Geriatric Psychiatry
Thoughtful psychiatric care for the emotional, cognitive, and medical complexities that can accompany aging.
Later life can bring remarkable perspective and resilience. It can also bring changes in health, memory, independence, relationships, and roles that affect emotional well-being.
I have extensive experience caring for older adults with depression, anxiety, sleep problems, grief and loss, cognitive changes, complex medication regimens, and psychiatric symptoms occurring alongside significant medical illness.
Good psychiatric care at this stage of life requires seeing the whole picture.
My Approach
I begin with a careful assessment of your psychiatric and medical history, current symptoms, medications and supplements, cognitive concerns, daily functioning, and what matters most to you.
Because medications can affect older adults differently, I pay particular attention to polypharmacy, medication interactions, side effects, and whether every medication is still providing enough benefit to justify its risks. Sometimes the right decision is to begin or adjust a medication; sometimes it is to simplify.
When memory or cognitive changes are a concern, we can consider how mood, anxiety, sleep, medications, medical conditions, and possible neurocognitive changes may be contributing to what you or your family are noticing.
With your permission, family members, care partners, and other healthcare professionals can be included when their perspective or participation would be helpful.
Care may include medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle and integrative approaches, deprescribing, practical strategies, and coordination with your broader healthcare team.
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great Mystery into which we were born.”
-Albert Einstein
This approach may be helpful for:
What to Expect
We begin with an Initial Psychiatric Evaluation that considers both your psychiatric concerns and the broader medical and life context in which they are occurring.
We then meet for Your Personalized Care Plan to discuss what I am seeing, answer questions, and decide together what would be most helpful.
When appropriate and with your permission, we can include family or care partners and coordinate with your primary care clinician, specialists, or other members of your healthcare team.
The goal is thoughtful psychiatric care that helps you preserve not only health and functioning, but also autonomy, connection, and quality of life.
You’re Not Alone
Integrative Psychiatry for Adults in Oregon
Thoughtful, individualized psychiatric care provided through secure telehealth.
You don’t have to carry it all by yourself.
