Psychiatric Treatment in Alexandria, Virginia and Greater Washington, D.C.
There’s no sidestepping it—life can be overwhelming. Whether it’s challenges at work, home, or in relationships, it’s easy to feel like we’re barely keeping our heads above water. Add to that symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, and life becomes even more difficult. That’s where we come in. Our board-certified psychiatrists are highly trained, compassionate providers well-versed in diagnosing and treating a variety of mental health conditions and sources of distress.
Whether we are prescribing psychiatric medication, providing psychotherapy (talk therapy), or using a combined approach, our psychiatrists always prioritize understanding your unique background and needs. We will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs and personal goals.
To afford sufficient time to arrive at accurate psychiatric diagnoses and better understand you as a person, initial psychiatric evaluations with our psychiatrists are 2 hours long and conducted in person. Follow-up psychiatric appointments may be held either in person or virtually through telepsychiatry based on patient preference, location, and clinical needs.
For clients in Virginia who are seeking psychotherapy alone with our practice’s therapist, Kristin Harkins, LMFT, both the initial and follow-up therapy appointments are available either in-person or virtually through teletherapy.
Mental Health Conditions Treated:
Mood symptoms and disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder)
Anxiety symptoms and disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias and fears)
Adjustment disorders (grief, bereavement, stress)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Hoarding
Impulse-control disorders
Trauma-based conditions (including PTSD and dissociative conditions)
Sleep disorders with psychiatric components
Interpersonal challenges and relationship difficulties
Occupational difficulties
Anger management issues
Self-esteem and identity issues, including sexual identity-related matters
Gender identity-related issues
Men’s and women’s sexual disorders
Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorders)
Maintenance of recovery for individuals actively engaged in treatment or recovery fellowships (e.g., AA)
Psychiatric symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders
More About our Psychiatric Treatment Services:
Our practice offers psychiatric medication management or combined psychiatric medication management and psychotherapy for individuals living in Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington, D.C. area ages 16 and older, as well as psychotherapy alone for individuals ages 13 and older. All of our mental health providers are skilled psychotherapists, with training in cognitive-behavioral (CBT), psychodynamic, and supportive psychotherapy.
Individuals interested in psychiatric medication management may schedule with one of our two board-certified psychiatrists, Ryan Shugarman, M.D. (ages 18 and older) or James V. Rives, M.D. (ages 16 and older). If you are seeking psychotherapy alone, you are welcome to work with Kristin Harkins, LMFT (ages 13 and older) or with either Dr. Shugarman or Dr. Rives. Individuals already working with outside therapists or other treatment providers are always welcome to the practice.
Initial psychiatric evaluations with our psychiatrists are conducted in person and are 2 hours long. Follow-up psychiatric appointments may be held either in person or virtually through telepsychiatry based on patient preference, location, and clinical needs. For clients in Virginia seeking psychotherapy alone with Kristin Harkins, LMFT, both the initial and follow-up appointments are available either in-person or virtually through teletherapy.
At the end of each appointment, we will provide you with a detailed receipt designed to help maximize insurance company reimbursement. Fees vary by provider type and are available upon request.
Our Board-Certified Psychiatrists:
Ryan Shugarman, M.D.
Board-Certified General and Forensic Psychiatrist
Dr. Shugarman is a board-certified general and forensic psychiatrist and founder of the practice. He provides medication management and psychotherapy for adults, performs forensic psychiatric evaluations, and serves as an expert witness.
James V. Rives, M.D.
Board-Certified Psychiatrist
Dr. Rives is a board-certified psychiatrist. He provides medication management and psychotherapy for individuals ages 16 and older. Dr. Rives also has extensive experience evaluating and treating U.S. military veterans.
Please call us at (703) 596-1024 or complete our contact form to learn more about our psychiatric treatment services in the Alexandria, VA / Greater Washington, D.C. area!
For more information about mental health conditions, psychiatry, and treatment, the American Psychiatric Association's and NAMI's websites offer excellent resources.