Conditions We Do NOT Treat

Phases Psychiatric Services is a private practice, outpatient office for mildly to moderately severe mental health conditions that impair quality of life and negatively impact a person day to day. As a sole provider offering medication management at this practice, I am unable to meet all needs of all people seeking mental health care. Certain conditions require a higher level of care on a frequent, ongoing basis, which limits me from seeing patients with certain conditions. I strongly recommend seeking a community mental health clinic, such as CDPC Outpatient, Four Winds, Northern Rivers, or AMC’s psychiatric outpatient clinic for the following:

  • Schizophrenia

  • Schizoaffective Disorder

  • Other psychotic disorders involving hallucinations (seeing, feeling, hearing things that are not there) and/or delusions (fixed ideas or beliefs that are unchanging despite objective data to the contrary). I do, however, treat those with symptoms of dissociation (feelings of being “outside your body/not there,” “lost time,” or “things not being real”).

  • Those with a history of 3 or more psychiatric hospitalizations within the last 5 years.

  • Those with a history of 2 or more suicide attempts within the last 5 years.

  • Eating Disorders, aside from Binge-Eating Disorder.

  • Certain Personality Disorders: These include Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Histrionic Personality Disorder.

  • Those with active substance use disorders, aside from nicotine, tobacco use, or cannabis use disorders, who are not in treatment. Patient must provide proof of active, ongoing treatment for at least the last 1 year from any substance use disorder diagnosis. Medications related to substance use disorders (Buprenorphine, Suboxone, Methadone, etc.) are not prescribed at this practice. I do, however, prescribe Chantix or Wellbutrin if you wish to stop smoking.

  • Those taking, or seeking to take BENZODIAZEPINE or SEDATIVE-HYPNOTIC (Xanax, Klonipin, Ativan, Valium, Restoril, Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta, etc.) medications to manage anxiety, panic, or insomnia. I do not prescribe these medications and will not continue a written prescription for this class of drugs. Those wishing to wean off and discontinue these medications are welcome, with a notice that weaning down will begin on the first visit.

For those struggling with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia (Lewy-body, Vascular, Frontotemporal, etc.), I encourage you to seek a referral to neurology from your primary care provider. Albany Medical Center and St. Peter’s Health Partners have a variety of neurologists and gerontologists to choose from.

For those struggling with Sleep disorders that are not related to symptoms of another condition, such as depression or anxiety (ex. insomnia without apparent cause, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia), I encourage you to pursue a referral through primary care provider to a sleep specialist.