I have long been interested in people. Why are we the way we are? Why do certain experiences cause us pain while others do not, and what does that tell us about ourselves and the world? I would often discuss these questions with my mother, an experienced psychotherapist who helped me develop a psychological lens through which to understand people. Those conversations drew me toward psychiatry, and three years in a weekly psychoanalytic seminar during residency deepened that perspective and laid the foundation for how I practice.

In my work with children and adults, I try to understand how your difficulties developed and how they fit into your life. That understanding informs diagnosis and treatment, but it is always a work in progress. An evaluation gives us a starting point and a plan; it cannot replace the time it takes to get to know you. My recommendations evolve as our understanding deepens.

I pursued child and adolescent psychiatry because I wanted to help before psychiatric problems had the chance to alter the course of someone’s life. Difficulties in childhood can interfere with friendships, school, family life, and a child’s confidence in trying new things. By addressing those difficulties early while preserving a child’s health and strengths, I hope to give them more freedom to build a life around their own values and sense of purpose.

Medications can be very helpful, and I prescribe with careful attention to their benefits, risks, and your experience of taking them. I regularly review how well a medication is working and whether it is still needed. Whether treatment involves medication, psychotherapy, or both, I want us to talk openly about what is helping, what isn’t, and what we should do differently.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, sports, music, and reading, especially anything that sheds light on how and why people think and feel.