Psychiatric Services

Psychiatric treatment can be a powerful supplement to therapy.

A Patient Centered Focus

A Team of Experts Committed to Your Mental Health

We are fortunate to have nationally and internationally known child, adolescent, adult and forensic psychiatrists on our staff. Our team of distinguished, board-certified psychiatrists provide the highest quality mental health assessments, treatment planning, and medication management, with expertise in psychopharmacology and diagnostics.

With a patient-centered focus, they are responsive to your concerns and collaborate with you to determine the optimal treatment plan to help you (or your child) feel better and minimize symptoms.

Helping You to Thrive

We recognize that each patient is much more than their symptoms, focusing on one’s strengths and considering the aspects of normal development that may impact behavior. Our clinicians create an environment where patients and families feel listened to and comfortable, customizing treatment so that each person can achieve their potential.

A Team of Experts Committed to Your Mental Health
Diagnosis and Assessment

Diagnosis and Assessment

During an initial assessment, your physician will take the time to listen to your unique story, reviewing your symptoms along with your medical and developmental history. Psychiatric diagnostics is unlike any other specialty and is a complex and nuanced art, requiring time and attention to details including personality traits, family background, and life circumstances. It is helpful to bring any prior psychiatric records from other treatment providers to give the psychiatrist a comprehensive view of your past history.

Sometimes your psychiatrist may order bloodwork or imaging to better understand biological factors that may be contributing to symptoms. While diagnostics is important, our goal is not to “label” you, but rather to develop a treatment plan that alleviates symptoms and helps you become your best self.

Personalized Treatment Plan

Following the assessment, your psychiatrist will take the time to discuss at length their assessment, diagnosis, and various treatment options so that patients (and their parents, if applicable) feel confident in making informed decisions. Our psychiatrists have the breadth of training and experience needed to provide complete diagnostic assessment and treatment recommendations for a wide variety of mental health conditions.

A treatment plan may include a recommendation for psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two, and often include suggestions for overall wellness and healthy living, including diet and exercise. While our psychiatrists have varying levels of interest and expertise in treatments considered complementary (i.e. yoga, acupuncture, massage), they are always happy to discuss various treatment options with you and your other providers.

Medication Can be a Valuable Option for Mental Health

If we determine that medication is appropriate, we’ll be sure that you understand why medication fits into the treatment plan. We take the time to educate you on your medication options, whether used alone or in combination with psychotherapy, to help you achieve your desired results. Many of our patients come to us hesitant to consider medication, and a consultation with a psychiatrist will give you the information you need to make an educated decision that meets your personal goals. We seek out the safest, most effective medications with the fewest side effects.

With sensitivity and compassion, our psychiatrists will guide you through the process of starting medication, achieving stabilization and maintenance, and in many cases to transitioning off medication utilizing evidence-based research and personal risk/benefit evaluations.

Collaboration with your Health Care Team

Our psychiatrists work hand in hand with your health care providers, including therapists, primary care providers, pediatricians, educators, medical specialists, and prior psychiatrists.

If you don’t already have a therapist and psychotherapy is recommended, we will help you select the best fit from within our talented team of Ross Center clinicians or refer you to a trusted colleague who specializes in a particular modality, when appropriate.

This ensures a comprehensive approach to treatment as we all collaborate to help you reach the desired treatment goals.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Our child psychiatrists work extensively with children and adolescents, tailoring age-appropriate treatment and developing rapport with children of all ages. Parents are an integral part of treatment, and your child’s psychiatrist values parental input in developing a treatment plan and monitoring progress. When medication is recommended, we make sure that you understand the rationale, benefits and potential side effects.

With older children, our adolescent psychiatrists encourage them to become active participants in their own treatment, creating greater self-awareness and confidence. We collaborate with school personnel and pediatricians to ensure a comprehensive approach to progress. Parent communication is essential, and we provide you with guidance on how best to support your child. We also offer parent consultation with therapists to advise you on communication strategies and behaviors that enhance family dynamics and help your child to succeed.

Learn more about child and adolescent psychiatry in the video with Dr. Kristen Everett, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Pediatrician, and Ross Center Medical Director Dr. Beth Salcedo.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Trusted for over 30 Years

What's Unique about Psychiatry at The Ross Center?

The Ross Center has been in practice for over 30 years, and works like a well-oiled machine, with a vast network of trusted resources, expanded hours, and an extensive administrative support team. You’ll see that our practice actively seeks out clinicians with a diversity of experiences, so you can find a clinician who is a good fit for your situation. As a team, we prioritize continuing education to maintain our high standards, and have an excellent cohort of clinicians who teach one another other valuable skills.

