Monitor this page as I plan to continuously add patient education documents, images and videos on a regular basis. Beginning in April, my OnLine Office and Interactive Medical History will be available through a new site.   On this site, I will continuously publish original educational documents and videos as well. Ask me about this site when you come in for your next visit. I will be continuously developing this page as I construct my new site. Psychiatric Systems Model Some of you may already know what this image is about.  As I run through the assembly of this model, I will share my Psychiatric Systems Model with which I understand human experience and behavior as well as the way I approach your  treatment. _____________________ Click on the image for my commentary on the Biological Dimension In Western society, we have a tendency to understand causes and effects in a "linear" fashion.  In other words, we have a tendency to believe that A causes B which in turn causes C which then causes D and so on.  Let's take the first metal ball, which I have colored red for illustrative purposes, as a representation of your biological makeup, your brain and body. Neurophysiologists would think of this as the chemical, cellular, and anatomical makeup of your brain. _____________________ Click for commentary Now let's think of the second little metal ball as representing your psychological makeup, i.e., your personality/mind.  As psychologists might put it, your strengths, weaknesses, assumptions, behavior patterns, etc. which are generally learned, particularly in childhood. ____________________________ Click to hear more about the Dynamic relationship between Biology and Psychology While many people continue to debate which comes first, our personality patterns or our brain functioning, (Nature versus Nurture).   I believe that their connection is a two-way street, a dynamic interconnection, each constantly influencing the other.    The dynamic balance of our neurophysiology constantly impacts on our experience and behavior and vice a versa. _____________________ Click on image for audio Now let's take a look at another dimension of the human experience, the role of the social environment: the nature of our stresses, the composition of our support system, our family, workplace etc. It is easy for us to understand how these factors affect us psychologically and how, in turn, we impact on what's happening in our world.  But what we sometimes fail to recognize is that these stressors and supports impact directly on brain functioning as environmental factors that can both trigger or help prevent the emergence of psychiatric illness. __________________ Click for Audio And finally there is the spiritual dimension which both drives and responds to all other dimensions of life. I have often seen patients battling many painful and negative forces, whose belief in something bigger than themselves enabled them to prevail.  Whether this be a God, forces of nature, or even the magnificence of the universe, I have seen improvement in some of my patients who embrace their own experience of spirituality. ________________________ Psychiatric Systems Model   The reason I have chosen the tetrahedron as a model for how I approach my practice of psychiatry is that it is a unique three-dimensional structure where every vertex connects directly to each and every other point on the model. The tetrahedral model symbolizes my belief that each of the dimensions of the human experience and behavior impact on every other dimension simultaneously. Furthermore, each of the connections is dynamic, meaning that the causes and effects go both ways. So as I learn about you, I continually listen to what is going on in each of these areas and how they affect your feelings thoughts and behaviors. Although the tetrahedral model looks simple, it also represents the complexity of our experience as multiple factors in all of these areas are continually impacting on one and other. So there is nothing simple about the emotional life of each and every one of us. We are is constantly changing and are constantly in motion as energy flows in multiple dimensions. So the question of "why" can never be answered simply. I will work with you to identify forces at work in all of these dimensions. We will identify key factors in these areas that contribute to the problem at hand and formulate a plan to address them. Sometimes I will identify patterns in brain functioning interfering with the flow. I will make recommendation in terms of medical interventions to heal and rebalance neurophysiological factors to improve the flow throughout the entire system. Sometimes I will help you identify the thoughts and behaviors in the psychological dimension that could be interfering with your ability to function at your best within your system. From time to time, I may recommend the the special services of a therapist to assist you in impacting positively in the psychological dimension through intense through more intensive efforts. We will usually identify factors in your social environment, as well, that are impacting on your system. These might include stressful factors within the family or work as well as the composition of your social support system. I will probably make some suggestions in this respect and may also recommend the services of a psychotherapist to help you deal with these factors. This may involve work within the family where the therapist will work in-depth on the connection between the psychological dimension and the social dimension. The goal of family therapy will is shift patterns for more a positive emotional outcome for all involved. I have had extensive training and experience in the biologial, psychological and social dimensions. However I am not qualified, nor do I intend to guide you spiritually. Nevertheless I will ask you about your personal connections and encourage your spiritual activity when appropriate. So, in summary, I propose a simple model to guide us in understanding the complexities of your emotional life. Think of it as a three-dimensional map to help us catalyze changes leading to an unencumbered experience of life promoting personal growth. ______________ Because of the structure of our health system which is driven by the insurance companies, psychiatrists are reimbursed only for interventions in the biological dimension, i.e. medications.  My training in psychotherapy both for individuals and families always provides a context within which I intervene medically.   While I choose not to intervene with any specific spiritual inclination, I will support my patients in accessing that dimension in their life.