How to find an affordable psychiatrist in NY who can help with debilitating ADD and Anxiety?

April 13, 2009 9:36 AM

Is there a place I can go to get help with ADD/Anxiety in NYC, which charges by sliding scale? I have no health insurance and very little income, but a recent AskMe thread has helped change my fanatical stance against medication, and I would like to seek some help despite the financial obstacles.

I have tried using CBT methods on my own, practicing mindfulness, changing my diet, doing yoga, changing my job, excercising more, etc. However, I still cannot concentrate on anything, hold down a good job (despite an ivy league education and an MA--at schools which were very flexible and responsive to my needs), have a calm conversation with eye contact, go out for the night without spending days dreading it in advance (and usually backing out after I've gotten dressed and am about to walk out the door.) I can't even have a conversation with old friends without my mind darting all over the place, and being unable to simply listen, ask follow-up questions, or calmly talk about my own feelings. I'm 34 and female, and would appreciate any information on psychiatry schools, or individuals who might offer a sliding scale and seem like they could help me tackle these kinds of problems. A throw-away email in case anyone wants to use it: [e-mail]. Thanks for any info.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (5 comments total)

You don't necessarily need to see a psychiatrist. GPs will also prescribe medication for ADD and anxiety. I don't have a recommendation for one in NYC, but if you already see a GP, I would go that route first.
posted by desjardins at 9:41 AM on April 13

If you want to tackle problems, sounds like you are looking for talk therapy rather than psychiatry. Check out the therapist resources on the Psychology Today website. A lot of them take sliding scale.
posted by sweetkid at 9:58 AM on April 13

Columbia University Center for Educational and Psychological Services
posted by decathecting at 10:07 AM on April 13

Seconding decathecting's suggestion. Just make sure that you clearly ask them for CBT, lest you end up talking about childhood Oedipal complexes.
posted by HabeasCorpus at 10:28 AM on April 13

There is a walk-in clinic at St. Vincent's in Manhattan. I went there a few times when I was in between healthcare providers. I believe this is the correct address and phone number.

There can be a wait, so if you have the time, go early and be prepared to wait an hour or two to be seen.
posted by rachaelfaith at 11:52 AM on April 13