Find a Top Psychiatrist Near Me in Mount Vernon, NY – Book an Appointment Instantly

My name is Patrick Wambugu. I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I earned my bachelor’s in nursing from Mid-America Nazarene University and a master's in nursing from the University of Missouri Kansas City. I went on to complete a Doctorate in Behavioral Health at Freed Hardeman University in Tennessee. I have over two decades of mental health experience. 

My goal is to help you thrive as you pursue your life goals. Together, we can identify and formulate a plan that holistically manages stress, anxiety, and other psychiatric symptoms.  As a provider passionately specializing in addiction, ADHD, depression, anxiety, stress management, and psychotherapy, I have the experience, knowledge, and skills to set you up for success. Your happiness, resilience, and well-being can be realized through multiple modalities that I can help you explore. Health cannot exist without mental health. I am ready to support you in mobilizing your resources to promote, maintain, and restore your mental health.

William da Silva, PMHNP-BC, stands as a beacon of innovation and leadership in the psychiatric healthcare sector. With a decade of rich experience under his belt, da Silva has carved a niche in both outpatient and inpatient settings, focusing on patient-centered psychiatric care. He is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and a distinguished graduate from New York University. His expertise includes medication management and care for patients with complex comorbidities, including HIV. His commitment to excellence is evident in his leadership in guiding interdisciplinary teams in high-demand psychiatric environments, ensuring superior patient care.

Da Silva's professional journey includes groundbreaking achievements in psychiatric care and telepsychiatry. As the lead Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the infectious disease program at Montefiore Medical Center, he integrated psychiatric care within the infectious disease framework, particularly in LGBTQ+ specialty clinics. His role as the Lead Psychiatric Provider for the Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) program demonstrates his dedication to overcoming client obstacles and enhancing resources through integrated treatment and rehabilitation efforts.
His extensive experience in prestigious hospitals in New York and Connecticut, combined with his strategic leadership in nursing care, underscores his proficiency in navigating the complexities of psychiatric healthcare. Da Silva’s forward-thinking approach is evident in his successful implementation of a telehealth program that expanded patient access to psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

An advocate for inclusivity and diversity in care provision, da Silva promotes equitable mental health services, reflecting his deep commitment to fostering a supportive and understanding healthcare environment. His professional ethos is rooted in a profound understanding of mental health intricacies, extensive inpatient experience, and a commitment to integrated, evidence-based interventions. William da Silva’s career is a testament to his dedication to enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction, making him a respected figure in psychiatric healthcare.

Highly skilled psychiatrist Akeem Mobolaji Aribara, MD, has a passion for providing high-quality mental health care to his patients at NYC Psychiatric Associates, located in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.

Dr. Aribara received his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the College of Health Science, University of Ilorin, in Nigeria. After relocating to the United States, he then went on to complete his psychiatry residency at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York.

At NYC Psychiatric Associates, Dr. Aribara provides care for adults struggling with a wide range of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Aribara is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to his patients and looks forward to making a positive impact on their lives.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Aribara, call the NYC Psychiatric Associates office or request an appointment online today.

Dr. Laurel is board certified in General and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She attended medical school at Kansas City University in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Laurel then completed her training at LSU-New Orleans, where she served as Chief Resident of both the Adult Psychiatry Residency Program and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program. Dr. Laurel firmly believes in a well-rounded approach to psychiatry by integrating evidence-based practices, therapeutic techniques, and the latest advancements in the field, ensuring that each patient receives a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan. She is committed to delivering empathetic care to individuals of all ages, and is dedicated to fostering emotional well-being, promoting healthy development, and offering support at every stage of the journey toward mental wellness.

As part of her approach to mental health treatment, Dr. Laurel typically does not prescribe chronic use of benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin). If benzodiazepine management is the primary reason for seeking treatment, she may not be the best fit for your treatment goals. 

Additionally, Dr. Laurel does not complete disability or school/work accommodation forms during the initial appointment with her. These forms require a thorough evaluation and understanding of a patient's mental health, which requires several appointments in order to provide the most appropriate recommendations and support.

Mark Willenbring, MD, is an internationally recognized addiction psychiatrist who has been pioneering new ways to treat alcohol and drug use disorders for over 50 years. As Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, his research focused on better ways to manage chronic complex conditions, where substance use, mental, and physical disorders are often combined. Dr. Willenbring’s practice fully integrates treatment for all types of alcohol and drug use disorders and for co-existing mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, among others. It is based firmly on the current scientific and clinical understanding of mental disorders, addiction, and their treatment. Every treatment plan is unique and flexible, incorporating patient preferences and abilities. Dr. Willenbring is available to treat both mental health and/or substance use disorders in adults.

Dr. David Willey is a highly respected and recognized expert in the field of Addiction Psychiatry. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas Medical Center where he completed his training in general psychiatry and pursued his fellowship to help those in suffering from substance use and co-occurring conditions.  His compassion, empathy and commitment earned him numerous accolades and honors including the Shawn M. Memorial Award, Chief Resident, Student Voice Award for Excellence in Teaching , Outstanding Academic Achievement Award and Certificate of Commitment by the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs.   

