General Psychiatry

I am a full service general psychiatrist. From the initial evaluation, careful attention is paid to details in the history and mental status examination, and a comprehensive treatment plan is designed and optimized to individual needs and resources. In addition, because of the limited number of patients I carry, I can provide attention and time at the boutique service level.

What are some of the unique aspects of your practice?

I am dually trained as both a clinician and a researcher. My Ph.D. is at the intersection of neuroscience and a number of quantitative disciplines such as statistics and artificial intelligence. This allows me a rare fluency in current scientific literature both in fundamental research in biological psychiatry, medication development and neuroscience and in large clinical studies and longitudinal studies. On the one hand, I can explain complex and nuanced scientific results in a comprehensible way to facilitate joint decision-making. On the other hand, I am informed by both the strengths and pitfalls of the most current treatment strategies.

Secondly, being a researcher provides a unique system for networks of referral. Many of professional colleagues are leading experts in their respective subspecialties. This system-based practice makes it especially advantageous for challenging and complex cases or second opinion consultations.

Am I an appropriate patient for your practice?

If you think you may benefit from an evaluation, please call me for a free over-the-phone consultation. An in-person initial evaluation takes approximately 90 minutes. Depending on the results of the evaluation, I may need further collateral information, such as laboratory studies, radiographic reports, family collateral, medication history and records. Once the evaluation is complete, I will design a customized treatment plan and arrange for further appointments as needed.

What is your confidentiality policy?

Maintaining strict confidentiality is my highest priority. Any disclosure of clinical information to any third party will require an explicit discussion and consent process. Because my practice follows a boutique model, I may never directly interact with any managed-care or financial institutions, providing you with the peace of mind to focus on your treatment in private.

Do you conduct second opinion consultations?

Due to my unique background and training, I can provide second opinion consultation services for select patients. My practice focuses on the treatment of complex, refractory cases in substance use and behavioral addictions and can serve as a consultant in these areas. In particular, I conduct second opinion consultations on complex psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment for co-morbid Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and other psychiatric disorders such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Major Depressive Disorder. My clinical focus also includes behavioral addictions such as Internet Addiction, Internet Gaming Addiction, Sex Addiction, and Internet Pornography Addiction. If you think that my particular area of expertise may be of use, please have your current provider contact me directly for a referral.

Do you conduct phone or video (telepsychiatry) sessions? Do you use E-mail? Do you use social media? NEW

I now offer fully HIPPA compliant telepsychiatry services. I can provide telepsychiatry based care anywhere in the State of New York as clinically appropriate. You may still need to receive laboratory testing and in office visits (or at your primary care provider's office) for physical exams as appropriate. I also provide e-prescribing services for available pharmacies.

I do not conduct sessions over the phone. I reserve phone calls for administrative questions.

For questions relating to other electronic communications and social media, please see practice policies.

Do you provide international consultations? NEW

I provide clinical consultations for patients who reside outside of the US either temporarily or permennantly via telemedicine. I also regularly provide treatment for international patients who live, study and work in the New York metropolitan area.

Do you prescribe medications?

I provide a full range of psychopharmacologic services.

What is your philosophy regarding psychotropic medications?

Psychotropic medications can be very helpful for some individuals. My philosophy on medications is that prescribing practices must be guided by existing scientific evidence. This includes formal diagnostic questionnaires with quantitative indexes for evaluating symptom severity and diligent longitudinal tracking of medication responses. I do recognize that there are often gaps in our understanding in these complex medications and combinations. I use my extensive knowledge in the neural circuit basis of psychiatric symptoms to design medication regimens that are both sensible and efficacious.

What is your philosophy regarding other somatic treatments?

I do not currently provide brain stimulation services such as outpatient electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), deep brain stimulation (DBS) or trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). However, I do provide a program in light therapy.

Do you provide esketamine treatment services? NEW

I am certified to provide treatment using intranasal esketamine (Spravato®) for treatment resistant depression as part of a comprehensive treatment program, and can deliver it after a comprehensive evaluation.

Do you conduct psychotherapy?

I provide a full range of psychotherapeutic services.

What is your psychotherapeutic theoretical orientation?

My practice is focused mainly on evidence-based psychotherapies that have a strong scientific basis for efficacy. I have extensive experience in conducting time-limited cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), brief dynamic psychotherapy (BDP) and supportive psychotherapy that target specific psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety. My sessions are primarily symptom driven and goal oriented, and I design personalized therapeutic programs to help patients achieve symptomatic remission in the most efficient way.

Do you conduct long-term, insight-oriented, exploratory psychotherapy?

While my practice focuses mainly on short-term, evidence-based psychotherapies, I have a few spots for developing a unique therapeutic relationship with select patients. Generally these exploratory treatments require a longer-term commitment of at least once weekly sessions that may potentially elicit transformative changes in aspects of personality and interpersonal pattern, and can address complex issues in relationships, creativity and personal goals. I am informed by classical Freudian theories and subsequent developments in psychodynamic psychotherapy. I am also informed in my therapeutic approaches by my knowledge and training in continental philosophy, cultural anthropology and critical literary and art theory in understanding the roles of culture, gender relationship, kinship and other complex factors involved in individual fulfillment. Finally, I am informed by Eastern philosophy, especially Chinese philosophy and incorporate elements of Zen Buddhism and mindfulness into my exploratory treatment sessions.

Do you conduct psychoanalysis?

I do not conduct intensive, 3 or more times a week, psychoanalytic treatment. However I can refer you to the right provider if this is the right treatment for you.

Do you work with outside psychotherapists?

I have extensive experience in collaborating with other psychotherapists (“split treatment”) in providing comprehensive care to my patients.

Do you conduct Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), schema therapy, transference focused psychotherapy (TFP), or other group therapies and day treatment programs?

I have extensive knowledge in evidence-based psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder. However, I do not have the capacity to provide individual or group treatment for patients with severe personality disorder or chronic suicidality. If based on my evaluation a higher level of care is needed, I can provide referral and continuity of care for the appropriate patient to recover from these challenging psychiatric conditions.

Do you speak any other languages?

I also speak and conduct treatment Mandarin Chinese. 我会说中文普通话。