Additional Areas of Focus
Depression
When the heaviness won't lift
Depression isn't always sadness. Often it's going through the motions with an empty feeling inside: showing up, getting things done, and feeling very little of it. It can look like exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix, losing interest in things you used to care about, trouble concentrating, or a steady voice telling you that you should be doing better.
Whether this is your first time seeking help or you've tried treatment before, this practice offers a whole-person approach. Alongside treating your symptoms, we explore the deeper roots of what you're feeling, including how your history and development shaped the way you experience yourself today.
A Comprehensive Evaluation Comes First
Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation that looks at more than your current symptoms: your history and life experiences, your beliefs, your family history, your relationships and social life, what you've already tried, your sleep and health, and what was happening when the depression began.
A careful evaluation also answers questions that shape treatment. Is this depression, or part of a broader mood pattern such as bipolar disorder? The difference matters, because bipolar disorder calls for a different medication approach. Are anxiety, trauma, or attention difficulties playing a role? Could a physical health condition or another medication be contributing?
Medication
Medication can be an important part of recovery from depression, and choosing it well takes skill. I consider your specific symptoms, your past responses to medication, your side effect concerns, and your goals. Symptoms matter in the choice because someone who is exhausted and sleeping too much may do best with a different medication than someone who is anxious and unable to sleep.
Common concerns such as weight gain, sexual side effects, or feeling emotionally flat are taken seriously from the start. The goal is not just to feel less bad, but to feel better.
Most antidepressants take several weeks to reach their full effect. If the medication helps but not enough, or does not help at all, there are well-established next steps, including adjusting the dose, switching, or adding a second medication. We decide together and adjust at a pace that makes sense for you.
When Earlier Treatment Hasn't Worked
Many people come to me after trying one or more medications without enough improvement. That doesn't mean treatment can't help. I review what was tried, at what dose, and for how long, and look for what may have been missed. From there, options include adjusting the dose, switching medications, adding a second medication to strengthen the effect, and adding psychotherapy that targets what keeps the depression going.
Therapy That Looks at What Sits Underneath
Sometimes depression is exactly what it appears to be. Other times, it's the surface of something older: patterns from early life, years of putting others' needs first, or a sense of self that never had room to develop. When that's the case, feeling better usually means understanding those patterns, not just managing symptoms.
Depending on what fits, psychotherapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which works on the thoughts and habits that keep low mood going, and insight-oriented psychotherapy, which explores how your history shaped the way you see yourself now. Medication and therapy often work best together.
Already Working With a Therapist?
Many of my patients already have a therapist they trust, and I'm glad to work alongside them. My role is to add psychiatric care, not to replace the relationship you've built. With your permission, I coordinate with your therapist so your care stays connected.
How Care Works
Free 15-Minute Intro Call
A chance to ask questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Comprehensive Evaluation
A thorough assessment and an initial treatment plan.
Follow-Up Visits
Ongoing sessions combining medication management and psychotherapy, tailored to your needs.
Locations and Ages
In person: King of Prussia &Society Hill, PhiladelphiaTelehealth: PA, NY, MA
Adolescents 14 and older, and adults.