Frequently Asked Questions

The practice specializes in trauma, including complex PTSD; OCD; and anxiety, with additional areas of focus in depression and in life transitions and personal identity. I work with adults and adolescents 14 and older. If you do not see your specific concern here, you are welcome to reach out to discuss whether the practice may be a good fit.

This practice may be a good fit if you are looking for:

• A psychiatrist who provides both psychotherapy and medication management, or who will manage medication in close collaboration with your therapist
• Longer sessions that allow time for thoughtful discussion, reflection, and understanding patterns in your mental health
• Care that considers the biological, developmental, psychological, relational, spiritual, and social aspects of well-being
• A collaborative treatment relationship where decisions are made together
• Deeper insight into your thoughts, emotions, and patterns

It may not be the best fit if you prefer a more directive approach with minimal discussion, are not currently interested in working on things between sessions, or are looking mainly for quick symptom relief without exploring what is underneath it.

Adults and adolescents 14 and older.

Many people begin treatment when they notice that something in their mental health or life circumstances no longer feels sustainable. That might be ongoing anxiety, low mood, difficulty concentrating, relationship stress, or feeling stuck in patterns that are difficult to change.

You do not need to have everything figured out before starting. A willingness to reflect on your experiences and consider new ways of approaching your mental health is often enough to begin.

No. Some people come during a major life transition without any diagnosis. There is more on the life transitions and personal identity page, which you will find in the Specialties dropdown menu.

Both, in the same appointment. Sessions are long enough to do psychotherapy alongside medication management. If you already have a therapist, I am glad to work alongside them.

Yes. My sessions combine medication management and therapy. Many of my patients also have their own therapist, and I work closely with that therapist, coordinating directly so care stays aligned. My role is to support that relationship, not replace it.

No. Medication is one option, and whether to use it is always your decision.

Yes. Controlled medications are prescribed where the evaluation and ongoing care support it, and the decision is made the same way as any other: what the diagnosis is, what your symptoms call for, and how you respond over time.

A whole person approach recognizes that mental health is influenced by many interconnected aspects of life. In addition to symptoms and diagnoses, it considers physical health, relationships, life experiences, personal values, beliefs, and the patterns that shape how you think, feel, and respond to challenges.

In practice, this means treatment may include medication management, psychotherapy, and thoughtful discussion of the lifestyle factors that influence mental health. Considering the broader context of your life makes care more personalized and more responsive to your needs.

Longer appointments allow time to understand your concerns more fully and to consider the broader factors influencing your mental health. That depth supports more careful assessment, and more careful decisions about whether and how medication may be helpful. Medication decisions are always collaborative, and you will feel informed and involved.

Alongside my therapeutic work, I bring extensive experience in psychopharmacology. I have prescribed the full range of psychiatric medications, taught psychopharmacology to medical students, and supervised other clinicians in their prescribing.

Follow-up sessions integrate psychotherapy with medication management. We review how treatment is working, adjust it when appropriate, and explore the psychological and life factors affecting your well-being.

Together, we may examine how your experiences have shaped your current challenges, identify recurring patterns, and bring greater awareness to the beliefs and assumptions that influence how you see yourself and the world. At times I may suggest reflections or exercises between sessions. Every person's path is different, and progress unfolds at its own pace.

It is therapy that looks beneath symptoms to understand why you think, feel, and act the way you do, so that relief lasts. We look at the beliefs and patterns you picked up along the way, where they came from, and whether they still serve you. Once a pattern is visible, you have a choice about it that you did not have before.

Complex PTSD, or C-PTSD, is a condition that can develop after trauma that is prolonged or repeated, often in childhood or within a close relationship, and may be hard to escape. It includes the core symptoms of PTSD: reliving the past, avoiding reminders of it, feeling constantly on guard, and lasting shame, guilt, self-criticism, or disconnection. It also involves three additional areas: difficulty regulating emotions, a persistently negative self-concept, and difficulty in relationships. It is often missed because there may be no single event to point to. There is a fuller explanation on the Trauma page, which you will find in the Specialties drop-down menu.

ERP, or exposure and response prevention, is the leading evidence-based psychotherapy for OCD. You gradually face what triggers your obsessions, the unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that keep coming back, and deliberately hold back from the compulsion. Over time, your brain learns that the feared outcome does not happen, or that you can handle the anxiety and uncertainty without acting on it. The pace is always one you agree to, and ERP can be combined with medication when that helps. There is a fuller explanation on the OCD page, which you will find in the Specialties drop-down menu.

Many of the ways we think, relate to others, and respond to stress take shape during childhood and adolescence and continue to influence mental health in adulthood. Large studies have found that about half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14, and about 75% by age 24.

