Claudio Demb, Psychiatrist

As an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Claudio has contributed to medical education as a teacher for medical students and a supervisor for psychiatric residents and fellows. It is through the experience of his work that Claudio learned to have a full appreciation of the central role that the therapeutic alliance plays in the outcome of treatment. Taking the time to understand what is going on is key to standing on firm clinical grounds from where treatment goals can be articulated. Claudio relies on the Biopsychosocial formulation to arrive at a nuanced assessment of what brings a person to treatment. Biology alone rarely explains what is happening; psychology always looms large. That is why Claudio would almost always recommend psychotherapy. Even when medication is clearly indicated, the combination with psychotherapy yields the best results.

He is equally comfortable and competent in providing psychotherapy, using medication, or a combination of both. When it comes to medication, it is very important to have a clear diagnosis and a frank discussion of realistic expectations of what medication can achieve. Claudio knows that he is responsible for the prescription when it comes to psychopharmacology, but his goal is to have you as an active participant in the decision-making. Claudio has an empathic and open style; he is flexible and open-minded but firm and thorough at the same time. Claudio looks forward to getting to know you and helping you in your journey. In his free time, Claudio enjoys surfing, observing marine life, and running. He is also an avid reader of fiction and psychiatry-related literature.