy?

If for any reason you can not make your scheduled appointment, please notify me at least 24hrs in advance. Should you call later than this you will be responsible for the full fee of your session.

• Suspected child or elder abuse.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The psychiatrist/therapist is required to notify the police.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. I will make every effort to work with the patient to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.