Hi, I am a board-certified psychiatrist with advanced specialty training in psychodynamic psychotherapy. I am currently able to see patients virtually in North Carolina and Virginia. I use medications sparingly as a supportive tool in efforts to reduce symptoms so that you can make meaningful changes in your daily life. I wish to know my patients well and may require that we meet more frequently than what is suggested by more modern arrangements of psychiatric care. I have somewhat limited availability and so we may need to be strategic in our scheduling time together. I hold a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from VCOM in Spartanburg SC, completed residency in psychiatry at VCU Health in Richmond VA, and have engaged myself in continued psychotherapy training through the International Institute of Psychotherapy. I am an active learner in my field and actively seek supervision and academia.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Our first few sessions will be spent exploring your personal history, history of psychiatric care, and current areas where you are struggling. We will determine if we are a reasonable fit for each other and determine your goals for continued work if it seems appropriate. Decisions regarding starting, stopping, or changing medications will often be deferred until I have a more comprehensive appreciation for you and your specific goals for treatment.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having had a variety of professional and life experiences, I tend to be thoughtful, inquisitive, thorough, and sensitive to both internal and external pressures. I tend to be pragmatic, holistic, and thoughtful. I will work with you, at your pace, to navigate your deepest hurts, strongest longings, and most intense expressions while striving to respect your dignity and autonomy.
About Dr. Melorah Avery
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
Fully bookedMy treatment methods
Psychoeducation
We will discuss up-to-date material regarding mental health diagnoses and directions while relating it back to your diagnosis, experience, functioning, and prognosis to determined a more personalized approach to better understanding yourself and your care. I also provide medication management services where you will be informed of best use of medications, anticipated risks and benefits. If medications are indicated, we will discuss your options regarding pharmacologic agents. ** Please note that I am unable to see clients in person at this time. Given this constraint, I am not prescribing controlled substances (benzodiazapines, stimulants, pain medications).
Trauma Informed Care
I work on a basic assumption that you likely have experienced trauma, big or small, in your personal history which may be influencing your current functioning. As such, we will start with a safe place to explore what is meaningful to you and work with or around these elements to best support you in your goals.
Psychodynamic
This is a specialized approach centering on exploring your personal history and associations. I yearn to understand what is most important to you. This allows me insight into the inner workings of your mind as we collaborate to promote full understanding, acceptance, confrontation and sometimes transformation of your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, ways of relating to others, and ways of relating to yourself.