Adolescents
I am trained as an adult psychiatrist. There is a nationwide shortage of child psychiatrists and a growing awareness of the prevalence of mental disorders and substance use problems in teens. In response to the need in this community I have begun to work with teens over the age of sixteen since there is substantial overlap physiologically and diagnostically between this age group and the adults I am trained to work with. Adolescence is a time when many common mental disorders have their onset. It is also of course a time when people are transformed from dependent children into independent adults. In this affluent community it is also a time of enormous psychosocial pressure to achieve that together with other developmental pressures and changes can sadly lead to the development of many symptoms and problems in otherwise well functioning young people. I believe in helping young people to be caring, responsible and thoughtful about their own bodies and minds as well as the world around them. I have travelled with my teenage children to Tanzania and Peru to do volunteer work and I hope that this kind of experience (that does not generally require an 18,000 mile journey) can be life-changing. Contemporary American teen culture while dynamic and fascinating is too focused on consumption and electronics. Any antidotes to this pervasive and exhausting brew are welcome additions. I enjoy my work with teens enormously.