Postpartum Depression Psychiatrists in Utah

My practice focuses on medication management as well as supportive and insight-oriented psychotherapy. I believe that a combination of therapy and medications helps provide a patient with the best outcome. My goal is to help patients live their best and most fulfilling lives. In addition to general psychiatry, I have a keen interest in mood disorders, helping creatives achieve their goals, and the LGBTQ community.

I am a board-certified psychiatrist who has been in practice for 25 years. My career has been devoted to serving both my local community as well as high-risk and underserved patients. As a pioneer and advocate for the use of telepsychiatry years prior to the pandemic, I have presented at the American Telehealth conference as well as at grand rounds.

Most of my work as a psychiatrist is with adults navigating PTSD, OCD, and the shifts that come with becoming a parent, including postpartum depression. I also spend time with people managing more complex patterns, like personality disorders, bipolar disorder, and anxiety that has quietly reshaped their daily lives. I trained in general adult psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, where I served as Chief Resident of Education in my final year, and I bring an analytical, problem-solving mindset to sorting out what's actually driving a person's symptoms.

I don't think good treatment can start until I understand someone fully, so the first visit is a thorough evaluation where I take my time with your history, your symptoms, and what you're actually hoping to change. Medication management is the foundation of what I do, but it's one piece of the picture, not the whole plan. Depending on what you need, I'll fold in supportive therapy or recommend adding a therapist so the care around you is well-rounded. I try to be transparent about my reasoning and to build decisions with you rather than hand them down, and I tend to look for the strengths already there to work from.

I especially find common ground with parents and caregivers trying to hold their own health steady while looking after everyone else. The first step is really just a conversation, and we sort out the direction together once I understand where you're starting from.

My approach to patient care begins with a thorough medical and psychiatric history, to include evaluation of co-morbid medical conditions and treatments that may be contributing to psychiatric symptoms. I reserve the end of the appointment for education regarding diagnosis, treatment options, any recommended medical work up, and reviewing the most up-to-date evidence-based literature. I also provide recommendations on non-pharmacologic interventions, to include psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications.

My areas of expertise include the management of psychiatric conditions in patients with complex medical illnesses and complex psychopharmacology. This includes the areas of neuropsychiatry, perinatal and reproductive psychiatry, women's health throughout all ages of adulthood, transplant psychiatry, and psycho-oncology. My interests include emergency psychiatry, brain stimulation therapies, complex psychopharmacology, and psychopharmacology in the medically ill.

I am board-certified in General Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) by the ABPN. I received my medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed my residency in General Psychiatry as well as my fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) at Virginia Commonwealth University. I spent most of my career in large, urban academic medical centers, primarily taking care of patients with severe mental illness, as well as those with mental illness comorbid with other complex medical conditions. Prior to joining Talkiatry, I held various leadership positions in academic medicine, emergency psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and brain stimulation at multiple academic medical centers.

I have a passion for medical education and have held faculty appointments at Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Utah, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I have authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and provided academic presentations to both national and international audiences.

I specialize in medication management, working primarily with adult patients in an outpatient setting. While my primary focus is pharmacological treatment, I frequently collaborate with therapists to provide comprehensive care when indicated. I have extensive experience treating civilians, active-duty military personnel, and veterans, addressing conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, and trauma-related disorders.

I am a board-certified adult psychiatrist. I earned my medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, KY. Following medical school, I entered active duty service in the U.S. Army, where I completed my psychiatry residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. After completing my training, I practiced as a staff psychiatrist at Fort Hood, TX, fulfilling my service obligation.

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough psychiatric evaluation where I take time to understand their history, symptoms, and treatment goals. I provide a structured yet compassionate approach to care, discussing medication options and potential therapeutic interventions. For patients who may benefit from additional therapy, I collaborate with therapists to ensure a well-rounded treatment plan tailored to each individual's needs.