A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. A psychiatrist must complete four years of college, all four years of medical school, and a three to four year psychiatric residency that includes a general medical internship. He or she may also have additional training in a psychiatric specialty, such as child and adolescent psychiatry. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication, which psychologists cannot do.
To practice medicine in the United States, doctors must be licensed by the states in which they work. However, licensure does not indicate whether a doctor is qualified to practice in a specific medical specialty. Board certification is the process by which a physician (MD) in the United States demonstrates a mastery of the basic knowledge and skills that define an area of medical specialization. Before a doctor can become Board Certified, each must complete: four years of premedical education in a college or university; a course of study leading to an MD degree from a qualified medical school and three to five years of full-time experience in an accredited residency training program. In the field of psychiatry, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology identifies qualified specialists through rigorous credential and training requirements and successful completion of Board examinations for psychiatry. This is just the first step in the career-long learning and assessment process required by the rigorous American Board of Medical Specialties Maintenance of Certification program. To maintain Board certification, a doctor must actively keep pace with the latest advances in his or her specialty and demonstrate best practices for patient safety, communications and ethics.
This is a subspecialty of psychiatry that involves having additional skills and training in the diagnosis and treatment of developmental, behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders of childhood and adolescence. Psychiatrists must complete an additional two year fellowship in the subspecialty of child and adolescent psychiatry after completion of a three to four year residency in general psychiatry. Board certification in general psychiatry must be achieved prior to qualifying for Board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry.
There are many misconceptions about what it means to see a psychiatrist. Some people fear that going to a psychiatrist will somehow make them appear “weak” or “crazy”. To the contrary, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are exceedingly common and prevalent across all populations throughout the world and have profound effects on physical health. People seeking the care of a psychiatrist are interested in taking control of their emotional and physical health and in improving the quality of their lives and relationships. Psychiatrists can provide therapy and when appropriate may also recommend medication to target certain issues. One important role of the psychiatrist, which Dr. Jackson takes seriously, is to educate her patients about their illness including treatments and prognosis so that the individual seeking help can make an informed decision about treatment recommendations consistent with his or her core values. The premise behind Dr. Jackson’s practice is to empower people to become more independent, self sufficient and healthy in every way for a more fulfilling life.
The saliva DNA test is a genetic saliva test panel that can help inform clinician’s treatment decisions for patients diagnosed with psychiatric conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, OCD or ADHD. Dr. Jackson offers this test in her office in order to identify specific genetic variations that modify an individual’s response to certain drugs and therapies. This “personalized medicine” approach is a new medical model that uses individual patient information – your genetic makeup – in order to enable a tailored approach to treatment.
Dr. Jackson maintains a unique and patient oriented practice, which means that the practice size is kept intentionally small for a more personalized experience for her patients. She values every appointment and reserves that day and time for you in order to provide the most ethical and effective treatment possible.
Prince is a hypoallergenic, seventy-pound bundle of unconditional love and affection. He happens to be service trained and is available by request for additional comfort and support during sessions. Many of Dr. Jackson’s patients, young and old, can’t wait for their next appointment to see Prince!
Forget everything you’ve ever known or have come to expect from visiting a doctor when you go see Dr. Jackson! Her office is a bright, open, spacious loft defined by its industrial design, tall windows, and cozy decor. The ambiance is powerfully peaceful inside, but there are also two different balconies for outdoor sessions if preferred. The location is in the heart of Midtown directly above the restaurant Sugarcane. Midtown is a charming and lively area nestled between Wynwood and the Design District. There are countless delicious restaurants, boutiques, and galleries nearby that make people want to stick around after their appointment. Parking is ample with metered street parking and two large parking garages in the area.
Dr. Jackson’s normal office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Dr. Jackson is not on any insurance panels in order to maintain a smaller and more personalized practice. However, upon request she will be happy to provide the documentation needed for you to submit for out-of-network reimbursement. Payment is due at each appointment in the form of credit card, cash or check. Please call 305-433-2724 for further questions.