SHARON PACKER MD Psychiatrist offers comprehensive, results-oriented, affordable treatment via TELEPSYCHIATRY and in SoHo, NYC

TELEPSYCHIATRY APPTS are available!!! Ordinarily, we offer office-based appts in a comfortable, countryside-style atmosphere, with bucolic prints and photos of flowers, birds and butterflies,to reflect 19th century "nature cures" inspired by Wordsworth--yet treatments are state-of-the-art, evidence-based 21st century style, albiet emphazing natural approaches when  possible. We take MOST INSURANCE for psychiatric-medicine appts, psychopharm appts, and short CBT appts (w/ homework). Jungian-style dream analysis & arts-based therapies & horticulture therapy are also available (but not necessarily covered by insurance). 

Our PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS are known for their thoroughness, breathe of scope and attention to detail. We review current and past problems, discuss prior treatments and treaters that helped or hindered, focusing on psychological symptoms plus medical conditions or medications that mimic or cause psychiatric symptoms. A thorough family history illuminates genetic influences as well as influences from familial (or cultural) child-rearing techniques or personal values. We consider family structure, national origin, social, cultural, religious and spiritual factors before attributing distressing symptoms to psychiatric or medical conditions. We view race as a blend of culture as well as biology and have extra interest in adoption issues. We review lifestyles (diet, exercise, sleep, sexual practices and preferences) that affect mood and mentation and medication choices. Because we use natural approaches when possible, we ask about alternative meds, herbals, and nutriceuticals, as well as alcohol, caffeine, recreational drugs or performance-supplements--before prescribing meds that might interact. 

DR. PACKER PSYCHIATRIST PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIST offers psychiatric care for depression, anxiety, social anxiety, panic, mood swings, bipolar disorder; bulimia, anorexia, binge eating disorder; alcohol, opiate, marijuana use disorders: porn/sex addiction; sexual dysfunction & gender identity/transition issues; post-partum depression/pregnancy issues.  BUPRENORPHINE/SUBOXONE TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE WHEN APPROPRIATE and is usually covered by insurance. 

ATTENTION ARTISTS: Recognizing that most artists communicate best through their chosen medium, Dr. Packer encourages artists to show reproductions of their creations to supplement standard verbal or written information in psychiatric interviews.

IMPORTANT INFO for WRITERS: WRITER'S BLOCK may result from depression or compulsive traits (or other readily treatable issues). Depressed persons are overly-critical of their work, make repeated changes, have difficulty completing writing or meeting deadlines, Depression impairs concentration and makes people indecisive, so they start and stop (and eventually stop without starting). Untreated depression can promote self-medication with drink or drugs. Relief for creative block is here! 

DRINKING OR DRUG PROBLEMS? We know much more about the genetics of alcohol overuse that can cause such compulsions. Luckily, several safe effective meds can curb the urge. We've come a long way since Antabuse! While we support AA, we also support moderation management, Sinclair Method, or abstinence. Are you an ACOA (Adult Child of Alcoholics)? Pl ask!  

BINGE EATING/BULIMIA BREAKTHROUGHS: Meds that ease ALCOHOL, DRUG, GAMBLING cravings can also relieve bingeing. Treatments for depression, mood disorders, or OCD (which often accompany EATING DISORDERS) are available. We offer SHORT TARGETED CBT TREATMENT that was experimentally proven to be more effective for EATING DISORDERS than traditional time-consuming, expensive psychoanalytic treatment (as per American Psychiatric Association). CBT includes short, easy homework assignments that are sometimes available via experimentally-validated apps, to make matters even more convenient.  

About Dr. Packer
Dr. Packer is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai. She supervises psychotherapy for psychiatric residents from MOUNT SINAI BETH ISRAEL and mentors residents' research. She has a special interest in creativity and culture. Her many books and articles weave science, psychiatry, medicine, ancient myth, popular culture and visual arts into a cohesive tapestry. For ten years, she taught innovative college and graduate courses in Media Studies and Psychology at the New School University, including "Different Approaches to Dreams," "Meanings of Madness," "Insanity, Psychiatry & Society," "Dreams, Drugs & Ideas," "Dream & Film," and "Movies & Madness." Some courses became books. Some courses morphed into workshops for patients.

A native of Chicago, Dr. Packer earned her M.D. from University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago) and completed psychiatry training at St. Vincent's Hospital in NYC's Greenwich Village. After 9/11, when temporarily displaced from Downtown Manhattan, she opened a satellite office in Woodstock, NY. Her personal and educational experiences in NYC, the Midwest, small upstate towns (plus world travels) enriches her appreciation of her pts' varied backgrounds and life experiences.

AFFORDABLE TREATMENT SHARON PACKER, MD PSYCHIATRIST PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIST dedicates her practice to people who work for a living (or worked their way up) or study for careers or pursue creative careers. So we accept most insurance plans for evaluations, short psychopharmacology (med management), & brief CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy).  Extra services are available outside of insurance. FAMILY SESSIONS are available as needed (and as permitted by the patient).

SHARON PACKER, MD PSYCHIATRIST PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIST now offers TELEPSYCHIATRY for your safety and convenience. 

SHARON PACKER, MD PSYCHIATRY PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY does not accept pharma funds and prescribes affordable (yet effective) meds, using generics if possible. When branded meds do the job best, Dr. Packer gets coupons or samples.

INSURANCES ACCEPTED for Initial Evaluations, Short Psychopharmacology Appointments, Short CBT Appointments:

Aetna, Blue Cross, Cigna, Magellan, Oxford, United (some out-of-state insurances "piggyback" with NYS plans---pl ask!) 

SHARON PACKER, MD         PSYCHIATRIST     PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIST  TELEPSYCHIATRY

info@drsharonpacker.com   DRPACKER@HOTMAIL.COM  917-855-8475