I am a board certified psychiatrist practicing in Los Angeles, with offices in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. 

Philosophy of Care

My goal is first to understand my patient and his or her needs and then to implement a treatment plan that will be both effective and efficient for that individual.

Compassion comes first. I treat people, not diseases. I strive to understand each patient as an individual, and to understand his or her needs and desires.  I work with each patient to decide on the goals of therapy and to design a specific plan to help him or her achieve those goals.

Patients should get better, and in a reasonable amount of time. I use treatments-- including both psychotherapy and medications--that have been proven to reduce symptoms and yield a significant improvement in quality of life.  

Psychiatric treatment is not mysterious. I will explain what I am doing and why. I will explain what the patient should expect and when.   

Treatment is a collaboration between patient and doctor. I work with my patients to define and achieve the goals of treatment. I am active in problem solving with my patients and usually assign therapeutic homework to multiply the effects of psychotherapy sessions. If a patient has a therapist, I will collaborate with the therapist to provide expert medication evaluation and treatment.

Specialties

I treat adults with anxiety, mood and personality disorders

These include depression, bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.

In addition to extensive training in and teaching of psychiatry, I have a PhD and substantial research experience in the neuroscience of fear and learning. I also spent 5 years in intensive study, practice and teaching of meditation at two American Zen Centers.