East Bay Psychiatry

I would like to give you a picture of how I operate so you can make a reliable decision as to whether I would be a good choice for you. Presumably you are visiting my site to find a psychiatrist. Here are some basic facts about that tribe: They are physicians who have received training in the medical specialty that treats emotional problems and other forms of mental illness. Until the 1960’s these were treated primarily with various types of talking therapy, but starting in ...the 1960’s medication became increasingly more the primary treatment modality in my specialty. Two reasons for this change were that 1) various chemicals were observed to relieve symptoms of mental illness and that, 2) scientists began to see the link between abnormalities in brain function and emotional problems. Nowadays, many psychiatrists have removed talking therapy from their medicine bag and refer patients to other clinicians for that service See more

If I take medication will psychotherapy be necessary? Research shows that the two can enhance each other's effectiveness or work "synergistically." However, there are many conditions where therapy doesn't have much of a role to play, eg., often in cases of ADD. read more at www.santacruzpsychiatry.com

There are three ways to connect with Dr. Levin: by phone, email or Facebook messaging. He is available for your questions, comments or concerns anytime you need.

People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder find themselves unable to shut off certain thoughts (obsessions) or to resist certain actions (compulsions). Attempting to do so produces anxiety, hence, OCD is classified as an "anxiety disorder, along with other conditions such as panic disorder. Traditionally psychiatry tried to understand OCD as a "psychologicaldefense" designed to ward off threatening unconscious material. The burden of the symptoms of the condition were consid...ered by the unconscious to be less costly than facing the unconscious ideas and feelings. Treatment was with psychotherapy that would safely elucidate the unconscious threat. Whatever the value that approach might have in some cases, contemporary thinking sees OCD in neurophysiologic terms. For the reader interested in learning about this scientific work, there are several sites online that provide information. The clearest proof that at least some cases of OCD are purely physiologic, rather thanpsychodynamic in origin, lies with the fact that strep infections can lead to severe cases of this illness. Modern science has also discovered effective remedies for OCD. A number of psychotropic drugs can bring dramatic relief from symptoms, most notably members of the SSRI family (medications that often are misleadingly labeled 'antidepressants"). Additionally, the Cognitive-Behavioral school of therapy (CBT) offers non-pharmacologic treatment that can bring symptom relief. See more

How available and accessible are you? ` Currently, I can offer appointments within two weeks and I find it possible to squeeze in urgent cases quickly. I will always return calls within 24 hours. How long are initial evaluations? Follow ups? Frequency?... The initial meeting lasts 60 minutes and follow-up appointments can range from one day to three months out. The frequency of visits turns entirely on the nature of the problem, but weekly appointments usually occur at the beginning of treatment.

Is ADD a mental illness? The balance of opinion is that ADD is a variant of normal mental activity. People with ADD have certain characteristics such as peripheral vision sensitivity that are superior to than the norm. On the other hand features such as distractibility can complicate their school and workplace function. Why choose a Psychiatrist over a psychologist or other behavior therapist?... Psychiatrists have medical training that provides at least two distinguishing benefits: 1) Prescribing and managing medication and 2) An awareness of medical illness interaction with emotional problems, eg., the effects of thyroid conditions. See more

What is "clinical depression"? The word "depression" is loosely used colloquially to refer to any state of sadness. When a person says, "I'm depressed," that can mean they are upset about the Giants' losing. As clinical diagnostic terminology, however, it has a specific meaning: that an individual has consistently experienced, for at least three weeks, five out of seven qualifying symptoms. The significance here is that indicates that the person is likely to benefit from antidepressant medication see more at www.santacruzpsychaitry.com

What is the difference between a psychologist and psychiatrist? Psychologists are licensed clinicians, generally with Masters or PhD backgrounds. Psychiatrists are doctors, either DO's or MD's, who have done residency training in the medical specialty, psychiatry. Psychologists offer many services not found provided by psychiatrists, such as psychological Testing of various kinds. Psychiatrists, on the other hand, are licensed to prescribe medications. They both can offer psychotherapy. Frequently, they work together in offices where the physician prescribes meds and the psychologist therapy.

Psychotherapy is one profession where practitioners can get better and better as they acquire more and more experience working with people. If the clinician is open-minded, that is. And I have tried to be open-minded. My psychiatric residency training outfitted me with the classical tools of the trade and over the years I have pursued further training at reputable medical centers, such as New York University Medical Center. I have worked with several thousand patients. ...In addition I have outfitted myself with ancillary tools, eg. In 1989 I became the very first medical doctor to become certified as an EMDR practitioner. My work is results oriented. As I see it there is no value in treatment for its own sake; the only value is in the benefits it delivers. I mention that because some people enjoy being in therapy. I strive to get things done thoroughly and expeditiously and to see the patient on his or her way out the door to enjoy their life more fully.