Patient Services
Los Angeles psychiatrist
Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
The first step in receiving the right help for a mental health problem
is receiving a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. I take special care
in gathering the right information to determine the most likely diagnosis
and most effective treatment. For children, I may ask parents’ permission
to contact other significant people such as the family physician, school
personnel, or other relatives to gather additional information. I consider
all aspects of one’s situation when determining the best treatment
plan – including information about health, illness, and past treatment
(medical and psychiatric); family health; information about child development;
academic/work performance and friends; family relationships; a thorough
psychiatric interview; and if necessary, laboratory studies such as blood
tests, imaging studies, or special assessments (for example, psychological,
educational, speech and language evaluations). I work closely with patients
and their family members from the very beginning to ensure that we have
identified the key problems and are adequately addressing each of them.
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Psychotherapy
I use psychotherapy as the primary treatment to help patients and families
understand and resolve problems, modify behavior, and make positive changes
in their lives. I practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - a time
limited and research proven type of psychotherapy that emphasizes identifying
maladaptive patterns of thinking or behaving, and replacing these patterns
with more balanced thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Positive results are usually seen
within the first month of treatment. I provide CBT for individuals, families
and couples.
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Medication Management
I take a conservative approach to prescribing medicine, and reserve
this option only for instances where the potential benefits of treatment
outweigh the risks. Some problems are so severe and persistent that they
would have serious negative consequences for the patient and family if
untreated, and psychotherapy may be more effective if combined with medication.
As we are learning more about the safety and efficacy of most psychotropic
medications in children, I help patients and families stay as informed
as possible regarding potential side effects and closely monitor the
progress of patients on medication that I prescribe. See Medication
Philosophy for more information.
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In-home Behavioral Analysis
Most children act differently at home than they do in the doctor’s
office. In certain instances where a child is acting aggressively, is
oppositional/defiant with family, is destructive to themselves or others,
it is helpful to observe a child in their “natural” environment.
Upon parents’ request, I will make arrangements to observe a child
at home to identify triggers for problematic behavior, help parents intervene
when conflict actually occurs, and develop novel and effective approaches
to change undesired behaviors.
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Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment
As you may have heard in the news, the FDA recently approved a medication called buprenorphine to treat patients with an addiction to opiates (heroin, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet, etc.). Buprenorphine is highly effective for helping people stop opiates, and it requires a special certification to prescribe. As I am one of the few physicians in the West Los Angeles area who offers this service, please contact me if you think you could benefit from this confidential service.
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Los Angeles psychiatrist
Web Design psychologists
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Offices of Eric C. Li, M.D.
11777 San Vicente Blvd.
Suite 790
Los Angeles, CA.
90049
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