Skip to main content

Behavioral Health

Your well-being is important, and we're here to diagnose and treat your condition with empathy and compassion. Receiving a mental health diagnosis is the first step to improving the quality of your life. You can manage your symptoms like any chronic condition with the right treatment plan and support.

Request an appointment

You are not alone

Mental health issues are common in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health, more than 1 in 5 Americans live with a mental illness. Mental disorders can impact your mental, behavioral and emotional functioning and range from mild to severe.

Your well-being is important, and we're here to diagnose and treat your condition with empathy and compassion. Receiving a mental health diagnosis is the first step to improving the quality of your life. You can manage your symptoms like any chronic condition with the right treatment plan and support.

Paul Summergrad, MD, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Tufts Medical Center, consults with a patient.
Find a doctor near me
clipboard

Conditions

Several different factors can influence mental illness. These can include genetics and family history, experiences of childhood trauma, feelings of loneliness and isolation, high stress levels, abuse, and chemical imbalances in the brain. It's important to recognize that each person's journey with mental health is unique and requires individualized care and attention.

If you are experiencing mental health symptoms, you should talk to your primary care doctor. They may refer you for a psychiatric and neuropsychological evaluation for conditions including:

Anxiety
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Learning disabilities
Trauma

The more that is discovered about your condition, the better you can manage your symptoms.

stethescope

Testing

Your primary care physician can diagnose a mental illness, but there may be times when additional testing is needed to pinpoint your diagnosis. Other times, testing can identify illnesses that occur together. Tests include:

hands-heart

Treatments

We are dedicated to improving your mental health and wellness so you can do everything you enjoy. We know how crucial it is to take care of your mental wellness, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Our experts are skilled in evaluating and treating various psychiatric concerns, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD and learning challenges.

Many effective treatments, such as medication, talk therapy, counseling and education, can reduce and control symptoms. We work closely with you and your primary care physician to create a tailored treatment plan to help you feel like your best self.

Depending on your unique needs, we may recommend treatments including:

  • Psychiatric consultations: Being evaluated by a medical provider specializing in psychiatry
  • Psychopharmacological assessments: Being evaluated by a medical provider and pharmacist to evaluate your medications or possible medication options
  • Psychosocial evaluations: Having social workers or other healthcare workers evaluate your social environment and the possible impact on your mental health
  • Individual psychotherapy: Talk therapy to help you
  • Couples counseling: Talk therapy to help you and your partner to improve your relationship
  • Family therapy: Talk therapy to help family members improve their relationships
  • Group therapy: Talk therapy to help a group improve their relationships
  • School-based counseling: Support to help build success at school
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This is the most common type of talk therapy with a professional helping guide you through the problems you are facing
  • Psychodynamic therapy: Talk therapy that helps the patient understand unconscious things that are causing their feeling or behavior. The goal is to improve self-awareness
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is a procedure where small electric currents are passed through the brain. It is a safe, effective, painless treatment for severe depression and mood disorders like bipolar disorder, mainly when nothing else has worked.

ECT is performed in the hospital or an outpatient center. You receive anesthesia, and each session takes about 10 minutes.

Inpatient psychiatry

We provide compassionate medical and psychiatric evaluation and treatment of psychiatric disorders, including severe depression, mania and psychosis. Our skilled clinicians work closely with you each day in individual psychotherapy and group therapy. Depending on your condition, we may recommend electroconvulsive treatment.

You may need to continue treatment after your stay in the hospital. We can refer you to supportive day programs, outpatient care and other community-based programs and resources.

Consultative services

We offer legal and forensic consultations, complex care, and second opinion consultations to different groups, such as law firms, local district attorneys, employers, governmental agencies, referring physicians, and patients. Additionally, our team of highly skilled psychiatrists provides consultations to schools, child welfare agencies, and residential programs in the Greater Boston area and across the nation.

lightbulb

FAQs

What's the difference between psychiatrists and psychologists?

Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors with the ability to diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medications. Psychologists are also licensed professionals who can diagnose mental health conditions, but they cannot prescribe medication. Both psychiatrists and psychologists use talk therapy, which is also known as psychotherapy, as part of their treatment plans.

Anasuya Gunturi MD, PhD talks with patient at Lowell General Hospital's Women's Wellness Center clinic appointment.
Our locations

From regular office visits to inpatient stays, find the healthcare you need and deserve close to home.

Doctor with patient
Our doctors + care team

Meet the doctors and care team devoted to supporting you every step of the way along your path to better health.

Understand what you may pay for care at Tufts Medicine with our price estimate tool.

Jump back to top