Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Psychoanalytical play therapy explores a child’s internal world. It combines attachment
science and empathy along with psychoanalytical principles to open the door to understanding
the forces behind problematic behavior and helps the child return to the normal developmental
track. I am committed to helping your child and family grow and make positive changes to
overcome maladaptive patterns. I provide a comprehensive evaluation, diagnostic clarification,
and treatment recommendations.   

Play Therapy

I offer psychoanalytical play therapy to treat young children. Through engaged and empathic play therapy, we work on their limitations in using emotional language and on their unconscious anxiety, thoughts, feelings, and defenses. We build a secure therapeutic relationship to help them evolve an emotionally rich language, become aware of their internal world, and create developmentally proper patterns of thoughts and behavior. Meeting regularly with the parents throughout treatment is essential to exchange feedback, observations, and concerns. Parental interventions will be discussed in these sessions.

Adolescent Psychotherapy

For adolescent patients, traditional talk therapy can be conducted to address mental health issues. In addition, family therapy and behavioral interventions are used to improve the treatment outcome.

Medication Management

Psychotropic medications are sometimes helpful to reduce symptoms and to create a platform for play or talk therapy, where the real work happens. The decision of whether medication is appropriate for a patient requires a full psychiatric evaluation and a close collaboration with the patient and family. I only provide medication management for children and adolescents that I regularly see in psychotherapy.

Adult Psychiatry

Mental health issues can be disabling and stressful for individuals and impact families, relationships, social, and professional functionality. I am committed to help my patients recover from their struggles and fulfill their potential. I provide compassionate, humanistic, and dynamically oriented psychotherapy services and medication management. I endeavor to understand my patient’s symptoms in relation to their genetic background, childhood experiences, attachment qualities, and personality structures. Following a comprehensive evaluation I will provide the most up-to-date and evidence-based treatment recommendations.

Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis

Many psychiatric problems can be effectively addressed by psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. I work with my patients to build a therapeutic alliance in order to create a safe environment in which the patient can explore the roots of their emotional concerns. Psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis are tailored to patient diagnosis, preference, and goals.

Medication Management

Psychotropic medications are sometimes helpful in reducing symptoms and to creating a platform for talk therapy, where the real work happens. The decision of whether medication is appropriate for a patient requires a complete psychiatric evaluation. Please note that I only provide medication management for patients I regularly see in psychotherapy.

Group Psychotherapy

As an AGPA certified group therapist, I have extensive experience in conducting process group therapy. I offer mixed-gender adult process group therapy at my practice.

Process group therapy is a psychodynamically organized group that focuses on unconscious defenses and interpersonal relationships (how we internalize people, how other people internalize us, and how we internalize/think of ourselves). Process groups are different from support groups. We encourage change and growth in process groups in addition to receiving support and understanding.

The group meets in person at my office once a week for 60-75 minutes. Its membership is limited to eight participants. Each member will be charged for their seat in the group (if the group meets, the member will be charged), and the fee is $100 per session (on average, it costs $400-500 monthly). Combining group therapy with individual therapy is highly recommended to receive the most therapeutic benefits. To learn more about being part of a process group, you can watch Group, a well-made mini-series illustrating how a fictional process group operates.

If you are interested, please contact my office at 720-328-3183. An initial, personal evaluation is required (3-5 sessions) to obtain a comprehensive history, and get to know each other before joining the group.

Couple Therapy

Relationships are complex and challenging, and it is not uncommon for couples to experience hardships during their partnership. I help couples become aware of the psychological issues that could distance them from each other. I also guide couples in equipping themselves with the skills to successfully address conflict and create a secure attachment to one another. Individual comprehensive evaluations are necessary before the couple’s work.