In his practice, Dr. Willey devotes himself to providing exemplary patient care with a comprehensive and considerate approach.   He believes all patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect while seeking help for complicated and difficult issues.   His experience and expertise allows him to provide education as well as options for patients providing them with the best chance for improvement as well as recovery.    

 

Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, is a highly skilled psychiatrist who has brought his years of experience in caring for patients to NYC Psychiatric Associates. Dr. Rubenstein is proud to provide care throughout the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.

A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, as well as St. George’s University School of Medicine in True Blue, Grenada, Dr. Rubenstein went on to serve as chief psychiatry resident at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. 

Dr. Rubenstein specializes in the pharmacologic treatment of psychiatric disorders with a special interest in incorporating psychotherapy into his treatment plans. His scientific, evidence-based approach and dedication to whole-person care uniquely equip Dr. Rubenstein to help patients with a variety of emotional difficulties and conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. 

At NYC Psychiatric Associates, Dr. Rubenstein provides a safe, non-judgmental setting in which to explore issues and concerns while working towards alleviating psychological and mental distress.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Rubenstein, call the office or request an appointment online today.

Robert Wanzek, MD, is an experienced psychiatrist serving patients 18 and older at NYC Psychiatric Associates, located in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.

Dr. Wanzek earned his medical degree and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He has been trained in the most recent evidence-based medicine and is eager to learn from and collaborate with patients. He treats a wide variety of mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, personality disorders, substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. 

Dr. Wanzek's primary treatment modality is psychopharmacology. That said, he will work with patients to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that could include interventions like psychotherapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, addressing medical comorbidities, or others based on symptoms and goals. 

Dr. Wanzek is available to see new and existing patients at NYC Psychiatric Associates. Schedule an appointment by calling the office or reaching out online today.

Noah Melikian, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist with a pragmatic style of treatment. He sees patients at NYC Psychiatric Associates, located in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. Utilizing a focused approach with shared decision-making, his clients rapidly feel at ease and confident that their treatment goals are within reach. 

With two years of training in general surgery in addition to his specialty in psychiatry, Dr. Melikian offers an unparalleled understanding of the physiological issues that may affect an individual’s psychological well-being. 

In addition to his extensive training in psychiatry, Dr. Melikian obtained a master’s degree in biotechnology from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, giving him a unique perspective on the latest in drug development to aid him in assessing cutting-edge treatments.

Skilled in treating all manners of psychiatric disorders, you will be in good hands with an excellent support team led by Dr. Melikian at NYC Psychiatric Associates. Make an appointment by calling the office or requesting one online today.

As a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 5 years' experience treating clients of diverse backgrounds in multiple settings, I value the uniqueness of the human condition and tailor my treatment plans accordingly to reflect the needs of my clients using evidence-based treatment strategies to promote and enhance the recovery and healing process. I have expertise in managing complex medication regimes and working with clients suffering from substance misuse, ADHD, psychotic disorders, OCD, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and mood disorders.

Michael Hutchinson, MD, PhD

Dr. Hutchinson is a board-certified neurologist and senior faculty at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, Manhattan. His clinical interests include headaches, dementia, concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, anxiety, and REM sleep disorders.  He has an extensive scientific background and brings a science-based approach to solving clinical problems.

During his residency at the University of Washington, Hutchinson used his knowledge of chaos theory to propose a new way of treating status epilepticus, the most lethal form of epilepsy. The treatment proved successful and is now standard-of-care in the US. Hutchinson later did a sabbatical at Queen Square, London, where Ian McDonald was pioneering the use of beta interferon as the first treatment for multiple sclerosis.

 

After residency training, Hutchinson underwent a neuroimaging fellowship in Los Angeles.

 

After arriving at NYU in 1994, Hutchinson pioneered the use of cholinesterase inhibitors as a treatment for the dementia of Parkinson's disease. At the time this was considered forbidden because it might make the patient physically worse, but Hutchinson argued that this premise was ill-conceived. Today, cholineserase inhibitors are standard-of-care in Parkinson's dementia. Hutchinson later developed a new way of treating acute relapses in multiple sclerosis, which puts the patient in charge, and has yielded impressive long-term results.

 

During his time at NYU, Hutchinson made early contributions to functional MRI, discovering that regional brain activations during cognitive tasks are accompanied by widespread deactivations.  In structural imaging, Hutchinson combined physics, neuropathology, and image processing to develop a robust MRI biomarker for Parkinson's disease.

 

In addition to certification in neurology, Hutchinson is certified in neuroimaging (MRI and CT of the brain and spine), which combines neuroanatomy, neuropathology, and neurophysiology, fields that form the unique base of clinical neurology.

 

Dr. Hutchinson holds a Ph.D. in molecular physics and is the inventor of spatial sensitivity encoding for MRI - sometimes referred to as parallel MRI - which is now the acknowledged standard for clinical MRI. He is currently exploring a possible extension of this to ultrafast imaging.

