About Dr. Paras...
I am a Board Certified Adult Psychiatrist, with over 40 years of clinical experience treating adolescents and adults Inmany clinical settings, and my current work is also informed by those experiences, inclduing child and adolescent training and eating disorder training.
Having worked with adolescents for many years has given me a good feel for the process of individual development, family issues and the life cycle.
I attended Stony Brook University for my Bs and Md. degrees. I completed a full Internal Medicine Internship, and then a Psychiatric Residency at Yale University, and a Fellowship at Cornell-Columbia Psychiatry Program.
I have been the Medical Director of both inpatient and outpatient programs.
I am trained in psychodynamic therapy and family systems therapy, but generally my approach is eclectic, and in recent years I have become very involved in the use of other techniques to achieve desired clinical goals more quickly.
I have always practiced the combination of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. I rarely “spilt cases” with other mental health practitioners unless they are providing a speciialized treatment that I do not provide. I can be flexible about this when I know the clinician well and respect their work.
In 2010, I began my current specialized solo practice, focusing exclusively on the issues facing women throughout the life cycle.
In the past three years, I have extended my therapeutic skills, by intensively studying Ericksonian Hypnosis. ( my pandemic activity).
My interest began as I looked for a way to achieve deeper lasting changes for my patients, in a time much shorter than I could with psychodynamic psychotherapy, and at a much deeper level than CBT or Act can provide……
I have successfully completed the Milton Erickson Intensive Training Program, and Ia psot grad case intensive. I completed ASCH level one and two training, and I am now a Certified Practitioner of The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. I have also trained with Dr. Michael Yapko in the 100 m- hr training program and one year post- training weeklty seminar, and mentored with Dr.Steven Lankton and Dr. David Reid ( and many other courses and mentors). I also run a two hour weekly peer group for study and practice.
Additionally, in the past three years, I have studied EMDR, and I am an EMDRIA approved therapist. I also completed the Level One Ego State Therapy training with Wendy Lemke.
I turned the pandemic ( many lemons) into lemon aid for myself… and stayed busy and refreshed all my learnings.
I also completed many psychpharamacology trainings and I am current in all aspects of pharmacotherapy, especially as it relates to women’s health. I run a monthly women’s psychpopharmacology study group.
I truly enjoy my work and strive to be the best practitioner that I can be!!!
I work collaboratively and respectfully with my patients. I believe that a clear working understanding of the treatment process and the goals of treatment is essential to a satisfactory treatment experience.
Short periods of treatment, with periodic reassessment of goals and progress, is the model that I think is most helpful.
If we are well suited - and this is imperative for a good outcome- we will focus TOGETHER on your return to wellness, and your personal growth.
I trained in the bio-psychosocial model of psychiatry which is now called the Mind/Body model. I highly encourage the practice of meditation and lifestyle changes. My goal is to minimize the amount of medication that one needs to return to a well balanced life , by providing providing targeted psychotheray and encouraging your development of healthy lifestyle changes.
My Credentials:
Licensures- New York, Florida, So. Carolina & New Jersey. I currently accept new patients from all of these states except South Carolina.
Certificatiions: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology ( 1983), American Board of Clinical Hypnosis ( 2024), EMDRIA approved therapist( 2024), EST Level One ( 2024).
Dea Registered in Florida. ( NOT CURRENTLY PRESCRIBING CONTROLLED MEDICATIONS NOW - DUE TO MY PRACTICE BEING ENTIRELY TELEHEALTH and the dea not having finalized the regulations for cross state prescribing yet).
Memberships- APA, FPS-Florida Psychiatric Society, ASCH, EMDRIA, NJSCH, FSCH