The behavioral health team at University of Miami Health System cares for the unique mental health needs of patients of different ages, and life stages.

Our sub-specialty trained psychiatry team leads or takes part in multidisciplinary teams in major centers and programs, offering services for:

• Children and adolescents: inpatient, outpatient, and crisis emergency services for children and teens
• Older adults/seniors: research-based mental health care related to early Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive (thinking) function
• Patients with medical illness: psychiatry care for mental health issues that co-exist with medical and surgical illness, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, and solid organ transplants
• Women of reproductive age: care for women and families with mental health needs associated with infertility, pregnancy, and post-partum (after birth)

If you or a loved one needs specialized psychiatry services, call our psychiatry team for a free initial assessment.

Treatments

Biofeedback and Stress Management
Biofeedback is a non-invasive treatment that trains your mind to control the physical effects of stress or a health condition, including brain activity, blood pressure, muscle tension, body temperature, and more. Biofeedback involves sensors (electrodes) placed on your body, and special therapies taught by a certified biofeedback therapist.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT uses a small amount of electric current that is believed to reverse symptoms of mental disorders. The current, delivered through sensors (electrodes) on the scalp, causes brief, controlled seizures that change brain chemistry. ECT requires six to 12 treatments, performed in an outpatient setting under general anesthesia.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, explores how a health condition affects your thoughts, emotions, behavior, and mood, and how to cope. There are many forms of psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to change your thinking or behavior, and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) to improve your relationships. Psychotherapy is offered in groups or individually.

Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology is the study of the use of medications in treating mental health disorders. Psychiatrists prescribe medications to improve symptoms of mental health disorders. Common medications include one, or a combination of, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-psychotic drugs, anti-anxiety medicines, and stimulants. Our psychiatrists study these medicines to understand how they work and affect the body, and skillfully apply this knowledge in their daily practice.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
This non-invasive form of brain stimulation treats depression and anxiety that does not respond well to medicines or psychotherapy (talk therapy). It involves a head coil that delivers magnetic pulses to brain cells. These pulses change specific areas in the brain responsible for mood, memory, addiction, and more. rTMS is performed without anesthesia, in daily outpatient sessions for four to six weeks.

Why Choose UHealth?

Personalized psychiatry services. We offer customized evaluations and treatment for bipolar and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders. You get care designed just for your unique physical, emotional, and social needs.

Active clinical research into medicines for mental illness. We have state-of-the-art research labs dedicated to studying the safety and effectiveness of medicines for a variety of mental health disorders. We also research the effects age, gender, and co-existing medical conditions have on medicines for mental illness. You can trust you’ll get safe, proven treatments.

Extra support for families and caregivers. As part of major centers and programs, our dedicated teams help you find community resources and programs when you need them most. We offer hope and family healing with support groups, relaxation programs for caregivers, and much more.