Specialties

Reproductive Psychiatry and Women’s Mental Health

Dr. Michael has expertise and a strong interest in the evaluation and treatment of women’s mental health disorders across the lifespan, including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS), perimenopause and menopause related mood disorders. She treats families who have struggled with perinatal losses and infertility. She is also trained to work with those choosing to use donor sperm/eggs and/or gestational carriers. Dr. Michael frequently collaborates with internists, OB/GYN’s, reproductive and general endocrinologists to assist with treatment planning.

For pregnant patients, Dr. Michael helps develop pregnancy support and postpartum teams based on individual needs and preferences and creates plans to protect and nourish the mother (i.e. sleep preservation, feeding approaches, dietary and movement practices). For postpartum patients, she uses attachment-based and psychodynamic psychotherapy to support the mother-infant dyad, explore the motherhood transformation and the evolution of relationships postpartum.

Parenting Support

Dr. Michael has extensive experience supporting expectant parents through the many transitions of early parenthood, including sleep hygiene, feeding challenges, weighing different childrearing approaches, managing family expectations, returning to work, addressing childcare and school matters. Dr. Michael also works closely with families in supporting ways to help their children establish emotional awareness and regulation, healthy attachments and independence.

Children and Adolescents

Dr. Michael carefully assesses children and adolescents, alongside valuable feedback and observations from parents, caregivers, pediatricians, school based-teams, neuropsychologists, learning specialists and psychotherapists for diagnostic and treatment recommendations.