Understanding early attachment and developmental experiences can clarify patterns that emerge later, such as difficulty with trust, fear of abandonment, perfectionism, or chronic anxiety. A developmental perspective places those concerns in the context of your whole life history, which gives a deeper understanding of how they developed and how they can change.

Yes. Family sessions are available for established patients who would like to include important people in their lives. These sessions may involve partners, spouses, parents, siblings, adult children, or close friends. The goal is to improve communication, deepen understanding, and help the people close to you learn how to provide meaningful support.

Parents are an important part of treatment for most teenagers. At the first appointment, I meet with the teenager and parents together to agree on how information will be shared, so everyone knows what to expect from the start. Giving a teenager some private space in sessions helps them speak openly, while parents stay part of the process, and safety always comes first. I am glad to talk this through during the free intro call.

Every new patient starts here. It is a short phone conversation before you commit to anything. You can describe what you are looking for, ask how the practice works, and get a sense of whether it is a good fit. It is not an evaluation, and no clinical advice is given on the call. If we both think it is a good fit, we schedule your evaluation from there.

Your first appointment is a 2-hour comprehensive evaluation that is structured as a conversation rather than a checklist. I want to understand your symptoms, your story, and more about you as a person. I will focus on getting to know what you have lived through, where you are now, and how your journey unfolded. I also want to know what you see for yourself and understand your goals and aspirations. The evaluation is the first part of your New Patient Package, which also includes a 50-minute follow-up session to begin our work together and a written treatment plan, sent to your secure patient portal after the follow-up. By then, you should have an explanation of what you have been experiencing and a plan we have built together.

New patients: reach out in one of three ways:

1. Call 610-227-3888.
2. Book your free 15-minute intro call yourself in the patient portal (steps below).
3. Use the contact form.

If you call or use the contact form, you will hear back within two business days. Booking in the portal is fastest, since you choose your time right away. Your evaluation is scheduled after the intro call.

To book the intro call yourself:

1. Click Book a free 15-minute intro call.
2. Click Select next to "Introductory Call."
3. Choose "Phone call."
4. Choose a date and time.
5. Answer the Reason for care questions.
6. Enter your contact information, then submit.

Existing patients:

1. Click Patient portal at the top right of any page.
2. Select "I'm an existing client."
3. Enter your email address, then open the sign-in link we email you.
4. Click Request appointment and choose "Follow-up session."
5. Choose Video Office for telehealth, or the King of Prussia or Society Hill office for an in-person visit.
6. Pick a date and time. Your request comes to our office, and you will receive a confirmation once it is reviewed.

In person at our King of Prussia office (150 S Warner Rd, Suite 130, King of Prussia, PA 19406) and our Society Hill office (401 S 2nd St, Suite 301, Philadelphia, PA 19147). Telehealth is available in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts.

The frequency of sessions depends on your needs and treatment goals. Some patients prefer weekly visits, while others are seen monthly. Patients who are more stable may find that visits every two to three months provide enough support, while those engaged in more active therapeutic work may benefit from meeting more often.

To remain an active patient, follow-up appointments must occur at least once every three months so that care can be monitored safely and responsibly.

No. You can contact the practice directly.

Scheduling, non-urgent questions, and refill requests go through the secure patient portal and are answered during business hours. This is usually the fastest way to reach me. You may also call the business number at 610-CARE-888 and leave a message. The patient portal and voicemail box are not monitored for emergencies. If you have an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you are in immediate danger, or you are thinking about harming yourself or someone else, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency department. If you are in crisis and not in immediate danger, you can also call or text 988. Do not use the contact form, the portal, or voicemail for that, because none of them is monitored around the clock.

For anything urgent that is not an emergency, established patients can reach me after hours. Call the practice number and leave a message and I will return your call.

I am an out-of-network, private pay provider and do not bill insurance directly. You may request a superbill, an itemized receipt you can submit to your insurance company for possible partial reimbursement. How much comes back depends entirely on your plan. There is a full explanation of how out-of-network reimbursement works on the How Payment Works page.

Working outside insurance networks lets me shape your care around what you need, not what a plan will cover. Appointments are long enough to combine psychotherapy with medication management, and we decide together how often to meet. Insurance plans often limit the length and frequency of visits, restrict which treatments are covered, and require diagnoses and clinical details before they pay. Here, your information is not sent to an insurance company unless you choose to submit a superbill for reimbursement.

Your credit or debit card information is stored securely in SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant platform. All payment details are encrypted and protected, and your card is charged on the day of your scheduled appointment. For new patients, the full New Patient Package fee is charged on the day of your evaluation.

Cancellations or requests to reschedule must be made at least 48 hours (two business days) before your scheduled appointment. Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice are charged the full session fee, to the card on file. Adequate notice allows the appointment time to be offered to another patient who may need care.