Infrequently Asked Questions

Of course not. This is a very common myth — that if you visit a psychiatrist, it means you are looking for, or committed to, taking medication.

The purpose of our visits will be to assess together whether a mental health condition is impairing any aspects of your life, and if so, what would be the best way to address these. This may or may not include medication.

I often compare myself to a plumber. When a plumber comes into your home because the ceiling is leaking, they assess the situation, tell you what they think is going on based on their training and experience, tell you what they think might help, and then give you options about how to address the issue:

The plumber does not show up, demand that you put in a new pipe, and demand that it must be a metal one. So why would I, your psychiatrist, control the decision making for you?

Just like the plumber, you can expect me to share my assessment, share the various options that could be tried, and the pros and cons of each one — including the pros and cons of not doing anything different. Then you take all the time you need, and we decide. Together.

I may be seen as the expert on medications. However, you are the expert on you. I will always respect that.

I am a firm believer in the BioP­sycho­Social model — which states that anyone's mental state at any time is related to multiple, complex biological, psychological, and social factors.

So, we will co-create a treatment plan that looks at all three arenas of your life: biological, psychological, and social. Each arena may include components of self-help, professional help, or both.

You are the most important stakeholder in your own treatment, and you will be treated that way. At each visit, be prepared to reflect together on three questions that have served me well for over 23 years:

• What are you taking the medication for?
• Is it doing what it is supposed to be doing?
• If not, then why are you still taking it?

There could be several reasons — perhaps you are not on a high enough dose, or perhaps you have not taken it long enough. You will never have to take a medication "just because."

If you do decide to try medication, remember — all you are committing to is one dose. Then we see how it goes, and you get to decide at the end of the day: do I want to take the medication for another day, or do I want to stop?

In many situations, it can be safe to simply stop the medication. In some cases, it is best to taper off it gently. You can expect me to guide you either way.