What types of patients do you see?
This practice serves adolescents and adults across a broad range of psychiatric needs. Specific areas of focus include eating disorders (in both adolescents and adults), geriatric psychiatry, and general psychiatric services for adolescents and adults. Because of Dr Brudey’s background in internal medicine and psychiatry, the practice is particularly well-suited for patients with complex or overlapping medical and psychiatric conditions.
Do you treat eating disorders, and what does care look like?
Yes. Eating disorder treatment is a core specialty here. Care is tailored to each individual and may include comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, medication management, coordination with therapists and dietitians, and medical monitoring. We treat both restrictive disorders (such as anorexia nervosa) and binge-purge spectrum disorders (such as bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder) in adolescents and adults.
How do I know if my family member or friend has an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are often hidden — sometimes intentionally, sometimes because the person affected genuinely does not recognize there is a problem. As a result, family members and friends are frequently the first to notice something is wrong. Knowing what to look for can make an enormous difference in getting someone the help they need early.
Warning signs generally fall into four categories: changes in eating behavior, physical symptoms, emotional and psychological patterns, and shifts in social behavior. You don’t need to observe all of them — a cluster of signs, or a meaningful change from who your loved one has always been, is reason to pay closer attention.
If you are concerned, the most important thing is to approach the conversation with compassion rather than confrontation. Avoid commenting on weight, appearance, or food choices directly. Instead, express what you have noticed and how much you care. Denial is extremely common, and the first conversation rarely leads to immediate change — but it plants a seed.
If you believe the situation is serious, consulting with a mental health professional who specializes in eating disorders is always appropriate, even before your loved one agrees to be seen. A clinician can help you understand what you’re observing and guide you on how to support your loved one most effectively.
Do you treat patients with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)?
Yes. We are experienced in evaluating and treating both adolescents and adults with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.
ARFID is often misunderstood — it is not simply “picky eating,” nor is it driven by concerns about weight or body image the way anorexia or bulimia are. Instead, ARFID involves a significant disturbance in eating that may stem from sensory sensitivities to the taste, texture, smell, or appearance of food; a fear of choking, vomiting, or an adverse physical reaction; or a general lack of interest in eating altogether. Despite its different presentation, ARFID can be just as medically serious as other eating disorders, leading to significant nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, and impairment in daily functioning.
If you are unsure whether what you or your loved one is experiencing meets the criteria for ARFID, an evaluation is the best place to start. Many patients come in having never had a name for their experience — and finding that name is often the first meaningful step toward feeling better.
What does geriatric psychiatry mean, and why does it require a specialist?
Geriatric psychiatry focuses on the mental health of older adults, typically those 65 and older. This population faces unique challenges: medications interact differently with aging physiology, conditions like depression and anxiety are often underdiagnosed, and cognitive concerns such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia require careful evaluation.
How can I tell if a parent or loved one is having trouble with memory?
Noticing memory changes in someone you love can be worrying, and it is not always easy to know what is normal aging and what deserves a closer look. The honest answer is that some degree of memory change is a natural part of getting older — occasionally forgetting a name, misplacing keys, or needing a moment to retrieve a word are common experiences that do not, on their own, signal a serious problem. What raises concern is when memory lapses become more frequent, more consequential, or part of a broader pattern of cognitive or behavioral change.
Some of the more meaningful signs to watch for include repeatedly asking the same questions within a short period of time, getting lost in familiar places, missing appointments or medications with increasing regularity, difficulty following conversations or keeping track of a storyline in a book or television program, confusion about the date, season, or sequence of recent events, and trouble managing finances or tasks that were previously routine. Personality and mood changes — increased anxiety, irritability, suspiciousness, or social withdrawal — can also be early indicators, and are sometimes more noticeable to family members than the memory lapses themselves.
It is also worth knowing that not all memory problems are caused by dementia. Depression, thyroid dysfunction, vitamin deficiencies, medication side effects, sleep disorders, and other treatable medical conditions can all produce symptoms that closely resemble early cognitive decline. This is one reason a thorough evaluation — one that looks at the whole medical picture, not just the psychiatric one — is so important before any conclusions are drawn.
If you have noticed changes that concern you, trust that instinct. You know your loved one. Families often observe meaningful decline months or even years before it is formally identified, and early evaluation opens the door to earlier intervention, better planning, and in some cases, treatment that can slow progression or address an underlying reversible cause.
A geriatric psychiatric evaluation is a good starting point. It can clarify what is happening, rule out treatable contributors, and give your family the information and guidance needed to move forward with confidence.
What conditions do you treat in general psychiatry?
General psychiatric services include evaluation and treatment of depression, anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety), bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, substance use disorders and insomnia, among others. Treatment typically involves a thorough diagnostic evaluation, followed by a personalized plan that may include medication management, supportive counseling, and collaboration with other providers such as therapists or primary care physicians.
What should I expect at an initial appointment?
The first appointment is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, generally lasting 60 to 90 minutes. It includes a detailed review of your psychiatric and medical history, current symptoms, medications, family history, and personal goals for treatment. For adolescent patients, a portion of the visit may include the parent or guardian, with time also set aside to speak with the patient privately.
Do you accept insurance, and what are your fees?
Please contact the office directly for current information about accepted insurance plans, out-of-network options, and self-pay fees. Many patients with out-of-network benefits are able to receive partial reimbursement from their insurer.
Where can I find your notice of privacy policies?
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