Professionally, The Ross Center hosts internal workshops and academic events that keep clinicians up-to-date on the latest research so that patients are getting the best quality of care available. Finally, you’ll benefit from our -one-stop-shop so that you can receive psychological testing, therapy, and psychiatric care in one location, with clinicians who collaborate closely to ensure you’re receiving gold-standard mental health.

Psychiatrists at The Ross Center:

Otema Adade, MD, MA

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Samar Ali Mirzaei, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.

Zahra Basseda, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: New York, NY

Lesly Baugh, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia

Bartholt Bloomfield-Clagett, MD, MPH

Psychiatrist

Locations: New York, NY; Washington, D.C.

Ashley Chorath, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.

Joseph Dougherty, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Kristen Everett, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.

Kristine Goins, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia

Gayle Goren, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: New York, NY

Tristan Gorrindo, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Ramia Gupta, MD, FAPA

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.

Venkatesh Handratta, MD, MS

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Daniella Heller, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: New York, NY

Kshamta Joshi

Psychiatrist

Locations: New York, NY

Kelly King, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia

Nicky Lankerani, DO

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Binali Mehta, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Melissa Monson, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Daniel Pine, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Sumedha Purkayastha, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: New York, NY

Nadia Robertson, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia

Rajkaran Sachdej, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Jeremy Safran, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Mary E. (Beth) Salcedo, MD

Psychiatrist, Medical Director

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Enrico Suardi, MD

Psychiatrist, Director of Forensic Services

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Deepika Tanwar, MD

Psychiatrist

Locations: Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.

Benedetto Vitiello, M.D.

Psychiatrist

Locations: Washington, D.C.

Psychiatry FAQs

A psychiatrist is a doctor who has completed medical school, with a minimum of 8 years of training that often includes clinical experiences in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Primary Care, and Pediatrics (for child psychiatrists). As physicians, psychiatrists can prescribe medication while therapists, social workers, and psychologists cannot. All of our psychiatrists are also trained in various modalities of psychotherapy, and medication management sessions will often include a therapeutic component. Additionally, psychiatrists can recommend a very specific modality of therapy based on the patient’s evaluation and diagnosis.

During the initial consultation, your psychiatrist will review your medical and personal history, examining records and discussing any treatments that may have been provided to you in the past. If medication is indicated, your doctor will explain what medications are available to treat your symptoms, and discuss the risks, benefits, and potential side effects of medications. Together you will make a decision about which medication to begin, if any. Our goal is to deliver a comprehensive treatment plan within 1-2 sessions, although some cases will need a 3rd session to finalize those decisions. This may mean a medication is prescribed as part of that plan, or that it is discussed as an option to pursue at a later date.

All patients will need to be seen in regular follow up visits, in order for medication benefits to be assessed, side effects discussed and managed, and any other issues handled. The frequency of the visits depends on many different clinical issues, and you can discuss with your doctor what they think is likely to be needed for your specific care plan.

Typically, you will receive refills at each visit to ensure that you will have medication to last until your next appointment. The frequency of appointments varies depending on a variety of factors, all of which you can discuss with your doctor. We make every effort to accommodate your schedule regarding frequency of visits, and are happy to discuss our recommendations and work together to find a frequency that meets your needs.

Certain medications do carry a risk for dependency and addiction. We make every effort to use these rarely, prescribing them carefully and thoughtfully to ensure risks are minimized. However, at times these medications are clinically very appropriate, and we have monitoring protocols in place in order to ensure you can use these medications judiciously and safely.

Most people who have a treatment response to medication will often say that they are feeling MORE like themselves again vs. feeling their personality has changed. Medications typically reduce symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, or improve symptoms of things like ADHD. They do not change who you are, or your values and belief systems, but rather alleviate symptoms so that you can live the life you deserve to live

Our psychiatrists know and understand the value of therapy, and our therapists know and understand the value of medications. However, therapists without medical training are not trained in the use of medications and as such are unable to provide the necessary monitoring that the medications need to be used safely and effectively. Therefore it is important to continue to see a psychiatrist to ensure that medications are working effectively.

A psychiatrist reviews symptoms, medical history, current medications, and life stressors, then discusses potential benefits, side effects, and alternatives before prescribing.

This varies depending on the presenting symptoms and medications chosen, but typically follow up is scheduled a few weeks after the first

Often people will have a consultation with a psychiatrist to educate themselves about medication as  one potential tool for treatment, but it is one of many options.

Research shows combined treatment often yields the best outcomes, but some clients succeed with medication-only or therapy-only plans. Your psychiatrist will explain pros and cons of each pathway.

Explore Our Other Areas of Practice

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy

Psychological Assessments & Testing

Psychological Assessments & Testing

Group Therapy

Group Therapy

Parent Consultation & Training

Parent Consultation & Training