I have clinical and research experience with mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, the bipolar disorders, schizoaffective disorder, dysthymia, and cyclothymia.

In addition, I am experienced in treating patients with other forms of mood dysregulation, such as rapid shifts in mood, which are common in survivors of trauma and in individuals with borderline personality disorder.

My expertise is in working with adolescents and young adults with mood disorders. Differential diagnosis — determining which mood disorder or other diagnosis a person has — is a particular strength of mine, and informs my treatment planning and collaboration with medical professionals.

My PhD dissertation was about the experiences of young adults who had received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. I was interested in understanding what factors went into young adults either accepting or rejecting a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. I found that, for young people who accepted the diagnosis of bipolar disorder (and who met criteria for bipolar disorder), the diagnosis served as a useful tool for them to understand changes in their mood and behavior that had contributed to difficulties achieving developmental milestones, such as leaving home, getting a job, forming emotional and romantic ties, attending college, etc. These young adults were then highly motivated to “use” the diagnosis and their knowledge of themselves, to be able to predict and minimize future mood episodes and to reach their own developmental goals.

When working with patients with mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, I find it very helpful to collaborate with my patient’s psychiatrist or primary care provider to ensure that the patient is getting comprehensive care. If I suspect an underlying bipolar disorder, I will recommend a thorough psychiatric evaluation.

In therapy, I help my patients recognize when they are experiencing mood issues, develop strategies to stabilize their moods (such as mood tracking, avoiding certain substances, getting regular sleep and exercise, and behavioral activation), and recover from and make sense of past mood episodes, including mania.

Please contact me to learn more.