Cheryl Collins, MD

Cheryl Collins, MD

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Welcome

I am psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. My dual training allows me to provide an integrative and comprehensive approach to help you address a wide range of mental health issues. As a psychiatrist, I can diagnosis and treat most common mental health conditions, including but not limited to anxiety, depression and attentional problems. As an analyst, I understand that while these conditions are common, your experience of your condition is unique. Combined, these approaches inform the manner in which I individualize your treatment to achieve the most optimal result.

I have practiced as a psychiatrist-analyst for fourteen years. In addition, prior to attending medical school I practiced as a psychiatric social worker for ten years. My extensive experience treating patients has convinced me of the transformative power of psychotherapy.

I provide psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, treatments differing in session frequency, but sharing the same theory of mind. This theory of mind is distinctive, in that it considers factors that are outside of one’s awareness, or unconscious. For example, you may have experienced difficulty stopping a problematic behavior such as procrastination, despite considerable motivation and effort. This is because there are unconscious factors driving the behavior. Sometimes, forgotten past experiences are contributing. While psychodynamic therapy focuses on the here and now, the past is examined if, and only if, it interferes with the present. Psychodynamic therapy aims to increase self-awareness, leading to greater control over self-defeating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. I offer this type of therapy to adults and adolescents. For children, psychodynamic therapy is conducted in a play setting. And finally, psychodynamic therapy can be combined with other treatment modalities such as psychopharmacology, when indicated.

I also provide collaborative psychiatric support to allied professional therapists in their treatment of adults, adolescents and children.

I look forward speaking with you. Together we will determine what is best for you, your child or family member.