About My Practice – Harvard & Columbia Trained Psychiatrist – Longmeadow, MA

I am a Harvard-trained, Psychology Today verified, highly experienced, Board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in integrative psychiatry and behavioral medicine. I provide customized, evidence-based diagnostic evaluations, consultation and treatment tailored to your individual needs, interests, and goals. I also have experience in treating stress-related medical symptoms and chronic medical conditions, and can collaborate with your primary care clinicians to provide coordinated, efficient and effective care. I believe strongly in the connection between the mind and body, and its relevance to wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention. Currently, I practice the use of telemedicine, so that the distribution of all the health-services I provide is given virtually. 

Here are some of the treatment methods I use:

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Medication Management is used to oversee the use of prescriptions for a patient, ensuring that medication is taken properly, carefully, and effectively. Dr. Locke will explain the advantages and disadvantages of the medication, including the risks and benefits. He will address any questions or concerns that you may have and verify your understanding. 

We often find it helpful to talk our problems out with a friend or family member, but there’s usually only so much they can do. Psychotherapy enables us to talk to someone who is trained to help us deal with negative emotions or experiences, working through our thoughts and feelings in a constructive, guiding manner. 

Behavior therapy is based on the principle that all behaviors are learned; therefore, we can work to identify and change unhealthy behaviors. This umbrella term includes CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), an extremely effective, hands-on approach to changing patterns of thinking.

Problem-Solving therapy tackles the root of a problem, designed to help an individual cope with and manage the negative effects of a stressful or traumatic experience. Training in problem-solving skills has been found to be effective for issues such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and interpersonal problems.

Some psychiatrists can help with and/or supervise activities such as meditation and yoga, exercises aimed at reducing stress, easing anxiety, and focusing on the present moment, breath by breath. Learning “mindfulness” is fundamental to all stress management programs.

In Nutraceutical therapy, a clinician makes use of naturally occurring substances and nutritional supplements to create individualized treatments that address certain health conditions. A common example is fish oil, which contains Omega-3 fatty acids.

Wellness coaching aids us in setting lifestyle goals for our future and guides us on our way towards reaching those goals, developing strategies for improving our physical, emotional, and mental health to become the best version of ourselves.

Many people struggle with finding a balance between work, family, friends, and hobbies. Work-life balance coaching helps us to set priorities and learn how to make better choices in distributing our time and energy strategically and satisfactorily.

Career coaches are experts in career planning, interviewing, and negotiating, but more importantly, they’re there to help you  decide what it is you want to do and find which career path would truly be best for you.

Wearable technologies such as apps for weight control or monitors for disease (blood pressure, blood glucose levels, etc.) are innovative solutions to better manage certain health problems. A trained professional is able to help an individual navigate this technology and use self-guided programs to ensure maintenance of health.

Behavior Modification
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Habit Control
Problem Solving Therapy
Couples Therapy
Family Psychotherapy
Group Psychotherapy
Marital Counseling
Marital Therapy
Wellness Coaching
Diet Counseling
Exercise Counseling
Life Coaching
Stress Management
Guided Imagery

Adjustment Disorder
Anxiety
Depressive Disorders
Dysthymia (Chronic Depression)
Eating Disorders
End-of-Life Issues
Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD)
Major Depressive Disorder
Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
Phobias
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Relationship Issues
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Social Anxiety or Social Phobia
Somatoform (Mind-Body) Disorders
Stress

For relationship problems, talk therapy (individual, group therapy, and couples therapy) is likely to be used. Stress-related medical symptoms and chronic conditions often require a collaborative care approach and care coordination with other clinicians.

“I was amazed about Dr. Locke's knowledge and that he really took the time to figure out how he could best help me. I'm glad I found him, and I'm looking forward to continue working with him. His practice is a bit difficult to find, but definitely worth the effort !”

“Dr. Locke is the most thorough, conscientious psychiatrist I have ever been to (and there have been several). My mental health is so important to me -- and from my very first visit with Dr. Locke, it was evident that it was important to him as well. He took the time to really get to know me as a person, to ask essential questions, to find out which medications I had been on prior to my visit, etc. Dr. Locke's knowledge, sage advice and recommendations regarding which medications I should take literally gave me my life back. I was so depressed and anxious when I started seeing him. Now I feel like I can function successful in the world. Many thanks, Dr. Locke!”

“Dear Dr. Locke, I’m very grateful for your warm manner and excellent care.”

“Asked a lot of questions, trying to truly get to know me and understand where my problems are coming form. Spent 1.5 hours for what would normally be a 30-minute new patient visit at most psychiatrists. Highly recommend him.”

“Great doctor, very thorough and very knowledgeable”

“Dr. Locke seems easy to work with and very knowledgeable. I enjoyed seeing his energy.
He is one of those doctors with a Can Do attitude.”

“Very knowledgeable and well-connected. His advice is backed by research, and he refers to the top docs at Harvard/Mass Gen. Spent 1.5 hours for what would normally be a 30-minute new patient visit at most psychiatrists. He is genuinely interested in improving the quality of healthcare. Working with Dr. Locke makes me feel that I'm helping others in addition to myself.”

“My visit with Dr. Locke was very efficient and effective. It truly relieved me that he was able to help and treat my difficulties in a straight forward manner. He was extremely adept at sorting out and understanding details which made [me] increasingly comfortable with divulging information about myself. His office is a serene and quiet atmosphere where one can truly relax and wind down.”

“I think Dr.Locke is highly professional, smart, knowledgeable, and very patient.”

“Dr. Locke is very professional and attentive. He is one of the more thorough doctors I have seen and I feel very comfortable around him and he is easy to talk to. I would recommend him to anyone.”

“Good as it gets, working with this gentleman. Has read all the new, germane research, focuses on solutions and patient’s self-evaluation, notes/tracks progress to eminently-logical benchmarks, has the regulations down cold, even handles paperwork extra-efficiently. Likable, ethical, accomplished, and most importantly, is as excellent a listener as he is a diagnostician.”

“Dr. Locke is a great psychiatrist. He is an excellent listener and he goes above and beyond to help you. He is insightful and knowledgeable and helps you to think things through in a healthy manner. I recommend him highly.”

“I have become a recent patient of Dr. Locke, I had medication management and it has helped improve in a month . He also suggests joining groups to talk to others , or counseling , I like that he gave other alternatives besides just meds. I have severe anxiety and depression , and with his help I feel I am on my way to a better me, in controlling it better than I have since the early 1990's. Thanks Dr Locke.”

“Dr. Locke answers my questions thoroughly with helpful explanations. He is attentive to past record, progress and current needs. His style is casual and comfortable while being very professional. He offers sources for additional education or sources for help. He pays attention to my other health issues.”

“Dr Locke is one of those rare physicians that takes calls anytime, any day. He can always be reached by cell or E mail, and either picks up immediately or calls back shortly. If an issue arises where he has to call your internist or cardiologist, he picks up & does it on the spot. A knowledgable, hands-on, caring Dr...what a pleasure.”

Why Choose My Practice?

With so many options available, here are some reasons why you would select our practice.