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Dr. John Gottlieb
I have been practicing adult psychiatry for the past 15 years. My undergraduate degree was from Oberlin College in Ohio. I attended Medical School at the University of Illinois at Chicago and my psychiatric residency was at Yale University in New Haven, CT. Following my residency, I returned to Chicago, got my Board Certification and started my clinical practice. I am an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Northwestern University and have been actively involved in the teaching and supervision of residents for over ten years.
There are two core features that define our professional practice: specialization and comprehensive, integrated care. When I first started my practice, I was initially committed to being the best generalist possible. I took pride in being able to work with any clinical problem.
Three factors have caused me to sharpen the focus of my practice and emphasize mood disorders, and bipolar disorders in particular, as a special area of interest and competence. First, I simply began to see more and more patients with these conditions. Originally this occurred in an ad hoc fashion. Over time, as this area of my practice grew, other clinicians began selectively referring their patients with mood problems to me. Hence, this area of my practice was progressively developed and reinforced over time.
Another push towards specialization was the difficulty in keeping up with research advances and new clinical developments in all areas of psychiatry. There was just too much scientific literature to stay on top of. In order to knowledgeably treat my depressed and bipolar patients with the most up-to-date information, I had to forego being a generalist and focus on a more limited clinical area.
Last and probably most important, caring for people with mood disorders is deeply rewarding. Helping patients sort through the developmental and psychological effects of recurring mood episodes is a tough, fascinating and regular part of treatment. With new medications and new psychological interventions, I am now more able to effectively reduce mood swings and limit relapse. I look forward to going to work and find my clinical time challenging and rewarding.
The second defining feature of our practice is our dedication to comprehensive, integrated care. Recurrent mood illness always involves psychological, developmental, social and biological components. Effective treatments often address each of these areas. As psychiatrists with a strong foundation in dynamic psychotherapy, psychopharmacologic expertise and competence with cognitive-behavioral, social rhythm and psychoeducational approaches – we are committed to eclectic, individually-tailored and comprehensive treatment. Download my Curriculum Vitae in PDF format.
Dr. Brett Plyler
I attended medical school and obtained my medical degree at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. After graduating in 1998, I then completed a residency in Family Practice at the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville, TN. Though I enjoyed it, I found my most satisfying moments came from sitting down and talking with my patients about their mood and anxiety problems. Helping with these troubles was rewarding. I began looking forward to these interactions more and more. After the completion of my family practice education and some considerable reflection, I decided to that I needed to pursue a psychiatric residency and focus on my interest in emotional health.
I enrolled at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL, for my training. Psychiatry was fascinating to me. Understanding the constant interplay of biology, psychology, and the environment is an enormous challenge. Each patient presented a new set of feelings, desires, goals and problems that demanded my careful consideration and respect. After serving as chief resident, I joined Dr. John F. Gottlieb in private practice. I am now an attending physician in the Psychiatry Department of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and board certified in both Adult Psychiatry and Family Practice. Furthering my education, I have completed the Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program at the Institute for Psychoanalysis. I also serve as a primary investigator in a number of clinical trials at the Chicago Research Center.
In my clinical work, I believe that a collaborative therapeutic relationship is the foundation of treatment. Mutual decision-making enables us to determine an individually tailored plan for you and your particular situation. I attempt to understand what is important to each person and what provides meaning in their life. This gives me greater insight and helps me shape their treatment plan. Differing levels of pharmacologic intervention, psychotherapy, and family involvement will be needed for each patient. Psychotherapy is of particular importance to me, and I am committed to identifying and responding to each patient's psychotherapeutic needs - whether it be insight-oriented, cognitive behavioral, supportive, or interpersonal.
A particular focus for me, and our practice as a whole, is that of bipolar disorder. The work is demanding but rewarding as we attempt to understand and treat the full range of biopsychosocial factors involved with each patient's illness. Through my family practice background, I have gained an interest in the psychological reactions to medical illnesses, the emotional difficulties associated with chronic pain, and the multiple problems surrounding eating disorders. Furthermore, I am comfortable treating a wide range of disorders including but not limited to depression, ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, social anxiety, and panic disorder. Download my Curriculum Vitae in PDF format.
Dr. Yuhwen Chow
I was born and raised in Taiwan and came to the United States to study psychology at Purdue University. After completing my undergraduate education and masters degree, I worked as a Psychologist for several years treating patients with developmental disabilities. While my initial orientation to psychology was more behavioral in nature, I became increasingly interested in how individuals think and how thoughts and feelings shape behavior and experience. Though I enjoyed my work, I wanted to learn more about the mental and biological aspects of personal functioning. I decided to go to medical school and specialize in psychiatry. I earned my medical degree from University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago (UIC) and completed my residency training in psychiatry at University of Chicago. I served as Chief Resident during my final year. My training emphasized both biological and psychological approaches toward understanding and treating emotional problems. I am particularly interested in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and women’s mental health. I am fluent in Mandarin Chinese and have experience in treating patients from Chinese-speaking regions.
In my clinical work, my patient’s ideas about their care are very important to me. I strive to develop mutual understanding and agreement about the strategies and goals of treatment. Being a psychiatrist is a privilege. Each clinical experience I have is a unique opportunity to understand and aid someone in need. Download my Curriculum Vitae in PDF format.
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