Foster An Enhanced Self
Treated Conditions
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Depression
Major Depressive Disorder
Persistent Depressive Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder -
Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety
Social Phobia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) -
Bipolar Disorder
Mood Dysregulation
Bipolar Type I/II
Cyclothymia -
ADHD
Child and Adult Treatment
Oppositional Defiant Disorder -
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder
Delusional Disorder
Paranoia -
Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders
Judicious Symptomatic Treatment
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Insomnia
Insomnia
Sleep Related Disorders
Nonjudgmental Care
At Enhanced Self Psychiatry (ESP) I provide nonjudgmental care by listening to your concerns and alight treatment decisions with your goals. Good mental health professionals try to withhold their personal judgement of patients. While training in Texas and Louisiana, I saw subtle judgment from psychiatrists and therapists regarding topics such as:
-Religion
-Sexual preference
-Self identity
-Political affiliation
-Firearm ownership
I strive to create an environment where you will not feel judged for personal characteristics, beliefs or decisions. Everyone should be heard.
Child and Adolescent Care
I provide psychiatric assessment and treatment for children as young as 6 years old. Visits with children involve half of the interview with the child separately (if the child feels comfortable enough) and the other half with the parent and child. A parent may be seen by themself, but it is preferred that the child is present for mutual discussion. My personal approach to interviewing a child often creates a space where they feel comfortable talking. I take pride in being informed and open to the interests and hobbies of children and adolescents and I find knowing a little about what they enjoy, how they spend their time with friends, online habits, and their school experiences goes a long way to building a therapeutic connection and helps families understand influences and behaviors of the child. Common topics that have demonstrated great benefit in my practice previously have included:
-Anime/Manga
-Graphic Novels
-Video Games
-Youtube and internet culture
I have been practicing child and adolescent psychiatry for the last 6 years in various settings including the clinic, inpatient hospitals, and residential settings. I have particular experience managing the care for intellectual disability/autism populations, providing specialized evaluation and care for refugees and victims of human trafficking.
Children can feel fearful or alienated by doctors and clinicians, the mental image of a stuffy doctor in a white coat, carrying their stethoscope in one pocket, a “shot” in the other, drives many people to recoil with fear. The normal atmosphere often feels too “clinical” which results in the child shutting down and not opening up. Through my unique approach, I create an opportunity and avenue for a child to talk, open up, and feel heard- that their words are not going ignored by a doctor that knows nothing about their world.
Psychiatric Care and Firearm Ownership
This is Texas and Louisiana, firearms are part of our states’ histories- from its founding to modern day. Survey data estimates 35-45% of Texas households own a firearm, but from my personal experience, I believe it to be significantly more. In fact, it is usually more rare for me to have a patient that does not have access to or live in a household with a firearm.
Firearm ownership is often not reported or discussed with mental health professionals due to perceived judgment and fears of “reporting” and confiscation. While some stigma does exist and fears can be accurate (to a degree), discussion of gun ownership is VITAL for safety planning, responsible gun ownership, and preservation of your constitutional rights.
This topic is certainly a complicated one and I advise you to contact me for specific clarifications or concerns regarding how I approach the subject.
Firearm Specific Concerns
Important areas for discussion:
-Children in the home, supervised activities such as hunting
-Depression and suicidal thoughts
-Bipolar disorder
-Schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder
-Addiction, alcohol and drug use
Often I will recommend a family member or close friend be involved in safety planning when necessary. This is for your safety AND to maintain your rights when able.
I DO NOT perform “return to duty” evaluations.
Firearms and Children
I do not beat around the bush with this. If there is a safety issue, it will have to be discussed and a plan reached. There have been at least two cases where an adolescent was given access to firearms and used these firearms to injure and kill their peers, resulting in the trying and in at least one case, conviction for the parents. If you are a part of the firearm community- you have a responsibility and duty to exercise caution and promote the safe ownership and use of firearms. If safety precautions are not be in place and you are not willing to implement safety measures, then I am not the right provider for you.
Weekends, Evenings, and Holidays
Weekends, evenings and holiday appointments are available for scheduling.
While working with crisis centers and clinics, I saw the difficulty and need for appointments available outside of standard business hours. It is difficult to meet all the demands of a busy life in the normal 8-5. Inability to be seen during regular business hours results in lapses in care, running out of medications, or going months before being seen. My goal is to help reduce this difficulty by offering extended and atypical hours.
After hours, weekend and holiday appointments will not always be available, are limited, more costly, and will have to be reserved further in advance. I am just like everyone else and this is valued time that could otherwise be spent with family or friends.