About Me

I am a board-certified psychiatrist offering psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and medication treatment to adults in the greater Seattle area. I offer both in-person and virtual appointments. I welcome people of all gender, sexual and racial identities.

Education and Training

University of Washington Medical School, M.D.

University of Washington Psychiatry Residency

University of Washington Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, Chief Resident

Seattle Psychoanalytic Society & Institute (SPSI), graduate of Adult Psychoanalytic Training Program

Haverford College, B.A.

Screening/Intake Process

If you are interested in an initial consultation, please leave me a voicemail at 206-809-7436 with your name, contact information, and a bit about what you are looking for. If I have availability and believe I may be of help given your expressed interests/needs, I will call you back to have, or arrange for another time, a 15-20 minute (free of charge) phone conversation to discuss more about your situation, my practice, and to determine if we should move forward with scheduling a first appointment. Please write down any questions you may have about my practice to ask during that initial phone call. If we decide to schedule a first appointment, I will send you a number of electronic forms to review, complete, and sign in advance of our first appointment.

Payment and Insurance

I am currently an in-network provider with Premera Blue Cross, Regence Blue Shield, Aetna and Medicare (generic and Regence Medicare Advantage plans, but not others). If you have any other BlueCross/BlueShield plans such as from other states, I encourage you to reach out to your insurer to determine if I would be considered an in-network provider. I am also able to operate as an out-of-network provider for plans I am not contracted with and, upon request, can provide you with a monthly “superbill” which you can use to seek reimbursement from your insurance company.

I encourage all prospective patients to review your insurance policy and contact your insurance company to ensure your understanding of your benefits and coverage for in or out-of-network mental health services. Please note that Medicare does not provide any out-of-network reimbursement.

I do not typically provide information regarding my practice policies or fees until we have had a brief phone conversation to determine if my practice is a good fit for you. I provide all patients with my practice policies and fee information prior to our first appointment so that you may review those before moving forward.

What Type of Psychotherapy?

I am trained in multiple types of therapy, but I primarily work within a psychoanalytic psychotherapy framework. This type of therapy is based on the theory that much of our minds’ activity is unconscious (outside of our direct awareness). By way of open and free expression of thought and emotion (by the patient), careful and attuned listening (by both the therapist and patient), and discussion of what is said, felt and heard (by both) one can gain a greater degree of awareness of subconscious mental experience that enhances self-understanding and, to some degree, self-control. As the patient, your primary task is to speak freely about yourself, your life, what matters to you and what you are struggling with. As the therapist, I am primarily listening and responding to you the patient, rather than guiding or directing you as to what to do or talk about.

This type of therapy tends to be best-suited for individuals looking for help with more chronic issues related to (for example) self esteem (e.g. depression), relationship difficulties (e.g. conflict and/or lack of closeness), conflictual feelings (anxiety, indecision), or other recurrent symptoms/issues that seem resistant to conscious efforts to change. It is less well-suited to those seeking fast relief from acute disturbing symptoms or those who are actively in crisis.

In-Person / Remote Options

I offer and recommend in-person appointments at my office (2271 NE 51st St, Seattle, WA). There is free parking in the building’s lot on the south side and the building is a single-story with no stairs.

For now, I also continue to offer video appointments to those who are unable or strongly prefer not to attend in-person. This policy is subject to change as the landscape related to telehealth changes.

Transportation

Parking:
If you’re driving, there is a free private parking lot on the south side of the building.

Public Transit:
The office is a 1 mile (hilly) walk from the U District Link Light rail station, a 1.2 mile (flat) walk from the Husky Stadium light rail station (on the Burke Gilman trail), and short walking distance from many bus lines (closest are the 79, 372, 988).

Bike/scooter/etc:

The office is located right on the Burke-Gilman trail with a bike rack for parking nearby.