Sima Paul M.D. is a licensed physician practicing psychiatry in NJ, NY, PA. She works with adults of all ages, adolescents and children. Many of Dr. Paul’s patients are looking for treatment to address anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, ADHD, OCD, and identity issues. Dr. Paul is particularly passionate about serving young adults and adolescents, being it is a time of transition and changes for a person of this age. Often anxiety and depression are particularly high in this age groups.  But she is also comfortable treating older adults and children. Dr. Paul has advanced training in the areas of ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and depression.

Dr. Paul is trained in medication management for target symptoms.  When patients are able to verbalize their symptoms and what changes they would like to see over time, psychiatric medications can be a treatment option that is very helpful for some. Specific symptoms are looked at to help guide the response to certain medications that are tried. Most people are happy with the results they feel when a specific medication is suggested to try.  In session, Dr. Paul focuses on relaxation skills and deep breathing to help patients feel comfortable when trying to express what emotions they are feeling. This approach supports patients and validates what they are feeling. When the recommended medication is started, most people are happy with the results because they start feeling better.  Most patients will experience an improvement in whatever target symptoms ultimately lead them to get treatment in the first place.

Dr. Paul's style is direct, straightforward, and compassionate. When Dr. Paul first starts to work with a patient she tries to understand what exactly they are feeling and what exactly are their symptoms; in their own words. She will try to get the patient to describe as best as they can what they are feeling without interrupting them. One of Dr. Paul’s best traits is that she is a very good listener.

Dr. Paul received her medical training from St. Luke's -Roosevelt Hospital Center Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She contributes a great deal of her knowledge of psychiatry care from the years she spent working in the psychiatric emergency room in the heart of New York City during her residency training. Outside of private practice, gardening and reading are activities she finds enjoyable and relaxing. She encourages patients she works with to find and use different hobbies, activities and interests as a therapeutic outlet.

Dr. Paul is only doing telepsychiatry. Most patients find that it is a very comfortable setting for them. Dr. Paul is able to engage with her patients and feels comfortable talking to them using this platform. It is a very natural and convenient platform for most people to use or to get used to after a few sessions online. It really does work smoothly for the most part and it's the modern world we live in today.

Yung Park, MD, is a double board-certified internal medicine and psychiatry physician serving patients at Elevate Medical in Midtown Manhattan and Danbury, CT.

Dr. Kevin Jean Lemaire is a Psychiatrist providing care to residents of New York, and New Jersey.  Dr. Lemaire believes in “treating the patient as a whole” and that “laughter is the best medicine”. Dr. Lemaire’s clinical interests include PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and substance use.  Dr. Lemaire attended Brooklyn College, where he majored in both psychology and biology. During that time, he was on the executive board of the Haitian-American Students Association, Minority Access to Research Careers Scholar, Organic Chemistry Tutor, & National Black Students in Science Organization. After college, he went on to study osteopathic medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, NY. When he was not studying, Dr. Lemaire was an active member of Psychiatry Student Interest Group, Cardiology Club of Touro COM, Student Ambassador Program, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Teacher's Assistant Program, & Med Achieve Mentor Scholar. He matched into a psychiatry residency program at Garnet Health in Middletown, NY, where he researched alternative therapies for PTSD and was also the Chief Resident of his class. Aside from his career, Dr. Lemaire enjoys watching movies, going on road trips, spending time with his family and his pet cat, “Meredith Grey”.

Pascal Saremsky, MD, is a board-certified pediatric neurologist, pediatric epileptologist, and a valuable member of the team at NY Neurology Associates in New York City. He specializes in treating patients from newborns to early adulthood with a personalized and friendly approach that helps his young patients and their parents feel comfortable under his care.

Dr. Saremsky is well-known for his expertise in treating all childhood neurological disorders, including ADHD, autism, epilepsy, and migraines. After a thorough diagnostic evaluation, he prefers to follow a conservative treatment strategy whenever possible, which includes close follow-up and monitoring. He’s also happy to work closely with psychotherapists and neuropsychologists, when appropriate, to ensure accurate evaluations.

Dr. Saremsky trained entirely in New York State. He completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia University and his medical studies at New York Medical College. Dr. Saremsky then received further training through a pediatric residency at Westchester Medical Center, a pediatric neurology fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a pediatric epilepsy and neurophysiology fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is fluent in English and French and fully conversational in Spanish.

His patients and their caregivers can rely on Dr. Saremsky’s warm and caring personality and his skill as a board-certified pediatric neurologist to provide effective, comprehensive, patient-focused treatment for childhood neurological disorders.

The stigma around mental health treatment can make initiation intimidating, because of this I offer a non judgmental and confidential space to get the treatment you need. As well I focus on the individual and not the diagnosis. Medication management cannot be performed properly if people are all treated the same. Services include medication management/review ,medical marijuana, and first time consultations to discuss a treatment plan. ADHD diagnosis/management is also provided. ADHD is often overlooked or under treated. My goal is to provide a personal experience where we work together for optimal care ensuring all needs are met. My style is warm, encouraging, and empowering collaborating with clients while tailoring my approach to each person’s unique needs. Together we will develop a comprehensive treatment plan that may involve medications psychotherapy or both. I firmly believe that while difficult circumstances present a challenge, it is never too late to choose to move forward.